windows in walls

Cultural Identity

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2013-02-23 StMalachysParish+

“Saint Malachy’s G.A.C. is more than a club. It’s our club. To participate is to represent your community and an expression of your cultural identity.”

A mural celebrating Gaelic games in the parish of St. Malachy/Naomh Maolmhaodhóg, in the Markets area of Belfast. The parish church – featured in the top centre – has a celebrated fan-vaulted ceiling (WP). This mural, on the other hand, features a highly unusual bay window.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00972 established 1936 ar scáth a chéıle a mhaıreann na daoıne

All Gave Some

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2013-02-05 LordStLeft+

Here is a close-up of the UFF mural which can be seen in the background of the Feriens Tego post from a few weeks ago, in Lord St. A pair of red hands are in shackles and the fences of the Maze are superimposed on an outline of Northern Ireland. (Very similar to ‘For Peace’ mural on the Shankill in 1995.)

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00932 free our prisoners some gave all all gave some, east belfast, ulster freedom fighters

Markets Volunteers

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This is the 2009 repaint of the mural in the Markets to IRA volunteers. Names have been added below the portrait of each IRA/Fianna mural. They are: Tony Nolan, Joseph Downey, Frank Fitzsimons, Joey Surgenor, Paul Marlowe, Jim Templeton, and Brendan Davison.

See previously 2002 and the paint-bombed 2006.

The photograph on which this mural is based can be found in this entry on a 1981 Rosnareen mural.

Friendly Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Celtic Football Club

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Glasgow Celtic football club was founded in 1888 by Brother Walfrid who is partially obscured here by a leaf to the left of centre. Joining him in the apex are (from left to right) Charlie Tully (of Belfast and Glasgow Celtic), Willie Maley (the first manager), [Wilfrid], Billy McNeil lifting the European Cup in 1967, Jock Stein (player 1951-1957 and manager 1965-1978). On the field are former players Henrik Larsson (1997-2004) and Jimmy Johnstone (1962-1965) on either side of the team “doing the huddle”.

Friendly Street, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Live Free!

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Joe Cahill joined the Fianna in 1937 and was involved in the republican movement from then until his death in 2004, including being in Tom Williams’s company in 1942 and later a founder member and Chief of Staff of the Provisional IRA. In the centre of the image he is at the end of the table at the August 13, 1971, press conference to comment on the introduction of internment (CAIN). He is honoured in the mural above alongside his brothers Tom and Frank Cahill. (Pat O’Hare is painted between Tom and Frank.)

In the top left are small boards with portraits of Ned Maguire Snr, Ned Maguire Jnr, Sam Holden, Dal Delaney, Rita McParland, Paddy Meenan, Paddy Corrigan, Sean Wallace, John Petticrew, Alex Crowe.

“Never will they label our liberation struggle as criminal – Bobby Sands [March 6th Diary].”

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05939

Families Of Displaced, Dispersed, Distressed

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X00072 2004-07-27 QueenMother r+

This is a 2002 mural commemorating the death of the Queen mother, HM Queen Elizabeth. “Salute our sovereign, now we part/To us our queen was dear/Because she had a soldier’s heart/And man she did not fear/Her soul forlorn she will not scorn/Where her worth is known/No rebel hate will harm this state/The bible and the crown”

At the Shankill Road end of Conway Street, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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