Union Flag

Semiotics

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2013-01-30 MariesWide+

They say (some) shows on TV these days are good for you, because they are so complex in structure and signification. The citizens of Belfast are well up to the task, one suspects, as they get plenty of practice just walking down the street (in this case, the Newtownards Road): the Union flag is the most familiar signifier of the group, the fake storefronts (more) might take a moment to process (and make life difficult for bloggers differentiating between murals and street scenes), and one can then attempt to unscramble the meaning of adipose tissue (a.k.a. fat) of a bare-chested man spreading over his “cancer”-banded underwear. The store to the right of (the fake) Marie’s is coincidentally called “Body Language”! See image below ….

2013-01-30 MariesStraight+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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An Ulster Christmas

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2013-01-24 UlsterChristmas+

Christmas decorations can still be found on poles around Belfast in late January. In some cases, as here, they are joined by Union flags.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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McCurrie & Neill

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2013-01-13 McCurrieNeill+

A banner and board reminding people of the deaths of Jimmy McCurrie and Bobby Neill, next to their memorial garden (in the right of the shot) on the Newtownards Road, with the cranes Samson and Goliath in the background. The two civilians died in the course of rioting and a gun battle around St. Matthew’s that was “the first major confrontation to occur in east Belfast during the troubles” (McKittrick et al., p. 50). It is not clear at what time each died. McKittrick (Lost Lives, ISBN 978-1840185041, amazon.co.uk, .com) gives the death of both as the 27th, and puts Neill’s death at 2 a.m. (and so strictly on the 28th??). Matt Baggott is the current Northern Ireland chief of police.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00900 Investigate these murders. Where is their justice? murdered 27/28th june 1970; still no truth, still no justice

Where Ulstermen Shop

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2013-01-14 WhereUlstermenShop+

Union flags and a full range of Covenant clothing are available from the Union Jack Souvenir Shop on the Lower Newtownards Road. See also: The Essentials.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Our Wee Country

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2012-12-25 OurWeeCountry+

Here is another mural celebrating the Northern Ireland football team with the slogan “our wee country” on the top part of a wall of the Times Bar in York Street.

George Best is on the left and (perhaps) David Healy on the right.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Tower Street

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2012-12-23 TowerStDetail+

A detail from a board in Tower Street (off the Lower Newtownards Road) featuring a young girl carrying a union flag – a famous photograph from VE Day, 1945. For the whole mural, see M04869.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Mount Vernon Welcomes You

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2012-12-26 MtVernonWide+

Loyalist boards showing a (UVF) hooded gunman and a tiger from the “Mount Vernon Volunteers” wearing a purple beret, on Ross House, the Mount Vernon tower block. On the upper floors are an Ulster Banner and Union Flags.

See also: Families Against Supergrass Trials.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Holiday Union

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2012-12-18 ProudToBe+

This house-front on the Shore Road is a mix of union flags and Christmas decorations. The centre-piece states that the resident is “Proud To Be British”.

The ASDA railings in the background were the site of the memorial to Billy Hunter.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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