2011 image of the historical republican POW mural in Ludlow Square, New Lodge, Belfast, seen previously in 1997 and 2010.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Gaeilge
The People’s President
Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness was nominated by the party to stand for President Of Ireland. He garnered 13.7% of first preference votes and finished third to winner Michael D. Higgins (WP). For the hunger strikers metalwork, see M03118.
At the former Andytown RUC barracks.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Cogús
Cogús [conscience] is the POW-support organisation of the RNU (web). On the left is a blanketman, on the right is a contemporary POW being beaten by a prison guard in riot gear. “Make a difference – Join RNU – Be committed, stand as one – Implement 12th August Agreement – End strip searches – End controlled movement.”
Berwick Road, Ard Eoın.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Towards A New Republic – I dTreo Poblacht Nua
Sınn Féın’s 2011 ard fheıs (annual conference) was held in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.
Falls Road/Glen Road, west Belfast.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Fáılte Go Dtí West Belfast
A new Fáılte Feırste Thıar mural is being painted below Divis tower that will serve as a transition from the city centre to (CNR) west Belfast.
Below, an even earlier shot of the work in progress from 2011-05-27.
For the completed mural, see the entry at Peter Moloney Collection – Murals.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Coıllte Bhéal Feırste
In 1992, the Forest Of Belfast project was started, a public-private to preserve old trees and encourage tree-planting. Above is one of the murals painted to publicise the effort, on Hillman Street at the Antrim Road. (Another was painted on the Falls Road.)
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Understand The Past
“Understand the past – and build a better future, le cheıle, “Catholic, Protestant, and Dissenter” – Wolfe Tone”. The past that is to be understood is the 40th anniversary of the Battle Of St Matthew’s (“Cath Naomh Máıtıú” in the “4” on the left) which took place in June 1970. Two Protestants and a Catholic died; the battle was a founding moment in the history of the Provisional IRA (“Óglaıgh na hÉıreann” in the “0”) (WP). St Matthew’s church is depicted on the right.
In the centre is a Tricolour with a modified version of the ‘raised arms’ illustration of ‘everyone has their part to play’ (e.g. Emancipation Of Women has a paintbrush, hammer, and book in addition to a rifle; one in Derry has paintbrush, spanner, coloured pencils (at the end of a shorter arm), rifle, book, and placard – see The Destructive Talents Of The RUC). Here we have a dove – perhaps in place of the rifle – pencil, and spanner.
For information about the 2010 launch, see Glór Mhıc Aırt.
Mountpottinger Road, east Belfast.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Naomh Éanna
Naomh Éanna (St Enda) Gaelic Athletic Club is located in Glengormley and fields teams in football, hurling, and camogie. The grounds now also host a naíscoıl, which was opened in 2004, with a bunscoıl following in 2007.
The motto is in pre-Caıghdeán Irish: “Neart ın ár lámhaıbh [= lámh], fírınne ın ár dteangthaıbh [= dteangacha], agus glaıne ın ár gcroíthe.”
“Urraıthe ag Foras Na Gaeılge.”
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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1981-2011
Mural in Beechmount Avenue/Ascaıll Ard na bhFeá commemorating the 30th anniversary of the hunger strike. The watchtowers of Long Kesh provide a lower border, joined by symbols of republican prisoners the lark and the green ribbon, as well as the Easter lily and Sınn Féın logo. “Honour Ireland’s dead – wear an Easter lily”. “I gcuımhne ar an staılc ocráıs. [In memory of the hunger strike.]” Replaces the previous Honour Ireland’s Dead which did not feature the hunger strike.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Flight Of The Earls
In 1607 – “400 blıaın” after the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland – 50 years of newly-asserted English control, most recently at the hands of Charles Blount – who defeated the pair in the Nine Years’ War – and Arthur Chichester – who, as O’Donnell is shown reading, was “appointed Lord Deputy in Ireland” in 1605 – compelled Earls Hugh O’Neill of Tyrone and Rory O’Donnell of Tyrconnell to depart Ireland on a ship bound for Spain in order to petition for Spanish support in reclaiming the lands and status they were losing under English rule. They ended up in Rome instead and never returned, ending the period of Gaelic chiefs’ rule in Ireland and making way for the plantation of Ulster.
The pair of plaques on the left indicate that the mural was painted as part of the Re-Imaging Communities Programme’ (top) and launched by President Mary McAleese on June 19th (bottom). Even though the subject was historical, the state funding for the project required the removal of a sword from O’Neill’s right hand; he is shown instead clutching the collar of his cloak. For more on the re-imaging programme, see Visual History 10.
“Imeacht na nIarlaí. I ndıadh 400 blıaın … that the eternal values of liberty and democracy have prevailed and the sons and daughters of the planter and the Gael have found a way to share the land of their birth and live together in peace.”
Ardoyne Avenue, Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Extramural Activity 