children/youth – Extramural Activity

How Real Men ‘Take A Knee’

2024-04-182024-06-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here is a survey of PUL boards (from left to right) at the shops in the centre of the village of Moygashel, just south of Dungannon.

First is a British Army soldier in a firing position. Compare this board to Now Is The Time To Kneel in Clonduff, Castlereagh, which suggested that the time for soldiers to kneel was in mourning for Queen Elizabeth.

The subject of the second image is obscure. Vanguard as a political and activist group dissolved in 1977 (WP) and the name and emblem have been taken up by the Vanguard Bears, a Rangers supporters’ club (see e.g. Defending Our Traditions).

Third is a children’s mural, produced (in part) by children from Howard primary school.

The ‘Time To Decide’ and UDR 8th (Co. Tyrone) battalion roll of honour were seen previously, alongside two others which are now absent, in Belfast Agreement Null & Void.

Beyond those is a tarp celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee, in 2022.

Finally, a Moygashel Youth Club (Fb) mural in disrepair.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Tullycarnet Youth

2024-04-092024-04-09Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here, side by side, are a UDA East Belfast Brigade, 5th battalion board, and a jaunty “Tullycarnet Youth” piece of aerosol art.

Facing the library in Granton Park, Tullycarnet.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Humanitarian Intervention

2024-04-082024-06-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

On March 25th, Israel declared that it would no longer work with UNRWA to deliver aid into Gaza (Reuters | Guardian). On March 28th, Foreign Minister Micheál Martin announced that Ireland plans to “intervene” in South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel, asserting that the Genocide Convention includes blocking humanitarian aid (BBC | Guardian | RTÉ).

The support for Palestine by Ireland and South Africa is illustrated here by Irish, Palestinian, and South African children standing hand-in-hand. The same type of image was also used, with younger children, in the Painting For Palestine project on the International Wall – see The International Court Of Justice, which also gives details of South Africa’s initial case against Israel.

South Link, west Belfast, facing the Israeli tank in Though An Army Besiege Me, My Heart Will Not Fear.

Eye To The Telescope

2024-04-062024-04-07Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Life Hack (Xitter) is a youth project in Creggan, Derry, based in the Ráth Mór centre on Bligh’s Lane. In addition to this long telescoping eye around the Westway Roundabout (with Peaball (ig)), its members were also involved in painting the pillars at the lower entrance to Bishop’s Field/Gort An Easpaıg – see the final image, below.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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In Crumlin They Paint On Main Street

2024-01-212024-01-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here are the painted shutters of ten different businesses along Main Street in Crumlin, Co. Antrim. The Crumlin Youth mural is on Glenavy Road – it is presumably by Blaze FX (Fb) who also did the interlocking rings for Stylus Engraving.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Inspire A Generation

2024-01-112024-01-11Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Marching into the future”. The 35th anniversary board – and the Pride Of The Bann flute band (Fb) itself – is still going over a decade after it was mounted in Harpur’s Hill, Coleraine; here is the board in 2012. It has now been joined by a board aimed at young people, designed by members of Sunlea Youth Club.

Tullyarton Road, Coleraine

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Patrick Rooney

2023-12-292023-12-29Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Murdered by RUC”. Nine-year-old Patrick Rooney was the first child to be killed during the Troubles, when he was hit by a bullet from a Browning machine-gun mounted on an RUC whippet (Shorland armoured car – see a picture at the Police Ombudsman’s report) on the night of August 14-15, 1969, hours before the British Army arrived in Northern Ireland in reponse to the Battle Of The Bogside (Derry). (Irish Times | BBC)

RTÉ has footage of Rooney’s funeral.

The board was unveiled in November by the RNU (Fb), replacing the Rook O’Prey board. There is a plaque to Rooney and Hugh McCabe, who died the same night, on the remaining flat, Divis tower (M02005).

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Cultural Expression

2023-12-162023-12-23Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Part of the long community mural at the end of Blythe Street next to Blythefield primary has been repainted with these images children at play.

The tinkerbell wall and the final image is from the earlier mural – for which see Each One Teach One.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Voyage Of Discovery

2023-11-192024-04-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

All of the pieces shown here were produced in the summer of 2023 for Coleraine’s ‘Revitalise’ programme, co-ordinated by Michelle McGarvey (ig) for Causeway Coast & Glens borough council with funding by the Department Of Communities. They are on utility boxes and planters all over the town centre.

For some of the large pieces of street art in the town, including many produced for ‘Revitalise’, see Nook Of The Ferns. More information and images can be obtained from Causeway Coast & Glens borough council (press release | map).

The first four are from Marc Holmes’s (ig) Voyage Of Discovery series.