cultural

Titanic Town

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May 2012 mural celebrating workers at Harland & Wolff and the building of the Titanic (and Olympic) 1908-1911. Gable wall of Allen’s Tours (Allen’s Furniture)

The artist is Ed Reynolds, whose site contains images of him at work on the piece (steadyhanded.com).

Somewhat reminiscent of Magritte’s 1959 Le Mois Des Vendages.

Combermere St. (Donegall Rd. just before Sandy Row).

The left-hand “title” and two details follow below …

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00595 X00600 X00594 X00601 funded by belfast city council titanic workers, this mural was developed under belfast city council’s titanic community engagement project with support from titanic foundation. thanks go to sandy row community forum, local residents and artist Ed Reynolds.

Green, White, And Bronze

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This is the new Michael Conlan mural, on Violet Street, painted by Marty Lyons. It is notable for how quickly it went up (Conlon (and Barnes) won medals on August 11th), for the sponsorship (by the Beehive and McPeakes), and for the artists’ signatures (below the McPeakes label – click on the image to enlarge).

Boxing is organized on an all-island basis (WP), though at the Olympics boxers can choose to fight for either Ireland or GBNI.

At London 2012, Ireland won four medals in boxing. Conlan, Barnes, Katie Taylor (gold) and John Joe Nevin (silver).

(P.S. The Nevins are travellers (WP) and Mr and Mrs Nevin could not find an establishment in Mullingar where they could watch the fight – they had to go out of town to a pub where they weren’t known. )

Here’s a picture of the mural in progress. (Replaces the Celtic mural.)

Other Olympians: In London, a mural of Usain Bolt. In the U.S., a mural was painted of gymnastic champion Gabby Douglas. Irish/Northern Irish Olympians in Belfast. Anti-corporate Olympics mural.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00584 michael conlon, the beehive, mcpeakes, XXX olympiad london 2012, violet street

July 1st

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In the old style of calendar (prior to 1752), the Battle Of The Boyne took place on July 1st, the same date as the Battle Of The Somme (in the new style of calendar). It is reported that some soldiers from the 36th Division wore their Orange Order collarettes into battle. In the image above, which reproduces a painting by Carol Graham, they defend their trench from a German assault.

Carson signing the 1912 Covenant is the second of the pair.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Rugby Avenue

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On Rugby Avenue in south Belfast, the new mural of Rory McIlroy. Commissioned by Declan Boyle/RentOurProperty.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Community Transport System

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In March or April of 2012, many of the murals on the International Wall were modified to include ‘posters’ for the ‘Free Marian Price’ campaign, including the ’40 year’ black taxi mural shown above. As a member of the IRA, Price was jailed for the Old Bailey bombing in 1973, and her post-Agreement license was revoked in May, 2011, when she was charged, as a member of the Real IRA, in connection with the Massereene Barracks shooting of 2009 – she was sent to Maghaberry. Starting in June, 2011, graffiti and art calling for her release began appearing.

Below are more of the modified murals on the wall. Not included below are the Falls Curfew modification and the Kieran Nugent modification (see M08273).

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Her Majesty’s Forces In Afghanistan

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This is a recent mural to British forces in Linn Road, Larne. The larger piece of writing on the board above reads, “We wish to pay tribute to the young men and women from this area, who are currently serving or have served with Her Majesty’s Forces in Afghanistan and to those from Northern Ireland who have paid the Surpreme Sacrifice. Lest we forget”.

The smaller one has part of the Ode of Remembrance from Laurence Binyon’s poem For The Fallen: “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them, Nor the years condemn, At the going down of the sun, And in the morning, We will Remember them.”

Replaces the Oliver Cromwell mural on Linn Road, Larne.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Thousands Are Sailing

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Irish people, perhaps fleeing the Great Hunger, board a ship to emigrate to the United States.

The mural was seen in 1999 and dates to 1995 – the 150th anniversary of the Great Hunger.

Oakman Street, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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O’Neill-Allsopp Memorial Flute Band

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Jim O’Neill was killed in February 1976 during an IRA arson attack on a furniture warehouse on the Antrim Road near the New Lodge – Gerry Fitt’s house next door might have been the ultimate target (Belfast Child); Robert Allsopp appears to have accidentally shot himself in March 1975 (Irish Peace Process). Both were members of Na Fıanna. The flute band (Fb) is named in their memory.

Below the portraits of Jim O’Neill and Robert Allsopp is written “Glaıne ınár gcroí, neart ınár ngéaga, beart de reír [réır] ar [ár] mbrıathar.” [Purity in our hearts, strength in our limbs, action consistent with our words]

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Boys In Blue

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Linfield FC is a south-Belfast soccer club. The 1961-1962 season is one of two seven-trophy seasons in the club’s history, the first being 40 years previously in 1921-1922 (WP).

Vanguard Bears is a Rangers supporters club.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The World Wars In Lower Shankill

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Here are three murals/boards by Steven Tunley for the Re-Imaging Communities programme in Dover Place, lower Shankill.

From left to right: “Fathers and sons of the Shankill enlist to fight in World War One”, “Belfast blitz – Easter Tuesday , 15 April 1941”, and “VE Day – 8th May 1945”.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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