international

Gaza Unbowed

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The 1916 centenary mural in Andersonstown has been repurposed and repainted to express solidarity with the people of Palestine.

From the frame of the previous mural – see The Undauntable Thought – the title, phoenix, and chains have been preserved but two instances of the inverted red triangle have been added at the top and bottom – see Resist! (and My Kite You Made).

The main panel puts the struggles in Palestine and Northern Ireland in parallel, showing (from top to bottom on each side) political prisoners, violence against protesters, and relatives carrying portraits.

On the left, Palestinian prisoners languish in Israeli jails (based on a photo of Hamza Abu Halima and on this Reuters photograph of prisoners sitting in the street, both from December 2023) and IDF soldiers make violent arrests – the one on the left is from 2016 (CCUN) and the one on the right is perhaps based on this Reuters photograph.

On the right: British soldiers restore order after the Burning Of Long Kesh (see Operation Pagoda), next to blanket-man Hugh Rooney, above three arrests made by British Army soldiers – their caps indicates that they are from the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (left) and the Paratroop regiment (centre). (For two of the original photos, see BBC | Getty.)

Along the bottom of both sides, marchers hold portraits of the dead, including the recently-killed leader of Hamas Yahya Sinwar (BBC).

Also visible in the wide shot is Ag Fíorú Na Poblachta.

Launched on November 10th, 2024 (PD Fb). An Neasc Theas, Baıle Mhıc Aındréıs, Béal Feırste thıar (South Link, Andersonstown, west Belfast)

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15261 X15260
X15262 X15263 X15264 X15265
X15266 [X15267]

Gaza Square

Extramural Activity2 Comments

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” “Stop the genocide – save Palestine.”

The South Link green-space as been renamed “Gaza Square” (see the small plaque in the wide shot, below) and the murals seen recently (at end of March) in Though An Army Besiege Me, My Heart Will Not Fear have been repainted, switching images of Israeli weapons for the images of death, suffering, and destruction seen here.

According to the Al Jazeera tracker, the Palestinian death toll is approaching 45,000, with more than 100,000 injured.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15189 X15190 [X15192] X15191
X15269 [X15188] X15268

Newtownabbey Stands Against Racism

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Newtownabbey stands against racism” held down with a small sticker of the Palestinian flag.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Ronan Woods
X15225

Two Nations, One Struggle

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The “two nations” are Palestine (flag on the left) and Ireland (flag on the right). Between the two is a balaclava’d face, suggesting violent struggle.

Lisfannon Park, Bogside, Derry

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
X15211 X15212

Resistance Is Not Terrorism

Extramural Activity2 Comments

“Resistance is not terrorism – Saoırse don Phalaıstín”. Gazan photo-journalist Motaz Azaiza (ig) visited Dublin – where he spoke at Bohemians (reddit | The Journal), Belfast – where he spoke with Clare Daly at the MAC, and Derry – where he spoke with Jamie Lee O’Donnell at the Guildhall (Derry Now). He also attended a rally at Free Derry Corner (Derry Journal | Derry Now), which has been painted with his likeness in honour of the work he has done documenting the destruction of Gaza by Israeli forces for his almost 18 million people on instagram. Fifteen of Azaiza’s relatives were killed in an air-strike on Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on October 13th, 2023 (WP).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
X15206 X15205 X15203 X15204 X15202

Women Carry The People

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Palestinian artist Taqi Spateen’s (web | ig) second piece in Belfast is in Palestine Street in the Holylands of south Belfast, where he worked with Artists Against Genocide (ig) to produce a piece showing the strength of Palestinian women, carrying the land from which Palestinians have been evicted in the Nakba of 1948.

For the first piece, in Kent Street in the city centre, see Anatomy Of Oppression. A third piece was painted in Crocus Street, in west Belfast: see Life Finds A Way in the Paddy Duffy collection.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15124 X15123 X15126 X15125

Anatomy Of Oppression

Extramural Activity2 Comments

In May and June, Palestinian artist Taqi Spateen (web | ig) toured various cities in England and Scotland (Leeds, Glasgow, Bristol, Stroud, London) as part of the Bethlehem Cultural Festival, producing a wall-painting at each stop. Thereafter, he came to Belfast, where he painted three pieces, beginning with this small piece on the side of the Sunflower bar in Kent Street, showing a person with a head encased in concrete trying to hammer themselves free.

For the second piece, see Women Carry The People.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15110c X15109

For A Bleaker Tomorrow

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

One of Lidl’s slogans (and a “corporate responsibility objective” of the company) is to work “For a better tomorrow”. The electoral-style placard above urges “Don’t vote Lidl” and alleges that the company is “funding genocide for a bleaker tomorrow” and that its “policy is to fund apartheid, occupation, genocide” – perhaps through selling Israeli-made goods – particularly wipes made by Lupilu (ig video | Fb video | Fb | Change.org) – and through its parent company Schwarz’s acquisition of an Israeli cyber-security company.

The placard in the final image targets Home Bargains. According to the News Letter, it agreed to pull Israeli goods from its shelves back in October. BDS Belfast alleges that such goods can still be found (ig | Fb). These signs are on the Falls/Andersonstown Road where both HB (in the Kennedy Centre) and Lidl (next door) have stores. The Kennedy Centre Sainsbury’s has also been the target of protest (CYM).

The source of the placards is perhaps BDSBelfast (ig).

See previously: Ban Israeli Goods.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15116 X15117 X15115

Genocide Joe Biden

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The death-toll in Gaza now stands at more than 38,000 people, in addition to the 1,100 Israelis killed on October 7th (Al Jazeera). This graffiti singling out US President Joe Biden – and by extension America’s continued supply of weapons to Israel – is on the hoarding around the derelict Willowbank House, built in 1896 (Belfast Live).

Willowbank Gardens, north Belfast.

See also: The Fog Of War (on Slıabh Dubh) | Ireland Says “No” To Genocide Joe | Don’t Look Away | The Going Down Of The Sun

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15105 X15106

The Going Down Of The Sun

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Israeli Genocide” (Israel represented by the Star Of David) – This Antrim Road (north Belfast) graffiti protests the on-going Israeli attacks on cities in the Gaza Strip. The death toll of Palestinians now stands at more than 37,000 people, with 60% of residences destroyed (Al Jazeera).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15096