political

British And Proud

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The UDA roll of honour mural (led by John McMichael) in Rowland Way was blacked out in the mid-2000s but has been gradually reappearing since then. (The steps painted on the wall in front read “In proud memory of our fallen comrades who lost their lives in the conflict – we forget them not.”) The banner was used for the “flag protests” surrounding the flying of the Union Flag on Belfast City Hall (in 2012-2013) and then was first hung next to the King Billy mural at the bottom of the Row.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06633 [X06632] X06631

Thy Right Hand

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“For I, the Lord thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, “Fear not. I will help thee.” – Isaiah 41 v.13″ Jehovah’s promised protection for the people of Israel is invoked by his chosen people in the north of Ireland.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06630

Morpeth Street, Ulster

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The “Ulster” street sign is partially obscured by all of the streamers but the decorations leave no doubt as to the allegiance of this householder to the UK.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06698

Pinky And The Brain Share A New Domain

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Arlene Foster (Pinky) and Michelle O’Neill (The Brain) in the grasp of Theresa May (Elmyra Duff). The two genetically modifed mice are hell-bent on world domination but being only mice lack the power to implement their plans. Elmyra is obsessed with pets while being oblivious to their needs (WP), an allegory for what Brexit is doing to Northern Ireland politics. Mural by Paul Doran, Mark Ervine, and Naomi Ervine in the no man’s land between the security gates on Northumberland Street. With sponsorship from Springboard Opportunities (tw | Fb).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06508 X06509

It’s Fun In The Sun

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Ian Paisley Jr’s foreign trips were back in the limelight in June with a new Spotlight investigation into their funding (BBC iPlayer). This time, the allegation is that a government minister from the Maldives paid for a family holiday; last year, he was suspended from parliament over two trips funded by the Sri Lankan government. He is shown here taking video of Tamils killed (perhaps in 2009) by government forces, laid out on a beach in a row (the image of Paisley is in fact from 2007, at Stormont). Work (presumably) by TLO (web) in Garfield Street, Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06667

Same Difference

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Photographer Stephen Wilson’s exhibition ‘Same Difference’ shows images from two churches only 100 metres apart on the Donegall Street – the Catholic St Patrick’s (web) and the Protestant Redeemer Central (web).

The photographs, and images of them on display in the two churches, can be seen at the exhibition’s web page.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06702

Another Hole In The Wall

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The solid gates at the eastern (city centre) end of the west Belfast “peace” line have been replaced with see-through gates. The plans were released back in February (Belfast Live). Most of the Mickey Marley mural on the left (from the nationalist side) remains. According to the PA, the gates dated to 1992. Other gates have been similarly upgraded: see the gates in Workman Avenue (See-Through Sectarianism) and Howard Street (Belfast Lock-Up). Here is the list of DOJ-owned “interface structures”.

For images from Townsend St Presbyterian, see On The Other Side.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06642 X06643

Resolve

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Bunch Of Grapes in east Belfast was an infamous UDA bar known in particular for the

torture and killing of Georgie Legge in 2001 (Irish Times). The east Belfast Resolve NI (Fb | tw) office – formerly a DUP advice centre – sits across from it at the junction of Beersbridge and Castlereagh roads. The pub has been derelict for 5 years or more and an apartment building is to be developed on the site (BelTel). Demolition would also remove Friz’s Hope, Life.

For a short time (2006-2008?) the pub was called the Ibrox Bar and, when this proved controversial with Rangers FC, the Eye-Brox Bar.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06327 [X03626] Castle Inn

Still The People Spoke

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The first Dáıl Éıreann met in 1919 in the wake of a Sınn Féın sweep of the elections of 1918. Current leader Mary Lou McDonald addressed her deputies at a centenary commemoration, recounting the rise of the party: “They banished us, imprisoned us and bereaved us. But still the people spoke.” The mural above presents a montage of historical images, from the women of Wicklow (Barton) and Dublin (Mulcahy) being urged to exercise their new right to vote (also Arthur Griffith in East Cavan), to Bobby Sands and Owen Carron, to Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. (Cormac’s Fight Back was turned into a mural on the Springfield Road.)

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06577 X06576

Nailed To The Mast

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“For what died the sons of Roısín?” The Dogs of IRA D Company [second battalion, Belfast brigade] are added onto the mural of native son and first blanket man, Kieran Nugent: Nugent is reported to have said to his mother, “If they want me to wear a uniform they’ll have to nail it to my back.”

The International Wall, Divis Street, west Belfast. The same board was also mounted in Balkan Street. The Dogs also appear around the corner on Northumberland Street (see Our Struggle Continues).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06561