Two pieces of local commentary from the Cupar Way “peace” wall in west Belfast. “Fuck the peace process”, “Save the NHS”, and “[Secretary for Health] Jeremy Hunt is a total dick”.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Recruiting for the Ulster Volunteers in Down was so successful that it was divided into four areas (North, South, East, and West), each with a battalion, and the North down battalion comprised 15 companies (History Ireland). The Down battalions became the 13th battalion of the (108th Brigade) Royal Irish Rifles in WWI. The YCV (Young Citizen Volunteers) was formed separately (in 1912) but joined the Volunteers in May 1914, before becoming the (109th Brigade) 14th battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when the war broke out (WP). Both began their campaigns at Boulogne-Sur-Mer in October, 1915 (WP).
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04089 owenroe dr somme thiepval beaumont hamel st quentin ypres messines arras passchendaele cambrai
Four cameras for “just” 349 pounds in order to “protect your home, your car & your kids”, next to a “Brits out” stencil in Beechmount Avenue.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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New work (presumably) by TLO in Belfast city centre showing King Billy (and horse!) wearing a gas mask as he rides over a river of tyres piled up for burning on bonfires. (The original painting is in the Royal Museums Greenwich). The practice of burning tyres has been controversial over the last few years as it is thought to cause toxic fumes. A collection of tyres was removed from Connswater in mid-March (Tele).
Previously by TLO: Demonizing Paisley | Three Studies Of Ian Paisley | Ian Jong-un | Wee Angel | Taking The Hump | Derryrhoea | Lost Duppy.
Thanks to Belfast Street Art (@Belfast_Beyond) for the tip.
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The UK’s vote to leave the EU (“Brexit”) might mean the return of the “hard” border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. The board shown above lists the Tories, DUP, TUV, and (west Belfast rivals) People Before Profit as supporters of Brexit. PBP supported the exit on anti-austerity grounds.
Previously from #ae17 (Assembly Elections 2017): Tapaıgh An Deıs | End The Age Of the Dinosaurs | Keep Belfast Clean
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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New political party Saoradh (Fb) is advocating a boycott of the upcoming (March 2nd) Stormont election, claiming that Stormont espouses “the co-dependent ideologies of imperialism, sectarianism and capitalism”. The tarp shown above lists various problems and scandals (“Nepostism, fraud, corruption, phantom community groups, NAMA, sectarianism, jobs for the boys, Red Sky, RHI scandal”) and evokes the spirit of 1981 hunger striker Bobby Sands: “Everyone Republican or otherwise has their Part to Play.” Also visible are a board celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising (see versions in Andersonstown | Ardoyne | St James), an éırígí mural featuring Patrick Pearse, and a call for the release of the Craigavon Two (previously featured).
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04032 tír gan teanga tír gan anam athshealbhaıgí an phoblacht
“Ireland did not vote for Tory cuts. Break the connection with England. www.irsp.ie. Páırtí poblachtach sóısıalaıgh na hÉireann.”
This IRSP/INLA board outside the party offices on the Falls Road protests policies coming from the Westminster parliament and specifically the Conservatives. On the left-hand side of the board are an adjustable pipe-wrench (for IRSP) and a rifle (for INLA). The sticker on a post-box is in Cavendish Street.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Cousins Francis Hughes (Ó hÁodha) and Thomas McElwee (Mac Gıolla Bhuídhe) were the second and ninth of the 1981 hunger strikers to die. They share a grave in St. Mary’s churchyard in their hometown of Bellaghy, Co. London-/Derry. The image above shows their gravestone “erected by the people of Co. Derry and Co. Antrim”.
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03932 ı measc laochra na nGael go raıbh a nanamacha óglaıgh na héıreann IRA
A Christian cross was added (in early 2015?) to the dove and oak leaf on Rossville Street, Derry. For a 2013 image of the previous version, see Network.
The official title of the work is The Peace Mural. For more, see the Visual History page on the Bogside Artists.
Bogside Artist William Kelly passed away today, 2017-01-10 (Derry Journal).
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Here are two more images related to The Muddlers’ Club (see previously God Approves Our Undertakings), featuring an ouroboros (snake eating its own tail) in the shape of the symbol for infinity, on an eight-pointed star/compass, by VisualWaste.
“Members of the Muddler’s Club included leading United Irishmen such as Thomas Russell, Thomas Neilson & Henry Joy McCracken. Secret meetings held at Peggy Barclay’s inn would allow the Belfast United Irishmen to welcome messengers & visitors to coordinate the wider conspiracy.” For more information on the history of the location, see this BBC-NI article on the (canvas) paintings in Warehouse Lane.
In the second image: an unknown (FGB?) piece of tangled arms and legs, and, Lost Duppy by TLO.
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Extramural Activity 