political

In-Former Republicans

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“In-Former Republicans – Boston College touts – McIntyre”. The graffiti refers to the Boston College oral history project, directed by Ed Moloney and involving former IRA volunteer Anthony McIntyre (who now writes at The Pensive Quill), a collection of interviews of former members of paramilitary groups (on both sides) between 2001-2006, some of which the PSNI gained access to after legal action and which are reported to have formed the basis of Gerry Adams’s interrogation (see Get The Real Story). More background from the BBC.

For legal commentary, see Folkman Law.

Wall Street, Belfast. The same graffiti appeared on Divis Street.

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In-Former Republicans

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2014-05-03 BostonTouts+

More graffiti relating to the Gerry Adams arrest last week, this time on Divis Street: “In-Former Republicans – Boston College touts”. The graffiti refers to a collection of interviews made by former members of paramilitary groups (on both sides), some of which the PSNI gained access to after legal action and which are reported to have formed the basis of Adams’s interrogation. More background from the BBC.

The graffiti also appeared in Wall Street.

Previously in this location: Divis Isn’t Working.

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Copyright © 2014 Extramural Activity
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It Was Gerry

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2014-05-02 RathcooleItWasGerry2+

Graffiti in the Rathcoole estate, in Newtownabbey just north of Belfast, “It was Gerry [Adams]”, next to “RHC” – “Red Hand Commandos”.

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Get The Real Story

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2014-05-03 AdamsRealStory+

“Peacemaker, leader, visionary”. A new mural of Sınn Féın leader Gerry Adams was officially unveiled yesterday (Saturday, May 3rd, 2014), taking its place on the International Wall between the Local Volunteers mural and the current WBTA mural (and replacing the Falls Curfew mural). The second image, below, is of the Adams piece alone. The mural was quickly painted after Adams’s arrest on Wednesday evening (April 30th) after he went for questioning about the Jean McConville case (see also: Headstone); he was released today without charge. An earlier version of the mural (completed May 2) had the word “tout” spray-painted on it on the night of May 2nd-3rd, in the location where “ar aghaıdh lınn” now appears.

A sizeable crowd turned out, as the launch served as a rally in support of Adams, featuring a statement by Martin McGuinness. As can be seen in the third image, below, of McGuinness and Martina Anderson, protesters at the unveiling/rally carried posters showing a picture of Adams with Nelson Mandela, between the words “Defend the peace process – Release Gerry Adams TD”. Video of the launch/rally from the BBC | images from the BelTel.

For the WBTA mural on the left, see Local History From Local People.

2014-05-03 Adams+

2014-05-03 McGuinnesssAnderson+

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X01813 X03002 X01816 fear an phobaıl, ar aghaıgh linn, west belfast taxi association local history from local people 40 years unbroken service

One Ireland, One View

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2014-04-26 BlackMOneIreland+

The latest message on Slıabh Dubh (Black Mountain) went up on Thursday and is gone today (Saturday). It is the work of the 1916 Societies and their ‘One Ireland, One Vote’ campaign. (See the GaelForceArt Fb page for shots of the work in progress.) The Belfast Telegraph reports that politicians, including Jim McVeigh of Sınn Féın, have called for signs on the mountainside to cease. However, the field in which the signs appear – known as the Hatchet Field – is privately owned.

Previously: Six other signs on Black Mountain

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His Free Will No Thing Can Kill

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2014-03-18 FallsSaoirse+

This printed tarp on the side of the Falls Road commemorates the ten 1981 hunger strikers (along with Frank Stagg, Michael Gaughan, Nora Connolly, and Maıréad Farrell, paired with international figures Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Leonard Peltier, and Nelson Mandela) and features a verse from a Bobby Sands poem The Crime Of Castlereagh: “All things must come to pass as one/So hope should never die/There is no height or bloody might/That a freeman can’t defy./There is no source or foreign force/Can break one man who knows,/That his free will no thing can kill/And from that freedom grows.”

This tarp, which is 20′ x 20′, was printed from Mo Chara’s original 8′ x 8′ painting; it was also printed on a 30′ x 30′ tarp in New York. For all three, see the Chronological Catalogue of Mo Chara’s works.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01742 freedom saoırse easter lily an róısín roısín dubh mahatma gandhi MLK martin luther king nelson mandela fuıseog barbed wire their cause is ours dedicated brave irish sacrificed

A Changing Face

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2014-02-17 ChangingFaces+

This board on the Cupar Way “peace” line is a project young people in the Impact Training train (part of the Greater Shankill Partnership) concerning murals over the years. Its face has been changed by hundreds of messages and signatures of visitors from all over the world.

“The Changing Faces artwork is a project that has been undertaken by a group of young people from Impact Training . They looked to their surrounding area where they explored and documented how it appears in 2010. What is the Shankill? What does it look like and what does it mean to youth culture now? Murals have been something that has been prevalent in the community for many years. Times change, opinions soften and people can begin to build a changing face.”

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Defending The Community

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

This (ninth) panel shows UDA paramilitaries (the UVF was formed in 1965, the UDA in 1971) standing guard in front of a barricade of sand-bags.

One of fourteen panels in Thorndyke Street, east Belfast. For a list of entries for each panel, see East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society.

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X01642 ulster news people take stand against republican tyranny july 1972 bloody friday 9 killed 130 injured by pira bombs june 1970 2 dead 28 injured people shot like flies by provo gunmen the city is saved civil and religious liberty for all better the grave than slavery their sacrifice our freedom united kingdom ulster to britain hitler attacks belfast unity solidarity their loyalty betrayed out of the ashes new life

Up Your Haass

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2014-02-16 Haass+

Political commentary on the Cupar Way “peace” line (near Lanark Way): “Stick Haass up your ass” — a reference to the negotiations which were taking place around Christmas and New Year’s, led by Richard Haass, into the “legacy issues” of flags and emblems (including murals) and parades. No agreement was reached. (BBC | pdf | BBC)

December update: the Stormont House Agreement covered many of the same areas (WP).

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Protesters Jailed, Terrorists Bailed

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2014-01-24 JailedBailedGlenvale+

Here are two more pieces of loyalist graffiti, possibly by the same hand.

The first – “Flag protesters jailed, terrorists bailed” – is in Glenvale Street, just off the Woodvale Road.

The second – “PSNI women beaters” – is further along Woodvale Road at Enfield Street.

2014-01-24 PSNIBeatersEnfield+

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