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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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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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.
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A metal banner (attached to the two barrels) outside the Bowtown Youth Club in Newtownards shows the classic image of the signing of the Ulster Covenant against the background of a Union flag, and also a rocket taking off, in the children’s mural painted on one side of the club.
“NVF” in the left-hand insignia stands for “Newtownards Volunteer Flute [Band]” (Fb). On the right is the insignia of another flute band, the North Down Defenders (Fb).
The caption below the image of the covenant signing lists a good number of those in the picture:
Sir Edward Carson (later Lord Duncairn) signing the Ulster Covenant in the Belfast City Hall, September 28, 1912.
Left to right, 1st row: Mr. R.J. McMordie, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Lord Charles Beresford, Marquess of Londonderry, Sir Edward Carson, Captain James Craig (later Lord Craigavon), Mr. J.H. Campbell, K.C. (later Lord Glenavy), and Dr. W. Gibson.
2nd row: present Lord Londonderry, and Col. R.H. Wallace, C.B., D.L. Behind the latter, Ronald McNeill, M.P. (later Lord Cushendun).
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“It is not those who can inflict the most but those who can endure the most who will conquer.” 1981 hunger-striker Francis Hughes is flanked by blanketmen Hugh Rooney and Freddie Toal and surrounded by a host of other republican faces in this 2011 mural commemorating the 30th anniversary of the strikes. Painted by Seany McVeigh.
Top 1. Wolfe Tone 2. Mairead Farrell 3. Thomas Ashe 4. Kevin Lynch 5. Michael Gaughan 6. Padraig Pearse, [FH] 7. Thomas McElwee 8. Constance Markievicz 9. Joe McDonnell 10. Terence MacSwiney 11. Frank Stagg 12. fuiseog
Middle 1. Hugh Rooney, 2. Kevin Barry 3. Patsy O’Hara 4. Máire Drumm 5. James Connolly, [FH] 6. Denis Barry 7. James O’Donovan Rossa 8. Bobby Sands 9. Mickey Devine 10. ? 11. Freddie Toal
Bottom 1. Roger Casement 2. Kieran Doherty 3. Michael Fitzgerald 4. Seán McNeela 5. Tony D’Arcy 6. Ray McCreesh, [FH] 7. Joseph Murphy 8. Andrew Sullivan 9. Seán McCaughey 10. Martin Hurson 11. Anne Devlin
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Copyright © 2014/2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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A1 Homeware in Sandy Row, replacing the old fishing tackle shop. According to the Belfast Forum, the tackle shop’s owner, Tommy McCutcheon, died in 2011, after retiring in 2009.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The union flag “flies” every second of every day in this painted version in the Westwinds estate in Newtownards. Ards Borough council also flies the flag every day (source), unlike Belfast city council which now follows the ‘designated days‘ policy: see previously Union Jack – Donegall pass | And So This Is Christmas | Imagine | Banned | The Essentials and various posts about the Twaddell Protest Camp).
The central (St. George’s) cross widens as it rises, which makes the flag seem to loom over the viewer.
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The final large spot on (republican) Northumberland Street wall has been claimed, we know not by whom. A small, bookmark-shaped, span of wall also remains further down the road. See the Visual History page for Northumberland Street for details.
“Watch this space”, as they say. Or, as in the piece (below) on the Cliftonville Road (first seen last year), “new mural loading”.
The piece in the centre-left is one to O’Neill & Beattie.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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A boy — Dylan Wilson from east Belfast, grandson of loyalist community worker Jim Wilson —shakes hands with a girl – Dearbhla Ward, granddaughter of Short Strand Sınn Féın councillor Joe O’Donnell (sources: Al Jazeera | NewsLetter | The Scotsman). The centre was left for locals to make their mark on.
A gable-wall version of this image — without the word “síocháın” (peace), with the girl in green, and with Wilson’s poem ‘No More’ — can be found about half a mile away in Wolfe Close, just across the Newtownards Road. See No More, Again. This mural was part of the re-imaging effort of 2010.
No more bombing, no more murder
No more killing of our sons
No more standing at the grave side
Having to bury our loved ones
No more waking up every hour
Hoping our children, they come home
No more maimed or wounded people
Who have suffered all alone
No more minutes to leave a building
No more fear of just parked cars
No more looking over our shoulders
No more killing in our bars
No more hatred from our children
No more. No more. No more!
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A tattered Union flag on a gable wall at the end of Richview Street, south Belfast.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Graffiti at the Royal Victoria Hospital on the Falls Road, from December 28th (that is, before the end of the Haass talks without agreement on the final draft), showing three items ticked: The laughter of our children; Oppression defeated; Mandate + ballot box.
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Extramural Activity 