political

The Courage And Sacrifice Of The Hunger Strikers

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Clowney Street phoenix, which dates back to 1981 (see The Oldest Murals), has been repainted, and above, the blanketmen painting (see 1981-2011) has been replaced with a montage of photographs from the period, including prisoners on the blanket and dirty protest, the funeral of Sands and of McDonnell, and three pieces of graffiti: “Thirty thousands can’t be wrong” (Sands’s election to Westminster), “Bobby Sands murdered 1.17 am 5th May 1981”, and “My position is in total contrast to that of an ordinary prisoner. I am a political prisoner.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05274

Ding Dong The Witch Is Gone

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-04-21 DingDong2+

Black-and-white and colour versions (see below) of graffiti on Divis Street celebrating the death of Margaret Thatcher. The power of the state lives on, however, in the surveillance camera atop the pole. (Previously: Rot In Hell | Living Like Animals | Thatcher The Real Criminal | Thatcherism)

“Ding-dong! The witch is dead” (from The Wizard Of Oz) (youtube) went to #2 in the singles charts in the aftermath of Thatcher’s death.

2013-04-21 DingDongColour+

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01056 X01057

All Our Dead

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-04-23 ArdAnLao1+

In addition to three plaques, a wrought-iron head-piece, multiple flag-pole holders and railings fencing in a small area (which includes an encased figure of Jesus, at right), this mural in Clós Ard An Lao/Ardilea Close in Ardoyne uses painted discs for each of the twelve hunger strikers (the ten in Long Kesh 1981 and two from the 70s in English prisons, Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg – the twelve also featured in Derry’s Spirit Of Freedom mural), rather than painting their likenesses directly onto the wall. The items above the mural and the Sacred Heart statue in a glass case are new, compared to 2010.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01065 [X00354] In Loving Memory Of All Our Dead erin go bragh this plaque is dedicated to those people who showed courage in face of adversity by giving aid shelter and support in the defence of the area their dedication and determination during those difficult years will never be forgotten they shall always be held in the highest esteem by a grateful community Let our revenge be the laughter of our children. Let there be no bitterness on my behalf to achieve a united Ireland. With many thanks to the people of the bone greater bone who contributed to this mural

Put Our Flag Up!

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-04-01 PutOurFlagUpCrop+

This graffiti in Portadown is related to the on-going protest over the flying of the Union Flag at Belfast City Hall.

See previously: Let Your Union Flag Fly | Imagine | And So This Is Christmas.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01034

Rolling Out The Red, White & Blue Carpet

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-04-28 HolyCrossKerb+

Holy Cross Primary – an all-girls Catholic school – sits in the loyalist Glenbryn neighbourhood, above Alliance Avenue in Ardoyne. The freshly-painted kerb-stones leave no doubt as to the precarious situation of the school, which is well-known as the site of a dispute in 2001 when loyalists attempted to block access to the school (WP).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01076

Hunger Strikers

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-03-20 TwinbrookStrikers+

“Remember the Hunger Strikers – 32nd Anniversary”. Twinbrook memorial to the hunger strikers of 1981, updated annually. Bobby Sands, featured on the right, and who lived a stones-throw away from this mural, was the first to die, on May 5th. Seen previously in 2008.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01021

Thatcher The Real Criminal

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-04-18 ThatcherCriminal+

“Thatcher The Real Criminal” on Black Mountain, overlooking the Springfield Road, with a Mo Chara Kelly mural in the foreground, commemorating the deaths of five people shot by British army snipers in 1972.

This picture was taken on April 18th; on April 19th the lettering on the hillside had been removed.

Recent posts related to the death of Margaret Thatcher: Rot In Hell | Rust In Peace | Living Like Animals.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01054 springhill westrock massacre, paddy  butler 39, david mccafferty 15, margaret gargan 13, john dougal 16, fr. noel fitzpatrick 40, belfast’s bloody sunday on the 9th july 1972 the british army murdered 5 irish citizens and severely wounded 2 others; it’s time for the truth

Spirit Of Freedom

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-03-07 SpiritOfFreedom+

This is a 2011 mural in the Bogside of Derry/Doıre featuring republican hunger-strikers (the ten who died in the Maze, along with Frank Stagg and Michael Gaughan, who died in English prisons in the 70s), along with an oak leaf symbolizing the city of Derry. Chains, rather than a Celtic knot-work, serve as a frame for the main mural.

A close-up of the piece to the left, which “is dedicated to all those who tragically died on the streets of Derry during the hunger strike era” and features head-shots of various Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann volunteers, can be found below.

2013-03-07 SpiritOfFreedomLeft+

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00999 X01000 our revenge will be the laughter of our children baınfear ár ndíoltas amach leıs an gháıre dár bpáıstí 1st battalion doıre brigade 3rd october 2006 suaımhneas dé dá n-anamacha, in fond and loving memory of those who died for the cause for ireland’s freedom. bogside and brandywell memorial committee

Living Like Animals

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-04-22 LiveLikeAnimal+

A third piece of Thatcher-related graffiti (one | two), this time in the loyalist Tiger’s Bay area: “If Mr. Sands wants to act like an animal, he can live like one.” Although it is attributed to Mrs. Thatcher here, there does not appear to be any reputable source for the quote. Thatcher’s funeral is tomorrow, Wednesday 17th.

Note the freshly painted kerb stones. Eithne House, one of the New Lodge tower blocks, can be seen in the background of the picture, with a board to hunger-striker Patsy O’Hara on the left-hand side.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01062