social

#RememberMyNoah

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

14 year-old Noah Donohoe went missing on June 21st while cycling in the York Road area en route from his south Belfast home to the Cave Hill. His body was found in a north Belfast storm drain six days later and the postmortem showed death by drowning (Irish News). Many details of his last hours remain unknown, however, including how he came to drown in the drain. His mother, Fiona, started a campaign on August 11th on Facebook and Twitter to press for answers and signatures are being collected for a petition into the PSNI handling of the case. CCTV images of Noah were released on Friday by the BBC. An inquest will be held in January, 2021 (BelTel) with a preliminary hearing on September 30th.

Previously: Gloria Ab Intus

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07424 X07423 Divis St ML and MD

The Plague Grave

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Care homes accounted for about 50% of the early coronavirus deaths in both Northern Ireland (WP) and the Republic (Irish Times). This Carrickfergus facility is named “Tamlaght” which comes from the Irish támh = plague and leacht = grave. Ireland suffered various plagues throughout history, including the Yellow Plague Of 644 and the Black Death in 1348 with “unheard of mortality” from recurring waves lasting until 1370. PlaceNamesNI states there 25 townlands bearing the name (and many other places too).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07420 Larne Rd

Find The Link In The Chain

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“‘It is not enough to be a revolutionary and an adherent of socialism or a Communist in general. You must be able at each particular moment to find the particular link in the chain which you must grasp with all your might in order to hold the whole chain and to prepare firmly for the transition to the next link; the order of the links, their form, the manner in which they are linked together, their difference from each other in the historical chain of events are not as simple and not as senseless as those in an ordinary chain made by a smith.’ – Vladimir Lenin. Workers’ Party West Belfast [Fb].” The quote is from Lenin’s  The Immediate Tasks Of The Soviet Government in 1918.

Divis Street, west Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07334

Prayer In The Time Of Coronavirus

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Another entry in a growing list of religious placards adorning the streets during the covid-19 pandemic, this time from the Shankill: “Drive-In Gospel – Gospel Hall Matchett Street, Sunday at 7:00pm.” According a survey cited in this FT article, the faith of Americans has generally strengthened during the pandemic.

Previously: Rediscover The Power Of The Rosary | Freedom Of Religion | Nearer My God To Thee

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07350 X07351

Freedom Of Religion

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

St Mary’s in the city centre is open, but with precautions against the spread of coronavirus. A one-way system is in effect. Seating is in alternate pews. “No singing; no loud talking.” And the use of holy water is “temporarily” suspended.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07345 X07344

Nearer My God To Thee

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

How to survive Covid? Maintain social distance, as on the right? Or, as on the left, “Jesus I trust in you”? Collinward Avenue, Glengormley.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07360 [X07359]

Disobedience Is Man’s Original Virtue

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“White lives matter!!!” Graffiti in racial (rather than nationality or class) terms, in the shadow of Teach Fhinn, New Lodge.

Update: Replaced with “BLM” (tw).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07311

Rediscover The Power Of The Rosary

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Hope for salvation from the coronavirus epidemic appears in Iveagh Street: “‘There is no problem I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary.’ – Sister Lucia [Lúcia], Fatima visionary. Rediscover the power of the Rosary at www.therosary.net“

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07307

Reading Between The Lines

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Dominic Cummings, advisor to the ruling Conservative party in the UK government, was a source of controversy and widespread derision in May when he claimed that he had driven (during the coronavirus lockdown) from London to Durham in order to deliver his son to his grandparents and then to Barnard Castle to test his eyesight (WP). Protestations of disbelief and calls for his resignation were widespread, including the amendment to the east Belfast graffiti shown above: “We’re in this together – except for Cummings”. For the original, see Inspiring Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07297

The New Normal

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Community warning. This area is being monitored for antisocial behaviour. Your behaviour has consquences. Think of your community. Don’t do anything you might later regret. This sign was amended by Lasaır Dhearg [web | tw] as part of our campaign against imperialism and PSNI normalisation.” The substitute version is from the Fall Road, the original (below) is from Ballysillan Road.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07289 X07290