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Act Now

2015-01-192025-04-17Extramural Activity1 Comment

The Belfast Telegraph reports that an Irish language bill will be published in the near future, though the DUP have already rejected such an Act. (For more background and discussion see Brian Walker’s post a few days ago on Slugger.) The éırígí stencil above, calling for “Acht Na Gaeılge Anoıs!!!” – “An Irish Language Act Now!!!”, is in Hugo Street below a tricolour and a plaque in the memory of Pearse Jordan (see the second image, below). The wide shot shows the two other pieces on this side of the street, a ‘Justice For The Craigavon 2’ stencil (featured previously in Justice) and Palestinian skyjacker Leila Khaled.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02407 X02408 X02409 wreath oıfıg béal feırste in memory of murdered 25th november 1992 the fools they have left us our fenian dead and while ireland holds these graves ireland unfree shall never be at peace john paul wootton brendan mcconville saoırse arabic

Those Days Are Over

2014-12-202024-12-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over.” (Bella Abzug).

Above is a board on the Donegall Road bridge showing women drumming up an audience for a suffragette meeting in the Ulster Hall in November 1912. The image in the bottom right is of Emmeline Pankhurst being arrested in London in 1914; the top image is of Pankhurst on tour in the US in 1913 (LoC; see Pieces Of History for a description of the tour; she gave a speech entitled ‘Freedom Or Death’). Pankhurst spoke in Belfast at the 1912 meeting, though the speakers advertised on the placards are “Mrs Charlotte Despard, Miss Irene Miller, Mrs Edith How-Martyn, Miss Alison Neilans“.

The first suffrage group in Ireland was the North Of Ireland Women’s Suffrage Society, founded in Belfast in 1872 by Isabella Tod.

See also Belfast’s Infamous Prison for information about suffragettes held in Crumlin Road Gaol.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01836 ulster hall meeting monday nov 25

Manage Your “Debt” Live Your Life

2014-12-182024-12-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Above is the third panel from a recent (2014-07) mural advertising the Ardoyne Association, whose office is just down the street. As the shot of the full mural shows, asking for advice and help with debt will make it finally stop raining (and turn you blonde?). Some images of the mural in progress, painted by Michael Doherty, can be found at the Association’s Facebook page.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02023 X02024 hold you back North Belfast Advice Partnership debt consumer rights debt housing sss benefits disability carers employment inland revenue the community foundation

Lessons In Revolt

2014-11-302024-12-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Socialist Party flyer above on Royal Avenue urges Belfast residents to pay attention to the on-going protests against water charges in the Republic as a way of learning how to resist any cuts implemented by Stormont. Yesterday marked one in a shifting series of deadlines for registration for the water scheme and rallies were held in various southern cities (Independent). Water charges have been ruled out in the North until at least 2015 (Tele).

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02397 joe higgins td anti-water activist jackie pollock unite the union patrick mulholland nipsa president personal capacity holiday inn ormeau avenue thurs 27 nov public meeting

Art In The Eastside

2014-11-092024-12-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

At the same time that the new David Ervine board was put in place, the existing board next to it, which dates to 2008, was spruced up. The image above is a wide shot of both boards, while the image below shows the commemorative casting in front. For the original board, see David Ervine; for explanations of the sculpture, including its pipe, prayer-book, ticket, and boots, see Memory Chair.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02324 X02323

Stop Tory Cuts

2014-10-112024-12-22Extramural Activity1 Comment

The (UK) Conservative Party has proposed a series of cuts, including a freeze of child benefit, income support, tax credits, dole, and housing benefit. These are opposed by various parties and advocacy groups in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The mural above is on the Divis Street international wall, while Black Mountain/Slıabh Dubh currently carries the same message: #stoptorycuts. Protest rallies were held today (2014-10-11) in both Belfast and Dublin.

Replaces (part of) The Big Plan

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02255 X02276 X02275 stand up fight back stad na cıorruıthe join sınn feın

Belfast, You’re Melting My Head

2014-10-102024-12-22Extramural Activity1 Comment

Pastor James McConnell, who denounced Muslims as “satanists” back in May at the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle, is finally seeking help, attending “Despots Anonymous” in the company of a Muslim, a Jew, and a Sikh. The group meets next door to 1690, home to a football-loving boy from a family of immigrants who are under attack because the housing is for “locals only” – see the final image for just such a graffito in Pine Way. The bottle of Buckfast preaches “Love thy neighbour as thyself”.

This is another part of Ciaran Gallagher’s (web) “Belfast Stripped Bare” piece in the Duke of York/Dark Horse courtyard. The wide shot, below, shows Carl “The Jackal” Frampton in an upstairs window. There’s also, above the piece, an accompanying poem by Alice McCullough, “Belfast You’re Melting My Head”, which you can watch her recite in front of the piece.

Previously: Belfast Stripped Bare | Teenage Dreams

The Good Road

2014-10-022024-12-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Above is a new mural on the Divis Street “International Wall” (Visual History) in support of travellers’ right, featuring horseshoes, musical notation, and a child looking out of a vintage caravan. Sponsored by West Against Racism Network (WARN – web | Fb) and Springfield Charitable Association (SCA – web)

The image that the artists were working from for central portion of the mural – a 2009 photograph by Mark Stedman – can be seen still taped to the wall.

Replaces the “Say No To Racism” mural from June.

Revolution

2014-08-212024-12-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Every turn of the wheel is a revolution”. This streetart by KVLR is outside The John Hewitt (pub) in the city centre. The John Hewitt was set up in 1999 by Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre (BURC | Belfast Media) and the mural was painted in 2000 (Turkington). This makes it one of the earliest pieces of street art in Belfast, if not the earliest. See Visual History 11 – The Rise Of Street Art.