The Lookout

2014-03-27 LouthStained+

This stained glass window from Ravensdale Chapel just across the border in Louth depicts the story in Luke’s gospel (19:1-10) in which the tax-collector Zacchaeus, small of stature, climbs up the sycamore tree in order to see Jesus pass by. The chapel, shown below, is itself shaped like a lighthouse.

Previously: stained glass in Belfast City Hall and in An Cultúrlann.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Lord Has Made Room For Us

2014-04-03 Rehoboth+

This vintage grocer’s signage and “Rehoboth, The Well” shopfronts are in North Queen Street, north Belfast. “Rehoboth” was the name of the well dug by Isaac after several others which got him into disputes with other land-owners. When this one proved uncontroversial he rejoiced, saying “At last the Lord has made room for us and we will flourish in the land.” (Genesis 26:22) Demolition on the site began last week.

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Copyright © 2014 Extramural Activity
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Harland & Why

2014-04-08 LocalJobsFlyer+

The poster above – seen in east and south Belfast – has been called “racist” by the Alliance party. “What happened to local jobs for local people? Why are local skilled workers denied job opportunities? Why is outside labour being used in their place? Why are hundreds of overseas workers employed at present on higher wages? Why are they not paying UK tax? Why are they not paying national insurance?”

The poster concerns the 600 temporary jobs at H&W refurbishing the oil rig ‘Blackford Dolphin‘. According to the BBC (video) only one third of the jobs could be filled from the Northern Irish workforce. A BelTel article from November 2013 specifies that another third came from Britain and the final third from “Poland and Lithuania”.

Below: Some posters with the H&W cranes in the background, just off the Newtownards Road.

See also: Inspiring Belfast.

2014-04-08 LocalJobs+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Unseen Miracles

2014-03-27 ScooterPig+

A pig on a scooter. A disembodied head of Jesus of Nazareth (seen previously in One Love). And (below) the Springfield Road “peace” line.

2014-03-27 ScooterPigWide+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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A Bunch Of Live Wires

2014-02-25 ConwayETUClose+

“Says Joe, ‘Those that they forgot to kill went on to organise.'” Words from ‘(The Ballad Of) Joe Hill’ are included in a mural in Conway Street sponsored by the Australian Electrical Trades Union (ETU) in Victoria.

Previous Australian-sponsored murals: Caırde Sınn Féın | Australian Aid

2014-02-25 ConwayETU+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Real Heroes

2014-02-12 MaighArdHeroes+

Spiderman, Hulk, Captain America and the other super-heroes have crossed the Springfield Road and are now fighting depression and drug-abuse in Maigh Ard/Moyard. The image above shows Iron Man, while Thor and Batman feature in the second and third shots, below.

“Be a hero, support your mates.” “Winter, spring, summer & fall, all you gotta do is call 08 08 808 8000 and we’ll be there. You’ve got a friend.” “Real heroes don’t need drugs. And neither do you!”

Previously: WallbustersWalls, Unbroken | Red-EyeCartoon World

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2014-02-12 MaighArdHeroesWide+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Slowly Those Who Create The Wealth Of The World Are Permitted To Share It

2014-02-16 Labor+

This board on the Cupar Way “peace” line at the North Howard Street gates features a quote by Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, “the most dangerous woman in America” for her labour organizing: Slowly those who create the wealth of the world are permitted to share it – The future is in labor’s strong, rough hands.” Wide shot below.

The two community boards to the right were featured previously: What Divides Us.

2014-02-16 LaborWide+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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One Big Union

2014-02-19 CityHallWindow+

“Not as Catholics or Protestants, not as Nationalists or Unionists, but as Belfast workers standing together.” Belfast City Hall has a number of colourful stained-glass windows, one of which is shown here. It features Belfast industry and Jim Larkin who, while more famous for the Dublin lock-out of 1913, also led a strike by the National Union Of Dock Labourers (NUDL) in Belfast in 1907. In 1908 the ITGWU (the One Big Union, OBU) was formed.

Previous posts involving Larkin: Til Labour Knows No Master | We Only Want The Earth | Shed Lockout | John Quinn

Video of the unveiling, in May 2007

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Threatened World

2014-01-27 RosaMystica+

At the very top of the Whiterock Road, which is to say, half-way up Sliabh Dubh/Black Mountain, there are two shrines (wide shot below). The shrine to the Virgin Mary includes the apocalyptic prayer shown above: Mary, mystical rose, mother of the church, help the holy father of all bishops, all priests and all religious. Intercede for the sorely-pressed church of our times. Pray for the threatened world into which satan’s hot breath is blowing. Draw us all to your immaculate motherly heart. You are the mother of pity. Amen.

Previously: The BVM Supports POWs

2014-01-27 RosaMysticaWide+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Mysterious Ways

2014-02-17 StPetersApex+

Like some of the residents of the Divis area in which this cathedral that bears his name now stands, (Saint) Peter found himself in prison. But the night before his trial, there comes an angel who magically releases his shackles and opens all the doors (Acts 12:3-19). James, on the other hand, is not so fortunate. As a scholar on the WP page notes, why James should die while Peter escapes is a “mystery of divine providence”. Wide shot and info board below.

Another previously-featured scriptural conundrum: Occupy Til I Come (Luke 19:13)

2014-02-17 StPeters+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01693 X01692 X01694 down & connor catholic gothic french medieval two great towers spires jeremiah ryan mcauley barney hughes scrabo sandstone 1866 sunday 14 october organ in 1883 1885 spires added mortimer thompson total cost 35,900