The Gaffer

This is an update to the post Legends Never Die, which showed the original tribute to Rangers manager Walter Smith in the form of a tarp below the celebration of Rangers’ 2020-2021 league title. Since then, fans have left wreaths and attached their tops to the railings, with messages written on them in marker: “True Blue”, “Our knight”, “Legend like no other”, “Mr Rangers”.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08792 X08793 [X08789] [X08791] X08794 X08795 X08790 Lawnbrook Ave

#BuildShankill

A message from BUILD Shankill (web): “Did you know? The Shankill has over 80 waste sites the size of 62 football pitches with the space to build 3300 homes. #BuildShankill.” Members of the team, as well as representatives from the Housing Executive and the NI Executive, took a bus tour of the sites in June (Alternatives youtube channel).

Housing is also a concern in other areas of Belfast – for CNR west Belfast, see (e.g.) Is This Our City? | in north Belfast see (e.g.) Equality Can’t Wait.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08763 [X08764] X08765 [X08766] shankill rd

They Prosecute Children

These images are from two campaigns on the railings of Groves-Reilly Corner (a.k.a. the site of the former Andersonstown RUC barracks, now named after a pair of campaigners against the use of plastic bullets, particularly against children). The focus in the first three is the arrest of children and their prosecution of children in Israeli military courts: Every year 700 Palestinian children are prosecuted in Israeli military courts. The US pages Israel $7 million a day.” (Board borrowed from SeaMAC.) And “9 years old – the age of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons. Is this democracy?” The final image is of a tarp sponsored by the ‘Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign’ (Fb | web) calling for “boycott, divestment sanctions” against “Israeli apartheid”.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08702 X08701 X08697 [X08700] [X08914]

Forever Young

On this date twenty years ago (November 11th, 2001 – Remembrance Sunday) sixteen year-old Glen “Spacer” Branagh was killed by the premature blast of a pipe bomb he was carrying during a riot with New Lodge nationalists. He was affiliated with Tiger’s Bay First flute band – which held a memorial parade for him on October 16th (youtube) – and the UDA/UYM – for which see the old “Young Guns” mural on the site of the current Duncairn community garden. Distant relative Kenneth Branagh was also born in Tiger’s Bay (An Phoblacht), before leaving at age nine with his family in 1969 (WP); his film Belfast will be released in the USA tomorrow.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08591 [X08592] X08593 X08589 [X08590] X08642 X08643 N Queen St

Legends Never Die

“Heroes get remembered, legends never die.” Walter Smith passed away on October 26th, after a managerial career spanning 33 years, including two stints at Rangers – winning 21 titles over 11 years – and the Scottish national squad. A tarp in his honour – with poppies around his portrait – has been added to the Shankill Road celebration of Rangers’ 2020-2021 league title.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08629 X08628 Lawnbrook Ave

To The Ends Of The Earth

Here is another collection of images related to the Noah Donohoe campaign – this is now our twelfth post on the topic. The tarp and painted fencing, below, are from the Antrim Road, in north Belfast; the clothing bin is in bus turn-around just beyond Ligoniel; the sticker is in Dublin.

Click image to enlarge
First and last images Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
Middle two images Copyright © 2021 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
X08574 X08569 X08570 X08370

McKelvey & Steele

This tarp, above the office of Sınn Féın Poblachtach and the Happy House on the Falls Road, celebrates two previous generations of IRA leadership. Joe McKelvey was commander of the Belfast Brigade of the IRA in the War Of Independence but against the Treaty; he was executed in December, 1922, for occupying the Four Courts in June (WP). Jimmy Steele was a leader in the Belfast IRA from the 1920s to 1960s and the first editor of Republican News; he died shortly after the split (WP).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08564 X08563

Loyalist Monarch Celebrates 100 Years Of Northern Ireland

The Village (specifically the Monarch Street/Parade area, above Donegall Road) “celebrates 100 years of Northern Ireland, 1921-2021”.

The Village Team (“VT”) is still on tour (“OT”), trying to kill all Taigs (“KAT”) – all Taigs are targets (“ATAT”). See previously: Taigs Will Be Dealt With | Concerned Loyalists | Loyalist Monarch

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08432 X08433

Cuimhníonn An Srath Bán Orthu Go Deo

“Strabane remembers them forever” – the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation are shown here in colour portraits over the GPO – Connolly, Pearse, Clarke, McDonagh, Ceantt, Plunkett, Mac Diarmada.

Bridge Street, Strabane.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Extramural Activity
X08842 X08841

Gin Tonic

Eimear’s Wish (web | tw) last night launched a fundraising and blood cancer awareness campaign selling gin with a bottle raffled to supporters attending the first Irish League match of the new seasons between Glenavon and Portadown; it has the support of many soccer, rugby, GAA, and bowling clubs – this is the tarp outside Seaview on the Shore Road, Belfast. “Crusaders FC & Eimear’s Wish working together to raise stem cell donor awareness in Northern Ireland and create hope for people with life threatening illness.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08308