graffiti/writing

Seas Le Kneecap

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Kneecap performed their Coachella sets in front of a large screen onto which messages were projected, including denunciation of the Israeli “genocide” of Palestinians “enabled” by the US (Rolling Stone).

Many cancelled gigs followed, as well as a call from Sharon Osbourne that the band’s work visas be revoked (BBC). In response, Kneecap insisted that their speech was not an incitement to violence (BBC).

The band’s visas might also be in jeopardy because the band has parted ways with booking agents IAG, which sponsored the band’s US tour (Hollywood Reporter).

Further, scrutiny of past performances revealed pro-Hamas and -Hizbollah chants, which have now led to an investigation by the UK’s anti-terror police (NME). The band also apologized for a 2023 remark that “the only good Tory [Conservative MP] is a dead Tory” (BBC).

Many artists and bands have come out in support of Kneecap – about 40 put their names to a statement posted to instagram. The band also has the support of the graffitist in the image above: “Free Palestine – silence = complicity. Seas le Kneecap [stand with Kneecap]”.

The Glúıne Caıpín (Caıpín Glúıne/Kneecap/Ní cheapaım) chocolate bar (below) was purchased in a Castle Street newsagents.

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Copyright © 2025 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Solidarity With Gaza Health Workers

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In this graffiti outside the Royal Victoria Hospital, west Belfast, a person in a white coat faces a tank bearing an Israeli flag. Israel’s renewed bombardment of Gaza on March 18th killed more than 400 people (Independent), including an OB-GYN specialist in Rafah (Al-Jazeera); on the 23rd, an airstrike on Nasser Hospital killed five (Reuters).

Detailed figures of casualties among health-care workers in Gaza can be found at Healthcare Workers Watch.

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Copyright © 2025 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Show Israel The Red Card

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“Show Israel The Red Card” is a campaign to suspend Israel from UEFA and FIFA competitions (Haaretz).

Supporters of various teams around the world (Quds News | Combat Antisemitism) have been displaying the slogan at games, following the lead of Celtic ultras in a match against Bayern Munich (youtube).

On March 8th, various groups, including RSYM (Fb), held a protest at Free Derry Corner (Fb video).

In smaller letters below the main slogan is “#LajeeCeltic” – Lajee Celtic (web) is a football academy in a camp in Palestine.

For the small posters see Boycott The White House.

Free Derry Corner has its own Visual History page.

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Copyright © 2025 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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Nazis Not Welcome

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Graffiti on the Falls Road at the Royal Victoria Hospital: “racism, nazis not welcome in our community”.

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Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Open The Bridge

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“Save Sandy Row – open the bridge”. “Sensitive dismantling” of the Boyne Bridge began at the end of November (BBC), as part of the restructuring around the new Grand Central Station despite another protest from locals who allege that the bridge is an essential part of Sandy Row culture (see the entry Battle Of The Boyne Bridge in the Paddy Duffy Collection). (There was an earlier protest on November 5th (BBC); the images below confirm the Irish News‘s estimate of “several dozen”.)

However, the bridge’s demolition has become entangled with the traffic congestion currently dogging the city. Specifically related to the bridge, demolition work paused on the 5th of December because strategies to deal with the disruption to traffic had not been effected (News Letter). And more generally, it is claimed that the closure is contributing to the congestion (News Letter) which is affecting businesses in the city centre (News Letter) and in Sandy Row (BBC). So far, the only concrete step that has been taken to tackle the traffic problem is to allow taxis to use bus lanes (BBC).

For streetart at the new station, see Action At A Distance.

Update Jan 2025: work has halted (BelTel)

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Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Right Of Return

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DUP leader Gavin Robinson posed in front of the original graffiti reading “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” outside the Royal (see Stop Israeli Terror, from October 2023) in order to draw attention to its continued presence, despite a complaint had been made that it was anti-Semitic (BBC). Immediately upon its obliteration this past week (November 2024), a condemnation of the DUP appeared (above and below), and shortly afterward the slogan was restored, though without the Palestinian flag (see wide shot below).

“LD” is (presumably) Lasair Dhearg (web)

Falls Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Smile! Smile More!

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Perhaps this graffitist was interrupted in Ann Street (on the phone box, above) or decided to escalate their demands in Fountain Lane, below.

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Copyright © 2024 Fintan Woods
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City Paints

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Derry’s ‘Get Up’ graffiti and street art festival took place at the end of June – here is the Strand Road hoarding sprayed by NOYS (ig), POSEA (ig), VENTS (ig), RAZER (ig), Chose Letters (ig) and perhaps others, with support from Peaball (web) and Foyle Maritime (web), as well as City Paints (Fb) and Crown paints.

For the street art pieces from Clarendon Street, see Get Up, Derry.

For the same hoarding in 2023, see Crash Bandicoot, and in 2022, see Some Buzz.

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Copyright © 2024 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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Dump Inside

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This is a 2024 revisiting of the waste-ground (an old weaving factory) at the Westlink corner of the Village, south Belfast. Compared to 2023 (see This Area Needs Social Housing), there is some UVF graffiti (some of which has been covered over with heart stickers – see also Smothered In Kisses) and many new flags, including the row overlooking the Westlink (in the tenth image) among which are the flags of Israel and Ukraine.

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Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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You Are Now Entering The European Court Of Justice

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The long-running extradition case against Seán Walsh – from the republic to the north – took another twist in March when the supreme court referred his case to the European Court Of Justice. Walsh is wanted on charges of New IRA membership, based on surveillance of meetings organised by MI5 agent Dennis McFadden (Herald). The point now at issue is whether a 2021 UK law on sentencing for those convicted of terrorism charges (pdf) – no early release is possible (gov.uk) – contravenes article seven of the European Convention On Human Rights.

Republicans also claim that he would be subject to maltreatment if extradited (RN).

A write-up of the arguments can be found in this Irish Times article from 2023, when the possibility of referral was first mooted by Walsh’s legal team.

The black shamrock in the centre of the wall pre-dates the Walsh graffiti – see Black Shamrock for its significance. Free Derry Corner has its own Visual History page.

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Copyright © 2024 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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