“This is republican youth land! Be happy! GGRY” This is a more ambitious piece of graffiti, at least in terms of scaling the building, when compared to 2023’s GGRY on the lower wall. (“GGRY” is “Glengormley Republican Youth”.)
With bonus “Nazis out!” graffiti on a litter bin at the Valley leisure centre.
Church Road, Glengormley
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Copyright © 2025 Ronan Woods
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The BBC and RTÉ are liars, covid and woke are lies. Only the RSYM (Fb) will tell you how it really is.
Cliftonville Road, north Belfast
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Copyright © 2025 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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For an explanation of this latest message on Black Mountain, see Gael Force Art’s Facebook page. An Irish tricolour would later joing the lettering shown here, though the piece had a short life-span, as it was replaced a message supporting Kneecap (for background see Seas Le Kneecap).
For a history of the messages on the mountain, see the Slıabh Dubh Visual History page.
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Copyright © 2025 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Build Casement now. Tóg é anoıs [Build it now]. Ógra SF”. Plans to redevelop Casement Park/Paırc Mhıc Ásmaınt go back to 2009 but a series of problems – with planning permission, objections from locals, insufficient funding, and the contractor going bust – has meant that the stadium has been boarded up and deserted since 2013 (balls.ie).
There were hopes that Casement would be renovated in time for the 2028 Euros, but the new Labour government declined to contribute and those plans were shelved. A rally was held last month (April 12th) to put pressure on government ministers – both in Stormont and Westminster – to make Casement’s rehabilitation a priority (BBC | RTÉ).
Andersonstown Road, west Belfast. For the Roger Casement board on the right of the final image, see Honour And Respect Hist Last Request.
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Copyright © 2025 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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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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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” 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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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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“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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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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Extramural Activity 