graffiti/writing

Your Wall, Your Border

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US president Donald Trump followed a three-day state visit to the UK (London and Portsmouth) with a few days in Ireland before briefly stopping in France for D-Day commemorations. In London, protesters gathered in their tens of thousands and the ‘Trump baby’ blimp flew in Parliament Square (gallery of images at CNN) before making its way to Dublin (BBC) for the second leg of the trip. The Trumps were likewise met by protesters when they landed at Shannon Airport (Irish Times) where he met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and remarked “I think it [Brexit] will all work out very well [for the UK]. And also for you, with your wall, your border. We have a border situation in the United States and you have one over here, but I hear it’s going to work out very well.”

The besieged president would have been welcome, however, in loyalist west Belfast – the Israeli Star Of David and graffiti shown above were added below the Imagine mural between the security gates on Northumberland Street: “President Trump welcome in Belfast. No surrender.”

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06626

Hard To Kill

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“Frankie + Andy – Village legends.” UVF hitman Andy “Hard To Kill” Aiken died of a drugs overdose in June 2018, six months after the death of his brother Andy (BelTel) who lived in Roden Street (Funeral Times). The graffiti was previously to Frankie alone (Street View).

Aiken was a suspect in the killing Bobby Moffett on the Shankill in May 2010; Moffett had previously been expelled from the RHC for drug use (BelTel).

The referent of “RIP Lee – one love” is unknown. It is perhaps Lee Rigby (WP).

Roden Street/Donegall Road, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06622 [X06624] [X06625]

Burning Issues

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A sticker protester in Bloomfield Avenue is tired of high rates: “UVF bonfire riots are to add £500 to your rates. Thank your morons”, “UVF scum push up rates + selfish bonfire builders”, “High private rentals and lack of council homes = EU open border German plan”.

Policing at two east Belfast bonfires last year cost 188 thousand pounds (BBC-NI), but it’s not clear that had any impact on rates. Commercial rates will increase by £138 this year, due in part to the allocation of half a million pounds for “bonfire diversionary schemes” (up from 400,000 pounds in 2018), resulting in a rates increase of 1.98% compared to a planned increase of 1.67% (Irish News | BBC-NI). The scheme has been called a “carve up” for special interests as the allocation of funds was decided by Sinn Féin and the DUP alone. Last year’s allocation was investigated by the NI Audit Office, and it appears that the office will investigate this year’s too in order to see that the recommendations made were adhered to (Alliance).

The other issue seems to be that immigration into Europe (including Belfast) is forcing up rents. Most immigrants to east Belfast live in privately-owned accommodation (NIHE). Germany ended its open-door migration policy in June 2018 (Vox).

Please get in touch if you can shed light on any of the issues.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06568 X06567 X06566

Even Protestants Love Marxism

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“Even Protestants love Marxism/Leninism – just ask Wolfe Tone.” Tone, an Anglican, was an Irish republican and famously thought that the “men of no property” would play a part in the revolution, but what he thought their role would be in the new Ireland is much less clear. The graffiti is in loyalist east Belfast.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06564 London Rd

Ireland Out Of Britain

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Sınn Féın leader Mary Lou McDonald drew criticism for appearing behind an “England get out of Ireland” banner at the St Patrick’s day parade in New York city (BBC-NI). This Shankill Road graffiti reverses the sentiment (replacing “Britain” with “England”), commenting perhaps on the difficulty the Northern Ireland border poses for the UK’s attempt to exit the European Union.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06542

Freedom For The Basque Country

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“Freedom for t[he] Basque country! Fucking bastards from Iruña.” Iruña is the Basque name for Pamplona, capital of Navarre, the district neighbouring the Basque Country and part of the greater Basque region but which has a majority pro-Spanish government.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06483 queen st

Xenomorph

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What strange forms flow from the minds of artists. The alien xenomorph is the creation of Swiss surrealist HR Giger (WP); the wild-style writing – with spray-can in hand – is local.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06425 X06424 Great Victoria St

What’s Da Craic?

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New art for 2019 from Belfast’s taggers in McKibben’s Court. With wild-style writing by ?CASP? – please correct us if you think otherwise.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06461 X06462

Pill Pushers Are Killing Our Youth!

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“Pill pushers are killing our youth! INLA” in Creggan, Derry. Drugs offences were up 54% in the Derry & Strabane council area (Derry Journal). Previously: RAAD graffiti in Foyle Hill.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06382 [X06381] [X06380] Central Drive