These two pieces of graffiti have appeared on the Stewartstown Road: “RIP Tommy Crossan – slan a chara” and “Tommy Crossan a true Republican”. Crossan, a former leader of the CIRA, was shot and killed on Friday (April 18th, 2014 – Good Friday) (Guardian).
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A pig on a scooter. A disembodied head of Jesus of Nazareth (seen previously in One Love). And (below) the Springfield Road “peace” line.
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A burnt-out car in the shadow of St. Peter’s cathedral and at the back of the Maureen Sheehan Health Centre, just off Albert Street, which is infamous for “DHLA” (Divis Hoods Liberation Army) joyriding. The new murals in the area (such as Our Youth, Our Future) are part of an intervention project to improve it. 2014-12 update: there has been an upsurge in carjackings in late 2014 (BelTel).
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Recent work around Conway and Canmore Streets on Cupar Way has revealed this old piece of graffiti: “We will never be 2nd class citizens to you scum[m]y bastards – L/S C/Coy” [Lower Shankill C Company]. C Company (2nd battalion) was Johnny Adair’s UDA unit and the location is just inside UVF territory (west of Agnes/Northumberland Street); this graffiti might thus date to the feud with the UVF in 2000. Alternatively, the intended audience might be residents in Bombay Street and St. Galls Avenue. If you have more definite information, please leave a comment or send an e-mail.
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Political commentary on the Cupar Way “peace” line (near Lanark Way): “Stick Haass up your ass” — a reference to the negotiations which were taking place around Christmas and New Year’s, led by Richard Haass, into the “legacy issues” of flags and emblems (including murals) and parades. No agreement was reached. (BBC | pdf | BBC)
December update: the Stormont House Agreement covered many of the same areas (WP).
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The Antrim Road at Carlisle Circus also bears the street-name ‘Winifred Carney Road’ (top left of the image above), as part of the ‘Naming Our Streets’ project. Carney’s name was chosen for this location – SIPTU offices – because she was a trade unionist and also because she grew up on Carlisle Circus. For more information, including biographies of 50 historically important Belfast women, seven of whom were honoured in this way, see the Women’s Resource & Development Agency.
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Graffiti in Lenadoon. In existentialist mode: “If nothing is, free are we.” Or perhaps “If nothing is free, are we[?]”
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The graffiti at the Royal (corner of Grosvenor Road) featured previously has drawn a parallel comment (from the CIRA?). Republican participation in the peace process is described as “suic[i]de” as “British rule!” is still intact.
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“Sinn Fein Out” – graffiti on the Ballysillan Road, directed at Catherine Seeley, a (Catholic) teacher at the (Protestant) Boys’ Model, and who recently became a Sinn Féin councillor in Craigavon. Seely has now quit her job. (Newsletter | Tele | BBC-NI). Previously: Our Wee Country (3)
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Here are two more pieces of loyalist graffiti, possibly by the same hand.
The first – “Flag protesters jailed, terrorists bailed” – is in Glenvale Street, just off the Woodvale Road.
The second – “PSNI women beaters” – is further along Woodvale Road at Enfield Street.
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Extramural Activity 