Victory To Gaza

By Wednesday night, the death toll in the “Israel-Hamas War” stood at 1,200 Israelis and 1,100 Palestinians (WP). Israel has been bombing Gaza for the last four days by rocket and from the air and is gathering forces on the border for a possible land invasion (Guardian). Support among Irish republicans is in favour of the Palestinians. In addition to the changes to Free Derry Corner, these “Victory to Hamas” (between Operation Motorman and The Runner) and “Victory to Gaza” graffiti have been painted in the Bogside, Derry.

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Copyright © 2023 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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GGRY

Here is a small piece of repbulican graffiti in the Elmfield area of Glengormley – a hammer and sickle.

See previously: Glengormley Republican Youth | Gleann Ghormlaithe Poblachtacht

Church Crescent, Glengormley, Newtownabbey.

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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Changed Priorities

In the post of the new Sam Rockett mural in Woodvale – Essence And Space – we said that the “peace” line separating Wyndham Street from the rest of Torrens had been taken down as the area was redeveloped from roughly 2008-2012. As can be seen from this gallery of images, however, some of the infrastructure remains, particularly the school building (former site of Naíscoil Bheann Mhadaigáin (Belfast Media profile)) and the adjacent waste-ground in Torrens Crescent, which remain undeveloped. The alley to Cliftonville is gated at both ends.

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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Time For A Socialist Republic

The waste ground at Corrib Avenue (in the curve between Rossnareen and Lenadoon) is being developed with new houses by Choice (Belfast Media) and Lasaır Dhearg have taken advantage of the hoarding mounted around the construction site to display the messages above — “Remember the hunger strikers” — and below, with an image of James Connolly — “Time for a socialist republic”.

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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Today’s Society Is Unequal

Commentary on the performance of “leaders” during Covid and in the fact of economic inequality, in Lenadoon, west Belfast:
“While we couldn’t bury our dead, our “leaders” drank wine.” (perhaps a reference to the images from the “leaving do” party in Downing St showing Boris Johnson with a glass of wine (iTV)
“Today’s society is unequal. We are expected to pay higher bills for the same wage?”

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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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And The Cry Of The City Went Up To Heaven

London social-worker Paddy McCarthy took a job at the Ballymurphy Tenants’ Association in west Belfast in 1970. On August 11th, 1971, he tried to broker a ceasefire and evacuation of children from Ballymurphy, where a curfew had been imposed after the introduction of internment. He carried a Red Cross flag but was shot in the hand. He regrouped and then tried to distribute milk to families, but was stopped by two soldiers who either fired over his head or put an unloaded gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. He died of a heart attack. (Belfast Media | WP | Ballymurphy Massacre | Ballymurphy And The Irish War, written by one of McCarthy’s successors, Ciarán De Baróid, who came to work for the BTA in 1972 – Belfast Media)

The memorial plaque is in Ballymurphy Road, as is the graffiti below: “OIRA [-] Beware hoods.”

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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Solidarity With The French Riots

“Solidarity with the French riots against racism & police – justice for Nahel!” 17 year-old Nahel Merzouk was shot and killed on June 27th by a motor-cycle policeman in Nanterre, France. The scope of use of firearms by police was expanded in 2017 to include dangerous drivers who refused to stop; Merzouk was at the wheel of a Mercedes that had twice failed to stop and (according to police) was putting others in danger. Police specifically alleged that the car, after the second stop, was driving towards the officer; video evidence later disproved this. This cover-up, combined with long-running discontent over the use of deadly force by police, led to six nights of rioting in which two people were killed, more than 3,000 people arrested, and 800 police injured. (BBC includes video | Independent | WP)

Divis Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Still Saying No

“Say ‘No’ to Irish Sea border.” The graffiti and placards have tapered off as the DUP’s rejection of Brexit’s NI Protocol – and the later Windsor Framework and its “Stormont brake” – and refusal to take their seats in Stormont approaches 18 months (Bel Tel | Reuters | Belfast Live). A poll from Queen’s last week found 61% in favor of the trading agreements (BelTel).

This piece of anti-Protocol graffiti is still rolling in New Mossley.

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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Aether

Here is a gallery of images from last week’s project to repaint a long wall at the Oval in east Belfast – about 14 young people took part, assisted by sprayers from 5th Element (ig), with sponsorship from the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Glentoran FC, and Choice Housing (Belfast Live).

For more 5th Element, see A Brighter Day.

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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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