RSYM/IRSP/INLA (Xitter) are campaigning for landlords to keep their rents at the LHA (Local Housing Allowance, a.k.a. housing benefit) levels (set by the Housing Executive). They assert that it is exploitative for private landlords to use the housing shortage as a reason for higher rents.
Beechmount graffiti.
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Copyright © 2023/2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Graffiti on the shutter of Man About Town (barbers) in Upper Queen Street, Belfast.
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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Here are images from Foyleside of more murals and graffiti in Derry supporting Palestine, Gaza, and Hamas. See also the entries from Derry’s Free Derry Corner and Bogside, and Free Palestine in Belfast.
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Copyright © 2023 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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Extramural Activity 