Tile Refinery

2013-11 29 TileRefinery+

Coloured squares, representing tiles, on the exterior of the David Scott Tile Refinery (web) in Blythe Street (off Sandy Row).

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Village People

Two masked gunmen point straight at the viewer in this UVF mural in south Belfast’s Village area. Straight-on shot, below.

2013-11-24 VillageUVF+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Union Jack

The text has now faded from this Westwinds mural in Newtownards (which can be seen in this 2007 image). “The Union Jack – its construction and how to use it. ” The text describes the composition of the Union Flag from the St George’s Cross, St Andrew’s Saltire, and St Patrick’s Cross, and how to fly it properly: “In flying the flag, the broad white stripe of the cross of St Andrew should be next to the mast.” Also shown are Britannia astride the globe, a king and queen, a lion, naval boats and a sub, the flowers of the “home nations”, Titanic, and Belfast city hall with a H&W crane in the background. Blenheim Drive, Newtownards.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Bleeding Poppy

2013-11-12 BleedingPoppy+

Above is a new (November 9th, 2013) piece by Damian Walker/Rebel Rebel of the Gael Force Art group (Fb) showing a bleeding poppy with a skull at its centre, under the words “Symbol of British imperialism around the world”. Palestine, Libya, Malvinas, Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan are listed as areas under British influence or occupation. At the bottom, in red streaking paint, we have “Britain out of Ireland”

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Na hÉıreannaıgh Aontaıthe

“Liberté, égalité, fraternité”. The United Irishmen of 1798 had been inspired by the revolutions in both the United States and France, and France attempted without success to send troops to Ireland in 1796 and 1798 (Irish History). “It is new strung and shall be heard” – this style of harp is called a Maid Of Erin harp.

Painted by Andrea Redmond in South Link, Andersonstown, Belfast, for the 200th anniversary of the rebellion. Also new for the 200th anniversary is the stone below in the nearby memorial garden outside the PD. “Who fears to speak of 98? This plaque was erected to the memory of the United Irishmen who gave their lives for Irish freedom; also all those who died as a result of the Great Hunger. ‘These are the times that try men’s souls’ [Thomas Paine] ‘The rich always betray the poor’ – Henry Joy McCracken.”

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Don’t Turn Your Back

2013-11-28 BoyneCtHateCrime+

An ageing UDA/UFF mural in Boyne Court, just off Sandy Row shows three masked men firing a funeral volley. “In proud memory of our fallen comrades. We forget them not. ‘At the going down of the sun/And in the morning/We will remember them.”

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01469 in proud memory of our fallen comrades we forget them not at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them quis separabit

Chips & A Movie

2013-09-30 AtomicCollect+

Here are two commercial murals in North Street, Belfast city centre. The first, above, was done last year (2012) by Friz (see her previously featured work), for Atomic Collectables; the second, below, is in front of The Chippie – artist unknown.

2013-09-30 ChipsKetchup+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Cartoon World

2013-11-21 CartoonGarden+

When not starring in their respective cartoon shows, Dora the Explorer, Spongebob Squarepants, Tom & Jerry, and Mickey & Goofy hang out together in a secret garden, entered through a portal in the wall at the entrance to the Sliabh Dubh estate. This mural was finished after the superhero murals it is next to. See previously: Wallbusters | The Walls, Unbroken

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Sagart

2013-12-05 AlecReid+

A tribute to Father Alec Reid, who died on November 22nd and buried on the 27th, has been added to the international wall on Divis Street. Reid was a priest in the nearby Clonard monastery and helped negotiate between Sınn Féın and the SDLP and between nationalists and the government of the Republic. He is perhaps best known for attempting to save Corporals Wood and Howe and administering the last rites to them, in 1988 (WP).

This piece takes the place of a ‘Free Marian Price” mural; Price was freed on May 30th, 2013.

The pieces to the left and right have been previously featured: End Internment | Milltown 25

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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On That Journey

2013-11-10 Collins+

Part mural, part board, this is a new piece honouring Colonel Timothy Thomas Cyril “Tim” Collins, OBE, whose speech to troops on the eve of the Iraq invasion in 2003 is reproduced in part on the right: “There are some who are alive at this moment who will not be alive shortly. Those who do not wish to go on that journey, we will not send. As for the others, I expect you to rock their world. But if you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory.” (More at WP)

As can be seen from the second image, the piece was sponsored by Charter NI (amongst others). The piece is one of three pieces which have recently been completed (NewsLetter), the other two being Boxing Through The Ages and Past/Future (Lendrick St). It replaces one of the two UDA 4th battalion panels in the set, the other of which can be seen in the third and final image: the piece in its setting alongside the Kenbaan Street memorial and the pink UDA, UYM and LPA murals.

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2013-11-10 PinkWide+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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