painted wall

Flesh

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Here are four pieces of street art by Pablo Caamina, Filth (web), and Dr Lakra x2 (ekosystem): a ratty cat, ?a cloud?, a skeleton kneeling in its own discarded flesh, and a sweating head. The yellow on the far end is part of a piece by Blu – brains falling out of an open head (ekosystem).

The building is now (part of) the site for the MAC, between Hector Street and Edward Street, Belfast; the building on the right is in Exchange Street.

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Copyright © 2007 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Operation Iraqi Liberation

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This two-panel mural on the International Wall on Divis Street protests the US occupation of Iraq.

On the left, George W. Bush sucks down Iraqi oil (and black bubbles with dollar-signs come out of his ears). On the right, Iraq lies in rubble and bones, conquered by a tattered US flag. (According to the artists – see final image – the frame on the right reproduces/is based on a magazine cover during the Viet Nam war.) The “British Support Hook” is has been added in the strip in the middle between the main panels.

Originally, the given reason for “Operation Iraqi Freedom” (not “liberation” as that would have yielded “OIL”) was the hunt for “weapons of mass destruction” but that search was suspended in January.

The mural to the left is Cherish The Children; to the right is Castilla Nacion.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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george w bush rockets red glare gave proof through the air that our flag was still there basra Bhaghdad Baghdad

Support The Prisoner

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In 2004 neither the first nor the last spots on the International Wall had been formally painted. The last spot, shown here, contained a variety of pieces (which can be seen in close-up at Peter Moloney’s site): a Fıanna Éıreann recruitment board (with internet address!); an IRPWA board calling for political status; “Support the prisoner”, formerly “Support the prisoner candidate” Tommy Crossan; an ETA mural; a mural in support of the Turkish hunger strikers.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Castilla Nacion/Països Catalans

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These two murals on the International Wall, Divis Street, urge freedom for Castile and Catalonia (and Ireland).

On the left, “Fuera fascistas de Castilla” (Out fascists of Castile!) The protester on the right is waving the flag of the Castilian Left, a political party working for recognition of the Castle region of Spain, roughly the north-central portion of the country, including Madrid (WP).

On the right are the flags of Catalonia and Ireland. The ‘Catalan Countries’ include (in Spain) Catalonia, parts of Valencia, and the Balearic islands, Andorra, and (in France) the Roussillon region.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Not Forgotten

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“Maghaberry POWs – not forgotten. Segregation for Irish POWs”. With RSF’s “Our actions are political not criminal” still hanging on.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Palestine Freedom!

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In 2004 the first spot in the international wall (left of the traffic light) was still blank and the wall started with the pro-Palestine mural. For the whole of the mural, see M01757.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Hedge Row School

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“Labhaır an teanga Ghaeılge lıom.” Catholic (and Presbyterian) education was prohibited by the penal laws (WP) and particularly the Education Act of 1695 (WP) – this is probably what’s on the notice on the left-hand tree. Schooling by Catholics (in Irish) nonetheless took place, in covert houses and outhouses, as well as in fields and hedge-rows. The Act was repealed in 1782, provided the teacher took an oath of allegiance to the Crown.

The mural is in Ardoyne Avenue, alongside the Mass Rock mural. See also the Cromwell mural in the lower Shankill.

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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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The Mass Rock

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This mural commemorates the repression of Catholicism and use of mass rocks as secret locations in the days of Cromwellian conquest and the penal laws, c. 1650-1800. The 1652 Act Of Settlement banished Catholic priests from the island and services had to be held at short notice in remote locations, with sentries posted to keep watch against soldiers from the New Model Army. Laws against the practice of Catholicism in Ireland were not lifted until the 1782 Roman Catholic Relief Act (PCUG).

“Is í an charraıg seo ıonad adhartha ar náıthreacha, áıt ar cothaıodh an creıdeamh do na glúnta a bhí le teacht.” [“This rock is our ancestors’ place of worship, where religion was preserved for the generations that were to come.”]

Ardoyne Avenue, Ard Eoın/Ardoyne

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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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Easter Lilies

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Easter lilies, starry plough (WP), Irish tricolour, black beret and gloves, commemorating dead IRA volunteers from the third battalion of the Belfast brigade.

The plaque on the stone in the corner thanks local residents for their contribution to the struggle. There’s a close-up of the stone in Peter Moloney’s collection (M02420).

“This mural is dedicated to the memory of those local republican activists [34 portraits of volunteers from “A, D, F foıreannacha, cathlann 3rú, Brıogáıd mBéal Feırste”] who devoted their lives to the cause of Irish freedom. Ar son na c[ú]ıse. Óglaıgh na hÉıreann. Unveiled by Sınn Féın councillors Martin Meehan and Margaret McClenaghan.”

“Many suffer so that some day future generations may live in justice and peace – Bobby Sands MP.”

“Dedicated to those friends and neighbours from Ardoyne, the Bone and Ligoniel whose contribution and support to our struggle was and remains invaluable. Aıthníonn muıd a gcrógacht. Óglaıgh na hÉıreann. Meán Fómhaır 2003.”

Ardoyne Avenue, north Belfast.

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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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Under Ben Madigan

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“Is beo ár cheoıl fós” [our music still lives] The Blind Piper is a painting (original) by Joseph Haverty (WP), here placed in the context of North Belfast’s Cave Hill.

Sponsored by North Belfast Cultural Society (“NBCS” in the apex).

Update: The Blind Piper was also featured in a 2012 board over the West Belfast Taxi terminal.

Brompton Park, Ardoyne.

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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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