We Have Not Gone Away You Know

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Gerry Adams’s quip about the IRA after the ceasefire (in August, 1995) has become a slogan used for women’s struggle (International Women’s Day), sectarianism (Hasn’t Gone Away), British rule (They Haven’t Gone Away, You Know), coronavirus (It Hasn’t Gone Away, You Know) and now the “4000 families waiting” for social housing as lots in the city centre and north Belfast are turned by “private developers” into “student accommodation”. “Preparing immigrant ships. No not this time. We need houses, no relocation. North Belfast families will stay in north Belfast. We will not be shipped out.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
X08339 Carrick Hill

The Leaders Of This People Cause Them To Err

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“In loving memory of Ian “Big O” Ogle. “He who paid the ultimate sacrifice should never be forgotten” 27th January 2019. Unbowed, unbroken.”

The scripture cards within the wreath of poppies in Cluan Place – where Ogle lived and was killed – are directed at the east Belfast UVF; some of its members killed Ian Ogle (BelTel) and are alleged to still be active in the area (Belfast Live | BelTel).

II Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Isaiah 9:16 “For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08334 X08333

Beechmount Remembers

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A new board has been mounted in AMCOMRI Street for the fortieth anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike, with photographs from the area in the background, including the Revolution mural at the bottom of Beechmount Avenue in 1996-1997.

“Everyone, Republican or otherwise, has their own particular part to play. No part is too great or too small, no one is too old or too young to do something.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08341 X08340 X08343

Continuing Their Legacy

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“This plaque commemorates the centenary of the Easter Rising and the sacrifice of all those men and women who took part. We will remember their unwavering stance against British imperialism and its rule. We will acknowledge their influence on following generations to continue their legacy. In particular we remember all those old republicans from within this area, the Bone, who campaigned through the decades to fulfill the aspirations of the 1916 combatants. (Con Colbert) An Irish martyr who came to be defined by his favourite phrase “For my God and my country” fought on Marrowbone Lane [Dublin], 1916″.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08361

Marie Le Bonn

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is an update of the Marie Le Bonn Memorial Garden in Ard An Lao/Ardilea, previously seen in 2013.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08362

La Solidaridad Invariable

Extramural Activity1 Comment

Comandante Che Guevara gazes down on the people of west Belfast and the giant flag erected on Sliabh Dubh. The mural replaces the Battle Of Long Kesh on the International Wall.

“Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez … President of the Republic Of Cuba 11.6.2021. ‘Irish friends and Cubans living in Ireland have placed a Cuban flag on a mountain in the city of Belfast. The flag is 46 by 23 metres, the largest in the world. With the flag [is] the giant slogan and it’s [sic] demand to . [This is a] Moving and beautiful gesture from the “solidarious” children of an admirable people, [a] dignified and patriotic gesture of Cubans who are far away. Thank you for your unshakable solidarity …”

(Originally in Spanish: “Amigos irlandeses y cubanos residentes, han colocado en una colina visible desde la ciudad de Belfast, una bandera de Cuba, de 46 por 23 metros, la más grande en el mundo. La acompaña un letrero también gigante, demandando . Bello y conmovedor gesto de los solidarios hijos de un pueblo admirable, digno y de patriotas que están lejos. Gracias por la solidaridad invariable.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08336 [X08332] X08331

The Desire For Freedom

Extramural Activity1 Comment

The Falls Commemoration Committee (Fb) organises an annual commemoration for IRA D company volunteers from Divis and the lower Falls (as well as special events for the fiftieth anniversary of the Falls Curfew in 2020). The fourteen local volunteers are portrayed in a group above St Peter’s. They include the five volunteers who died in 1972 and were depicted in a mural previously at this spot.

“‘They won’t break me because the desire for [freedom and the] freedom of the Irish people is in my heart. The day will dawn when all the people of Ireland will have the desire for freedom to show. It is then that we will see the rising of the moon’ – Bobby Sands [March 17th, 1981]” Originally in Irish: “Ní bhrısfıdh sıad mé mar tá an fonn saoırse, agus saoırse mhuıntır na hÉıreann, ı mo chroí. Tıocfaıdh lá éıgın nuaır a bheıdh an fonn saoırse seo le taıspeáınt ag daoıne go léır na hÉıreann. Ansın tchífıdh [chífidh] muıd éırí na gealaí.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08330

Hands Across The Water

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Another tribute to Scottish friends: “Millsy our brother, always be in our hearts. Springburn Derry (Fb)”. Please get in touch if you have any information about “Millsy”, from Springburn in Glasgow, Scotland and supporter of Rangers (the north stand at Ibrox is named after Sandy Jardine, star player for Rangers (and Scotland) in the 1970s (WP)).

Shankill Road at Mountjoy Street

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08287

999 99

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A variation on Leo Boyd’s (web) Freshly Made For You! (and Winding Up The Peelers) outside Artcetera (web | ig | Fb) (formerly the Red Barn Gallery) off Rosemary Street, Belfast, with two other pieces by unknown artists (replacing Turning Towards The Sun). (The trio is soon joined by Wee Nuls’s Medusa.)

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08345 X08346

Boab Kerr

Extramural Activity1 Comment

UVF Scottish Brigade Volunteer Scott “Boab” Kerr, from the Govan area of Glasgow and Sons Of The Somme FB (Fb), died in 2015 and is remembered with a plaque on the corner of Beechfield Street in east Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08319 [X08318]