The Past Comes Back

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The “Ulster’s Finest” mural in Monkstown was remarkable for its depiction of two female volunteers, carrying Uzis, the only depiction of female loyalist volunteers (see Rolston ‘Women on the walls’ in Crime Media Culture 14.3, 2018, p. 373). It was plastered over, perhaps because the gable is next to Hollybank primary. Some of the pebbledash wore away in January/February to reveal the mural – still in good condition – beneath (Vintage_UVF). For the original mural, see T00230.

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Dense

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Confusion over what to do with vacant lots along the south side of Carrick Hill continues. The corner site at the junction with Donegall Street was part of the ‘Northside’ plans back in 2008 and both it and the Library Street site were earmarked for high-rise student accommodations in 2015. None of those plans came to fruition and social housing was approved in 2018 (SF). But now the dispute is over whether to build two-storey family homes or high-rise apartments (which is apparently the preference of the current minister for Infrastructure, the SDLP’s Nichola Mallon (Irish News)). The board was erected by the Carrick Hill Residents Association at the Library Street site.

Update Jan 2021

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I Wish I Was Banksy

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A budding artist in Exchange Place, inspired by Banksy and all of the street art in Belfast city centre, but disappointed with their efforts so far: “Aww, I wish I was Banksy”. Or perhaps a sarcastic comment on most street art.

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Bang Up To Date

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The previous UVF mural in Carrington Street (Volunteering | On Your Side) was paint-bombed in October (Keep It Local) but has been quickly replaced by this computer-generated board showing the Harland & Wolff cranes, a Long Kesh watch-tower, and a hooded gunman from the UVF’s East Belfast Battalion.

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In The Lab

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This mad scientist was cooked up in the head of Friz (ig | tw | web), a second part of the Botanic hoarding featured yesterday (No Cure).

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No Cure

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Work by NOTA and the TMN crew (see previously) on the construction hoarding around the old Botanic Lodge (87-91 Botanic Avenue) Belfast. Work started in December (2019) on two commercial units and 14 apartments above (Future Belfast).

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Let’s Have A Ball

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Holly Pereira (web | tw | ig) is an illustrator, muralist, and sign-writer from Dublin who painted a piece in Kent St for HTN 2020.

Previously: Just Because You Feel It, Doesn’t Mean It’s There |

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Mother Of The Sick

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On March 24th, the Mater Infirmorum hospital closed its doors to all but Covid patients, partly enabled by a dramatic fall in emergency cases once the coronavirus struck (Irish News). In October, ICU care was moved from the Mater to the City; non-ICU Covid cases are still being treated in the Mater (Belfast Trust). The ICU beds in the City and in Altnagelvin were full last week (BelTel), as cases resurge. The carved statue in the Mater is the creation of Belfast City Sawmill (Fb) in Ballinderry (BelfastLive has in-progress shots).

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Rathfern Remembers

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For the centenary of the end of WWI (in November 2018) a small board was added to the UFF’s South East Antrim Brigade mural in Rathfern.

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Don’t Emigrate – Agitate

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Emigration of Irish nations outstripped their returning counterparts for most of the 2010 but stabilised in 2018 (Irish Times). (Migration data for NI nationals could not be found.) This Connolly Youth Movement (cym.ie | ig | tw account currently suspended) sticker on Northumberland Street street sign encourages young people to stay and work for change at home.

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