Vote All Unionist

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Polls close tonight at 10 pm in voting for the 11 local councils. According to this poster, Sinn Féin are “led by murderers” and are attempting to ‘rewrite history’, a case in point being North Belfast councillor JJ Magee’s (tw) refusal to call PIRA murders “criminal” – in the background is an image of the bombing of Frizzell’s fish shop on the Shankill Road, in which nine people died, plus one of the bombers. Register now to “take back city hall”!

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Tears Of A Clown

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Arlene Foster as a cross-eyed clown. Contemporary commentary on the current impasse in Brexit negotiations and the local executive (and perhaps the funeral of Lyra McKee) from TLO (web | previously on ExtrAct).

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Stop The Genocide Of Yemeni People

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The United Nations in February called the humanitarian crisis in Yemen the worst in the world (UN) with famine and cholera affecting 18 million people (WP). According to UNICEF, a child is dying every ten minutes (UNICEF). The crisis results from the on-going civil war. Saudi Arabia (with arms, training, and intelligence support from the UK (Theresa May on the left next to Union Flag headscarf), the US (Trump on the right next to US flag headscarf), and France (French flag on the lowest missile) has conducted an air campaign to restore Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, who was driven from Aden in March, 2015, by Houthi forces. The Saudi intervention has been criticized for killing citizens and destroying infrastructure (WP), shown in the mural above by bombs falling on a hospital and a school. Update: UK sales were found to be illegal by the Court Of Appeal on June 20th, 2019 (BBC).

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Timeless Memorials

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Discounts on hand-held and full-size Tricolours “in memory of all of those who have given their lives in the cause of Irish freedom” from the Milltown engravers – next to the Kurdish barbers – on the Falls Road.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ireland Out Of Britain

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Sınn Féın leader Mary Lou McDonald drew criticism for appearing behind an “England get out of Ireland” banner at the St Patrick’s day parade in New York city (BBC-NI). This Shankill Road graffiti reverses the sentiment (replacing “Britain” with “England”), commenting perhaps on the difficulty the Northern Ireland border poses for the UK’s attempt to exit the European Union.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06542

Lámh Chuıdıthe

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“Ag síneadh amach lámh chuıdıthe” [stretching out a helping hand] – this is a new Cogús [conscience] (Fb) republican prisoners office on Ardoyne Avenue.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06569

The First Dáıl

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“Countess Markievicz – first woman to be a member of the 1st Dáıl and the 1st woman in the world to hold a cabinet position as minister for labour 1919-1922.” Markievicz is shown here in civilian garb with a Cumann na mBan pin – compare with the previous mural celebrating the centenary of CnamB. The first Dáil Éireann met in the Round Room of the Mansion House in Dublin (residence of the Lord Mayor) on January 21st, 1919. 35 Sinn Féin deputies – including Markievicz – were absent because they were “fé ghlas ag Gallaıbh” (“imprisoned by foreigners”) and four more “ar díbırt ag Gallaıbh” (deported by foreigners); Unionist members including Edward Carson did not attend (The Irish Story). Among its business was the adoption of a Declaration Of Irish Independence (title page shown on the right).

The photograph reproduced is of the crowd awaiting news of a truce in the War Of Independence in July 1921 (WP).

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Spoil Your Vote

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“Don’t forget republican prisoners – spoil your vote for political status.” Below are two images of RSF posters in support of republican prisoners (also, Éıre Nua).

Stencil in Ascaill Ard Na bhFeá/Beechmount Avenue, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Wear Your Easter Lily With Pride

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16 republicans, the seven signatories of the Proclamation among them, were executed in the wake of the Easter Rising, 14 of them in Dublin in a 10-day period from May 3rd to 12th. They are depicted in this Saoradh  (web | tw) poster blindfolded and wearing suits: (from left to right) Patrick Pearse, Thomas Clarke, Thomas MacDonagh, Joseph Plunkett, Edward Daly, William Pearse, Michael O’Hanrahan, John MacBride, Éamonn Ceannt, Michael Mallin, Seán Heuston, Con Colbert, James Connolly, Seán MacDiarmada, Thomas Kent, and Roger Casement. Their deaths and the Rising are commemorated in Belfast each Easter with a parade

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Cross Of Crosses

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“The Cross Of Crosses – marking 45 years of conflict in Northern Ireland 1969-2014. Let this be the year the conflict ends. [sponsored by] George McIlroy IGNITE 2014.” “Forget me not – remembering those who lost their lives to suicide.” The sculpture, which contains 45 small crosses, was designed by Ross Wilson.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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