Give Them A Lift

03678-2016-07-24-give-them-a-lift

“Please “support” our bra appeal: the ladies in Ghana spend long hours working in the fields unsupported. Please donate your unwanted bras & help give them a lift. Many thanks.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03678

Kryat Dragon

03856-2016-09-26-cnb-andycouncil

In the Star Wars universe, the Krayt Dragon (or Kryat Dragon, as artist Andy Council spells it) lives on Tatooine, the home planet of Anakin and Luke Skywalker. It is rendered here in the buildings of Cloud City above Bespin, which was governed by Lando Calrissian in the “first” Star Wars (Episode IV).

Previously by Andy Council: Belfast City Phoenix

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03856

Know Evil

03620-2016-07-03-see-hear-speak

Instead of three monkeys, this IRPWA board in London-/Derry/Doire shows three skeletons in denial of the ‘strip searching’, ‘controlled movement’ and ‘internment’ happening at HM Prison Maghaberry (with an enlarged “H” to make an association with Long Kesh/Maze).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03620 rossville st

Better Than Ice Cream

03857-2016-09-26-cnb-mcclelland

A pigeon moves in to investigate the discarded ice cream from davidcreative (David McClelland)’s piece One Love for CNB16/HTN.

Update: “enhanced” by NIC

X04483 2017-09-15 NIC pumpkin+

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03857 X04483

Ulster’s Past Defenders

03942-2016-11-11-ulsters-past-defenders

The Ulster Special Constabulary or B-Specials existed from 1920 to 1970; it was disbanded after being used for riot control in The Battle Of The Bogside. The Ulster Defence Regiment (which was under military control and was, as the mural notes, the largest infantry in the British Army) existed from 1970 until 1992, when it was merged with the Royal Irish Rangers.

From left to right: For Freedom Alone | As Long As 100 Of Us Remain Alive | Loyalist East Belfast | The Strangest Victory In All History | Ulster’s Past Defenders | Nationality is included in Loyalist East Belfast | Ulster’s Present Defenders | Freedom Corner

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03942 UDR over 200 members were killed in the troubles 34 USC members were killed by the IRA painted by John Stewart

There Must Never Be A Time When We Fail To Protest

03782-2016-08-20-welfare-support

Here are four republican boards from Derry/Doıre and Dungiven/Dún Geımhın, from Cogús (republican prisoners’ welfare), 1916 Societies, IRSP, and the campaign for Justice For The Craigavon Two (Brendan McConville and John-Paul Wootton). The title comes from the last image: “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”

03634-2016-07-05-sign-the-petition

03811-2016-08-28-irsp-35th-anniv

03633-2016-07-05-jftc2-protest

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03782 X03634 X03811 X03633

Seeing Things

03851-2016-09-26-cnb-emic

This pair of 3-dimensional hands was painted by emic (Fb | Web |Tw) in Kent Street for 2016’s Culture Night Belfast. Glasses are available in the Sunflower bar across the street.

Below is a shot of Eoin at work on the piece.

03852-2016-09-26-cnb-emic-artist

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03851 X03852

Charter NI Scum Out

03598-2016-07-01-charter-ni-scum-out

Charter NI chief executive Dee Stitt returned to work on Wednesday after a three-week holiday following controversial remarks that a Bangor flute band (the North Down Defenders) provided “homeland security” for the area and that he was the big man in the area. (The remarks were included in this Guardian video, starting at 7m 22s. For more on the UDA in north Down, see this Tele article.) Many have called for his resignation, including Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP (Irish News), though the Charter NI board, who conducted an internal review, did not fire him. At least one of the local people in east Belfast was already unhappy with the organization this summer, when the graffiti above was sprayed in Beechfield Street.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03598 NI Executive “managed” September and not “controlled” November

St. Comgall’s

03388-2016-04-08-st-comgalls-1

St. Comgall’s Primary school on Divis Street opened in 1932 and closed in 1988. Here are two of the boards which currently decorate its boarded-up front windows. Above, St. Malachy’s Scout Pipe Band parades its way through the school yard. (If you know anything about the pipe band or the competition it is going to, please leave a comment.) Below, a céılí mór from 1969 is taking place. The school’s location at the bottom of Percy Street put it at the centre of events in 1969 as west Belfast tore itself apart.

03389-2016-04-08-st-comgalls-2

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03388 X03389

Water Is A Right!

03934-2016-11-09-standing-rock

A proposed pipeline between North Dakota and southern Illinois would go under the Missouri river on the Standing Rock Reservation of the Sioux tribe, who have filed suit against the (US) Corps Of Engineers. Protests against the pipeline hit the mainstream news on September 3rd when security personnel used dogs to drive off protesters. The éirígí sheet shown above is hanging on the fencing below Divis tower.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03934 july 1873 sioux nation liberty equality community save our natural resources ireland