The Ten Foot Pikers

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The first few pages of Commandant Michael Sheer’s testimony to the Bureau of Military History describe the activities of the elite squad called the “Ten Foot Pikers”, including how postal officer Dan McGandy stole election ballots sent by mail during the general election of 1918. As described in the plaque above, McGandy went missing in January 1919 and was found in the Foyle six weeks later. This article suggests that he fell in after a struggle with British soldiers who had intercepted him while stealing grenades; this Derry Now article suggests he was thrown in by the soldiers, who then arranged his things to make it appear a suicide.

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03801 strabane old road óglach oglagh IRA IRB to die locally on active service war of independence

March For Justice

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Here are two images of the remnants of a poster left over from January’s Bloody Sunday March, one from Creggan with a “Boycott Israeli goods” stencil, the second from the Bogside.

The artist is given as “CH”.

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03608 X03549 X03609

Vote For Nobody!

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US Americans go to the polls today to choose between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton for President (as well as many House and Senate elections). The poster above (in a shop window in Royal Avenue) offers some radical advice: “Nobody will keep election promises. Nobody will represent you. Nobody will help you. Nobody cares! If Nobody is elected things will be better for everyone!”

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03731

Taughmonagh Remembers

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The bus turnaround at the entrance to Taughmonagh estate has been turned into a Somme Garden (see the third image, below). The “Welcome to Taughmonagh” sign at entrance has been covered over with a Union flag board with “Taughmonagh remembers” and the three figures in the sculpture in the middle have each been given a union jack cap.

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03922 X03920 X03921 Taughmonagh heritage and culture society the bulbs for this somme garden were bought with donations by from the estate planted by the children to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle of the somme and in the morning we will remember them

Different Intuition

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Dublin-based street artist Le Bas (web) was in Belfast for CNB/HTN. Here’s an interview with Le Bas about his process.

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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We Will Never Accept A United Ireland

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Writing has appeared alongside the “Show No Mercy Expect None Back” mural in Ballyclare. On one side : “We will never accept [was originally “except” but this was quickly changed] a united Ireland – Feriens Tego [the UFF motto]” and “Now entering loyalist Erskine/Rashee Park – Quis separabit [the UDA motto]” and on the other: “Ballyclare heartland of south east Antrim – Simply the best [used with both UDA and UFF]”

The final image is from July, when the wall had been ‘booked’ for the UDA.

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X05348 2016-07-06 UDA Booked+

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03847 X03846 X05348 erskine park

Improving Your Environment

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On the side of the hair salon on the lower Shankill: an array of flags and a board “in glorious memory” to the 36th (XXVI) Ulster division: Somme, Messines, ypres, Cambrai, Thiepval, Somme (1918), St Quentin, Lys, Courtrai

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03874 lest we forget

Who Fears A United Ireland?

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The night before he was executed for his part in the Easter Rising, republican leader James Connolly (5.6.1888-12.5.1916) penned a brief statement calling the British presence in Ireland “a usurpation and a crime against human progress” and declaring “The British government has no right in Ireland, never had any right in Ireland, never can have any right in Ireland”. Here are two images of Free Derry corner with Connolly’s quote, including The Petrol Bomber by the Bogside Artists and and “SFRY” (Sinn Féin Republican Youth) banner on the railings.

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03602 X03601 lecky rd

Fringe Girl

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Another “fringe girl” by Dublin street artists Novice (Tw) for CNB16/HTN. Hopefully this one will last longer than last year’s piece.

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03909 Kent St