JFT14

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These republican slogans are on the fencing along Southway, Derry. “End internment”, “1916 – 2016 Unfinished business”, “IRA”, “JFT14” = “Justice for the 14 [Bloody Sunday victims]”, and “Brits out”.

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The Children Of Lear

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Step-mother Aoıfe resents the bonds between her husband Lear and his children and their love for their lost mother and turns them into singing swans for 900 years, by the end of which time Christianity had come to Ireland. A monk heard their song and recognised them. At his touch, they are restored to human form. Being 900 years old, they die immediately but not before being baptised.

For another ‘baptised before death’ story, see the story of the mermaid Lí Ban in Sea-Born.

This is the third of three Celtic mythology boards in Creggan/An Creagán, Derry. See previously: Tír Na nÓg and Cú Chulaınn.

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X03630 X03629 central dr stony place

The Battle Of Antiville

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The experts’ best guess is that the gentleman on the white horse (on the right of the painting) is James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, at the siege of Maastricht in 1673. Scott was commander of the English forces fighting with the French during the Franco-Dutch war. It’s not clear, thus, what the connection is to the Antiville area of Larne or the wars fought in Ireland over the English crown. It was painted by Jan Wyck, who also did a painting of the Battle of the Boyne. On either side (as shown below) are a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the English version of the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom.

This trio of boards has been added to a wall behind the Antiville community centre, softening (somewhat) a very aggressive set of six UDA boards (seen in UDA Flag Bearer and Secret Army Silhouettes.)

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They Shall Not Grow Old

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“Remember With Pride” (with a poppy). Although the dates of his birth and death are given, Stevie “Top Gun” McKeag’s name appears only on the side-wall of this new mural in the Lower Shankill estate. McKeag was the top assassin in the UDA during the 1990s, claiming at least 12 victims. Both his WP page and this Guardian article describe his career and preeminent standing within the UDA.

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X03892 X03888 X03890 X03889  X03891 X03893 1st april 1970 24th september 2000 ulster young militants terrae filius 2nd batt c.13 shankill road military commander they shall not grow old those we love don’t go away they walk beside us every day sleeping where no shadows fall at the going down of the sun and in the morning remember with pride

Ár Tae Will Come

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Sınn Féın representatives Paul Maskey (above), Gerry Adams, and Martin McGuinness are photoshopped into these beverage-themed, Irish-language puns outside the ‘Falls Rolls’ bakery: Ár tae will come, Tıocfaıgh [sic] ár látte, and Mocha-ra.

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X03829 X03830 X03831 X03832 falls rd sıopa báıceareachta na bhfál

Fun…damental Rights

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Paris street artist KASHINK was in Belfast for Culture Night 2016, working on the fencing in Union Street behind the Sunflower. According to this article, she paints “hairy four-eyed men to examine gender assumptions.”

Visible in the background: CNB13 piece by Malarky.

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Gulliver’s Voyage To Brobdingnag

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Minuscule humans work in the land of the giants: a lily in London-/Derry and Larne’s crowning glory.

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X03775 X03760 Rossville St Circular Rd Roundabout

For Bravery In The Field

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Robert King, of the 12th Royal Irish Rifles, who joined the army from the Ulster Volunteers, was “awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in action on 1st July 1916” at the Somme. The two sides of the medal are shown in the top right, with George V on one side and “for bravery in the field”. The 12th Rifles were drawn from the Central Antrim regiment of the Ulster Volunteers including the Newington area of Larne; King, however, was from Ship Street.

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X03763 X03764  Wellington Grn Central Antrim Regiment newington

The Phoenix Dies And Then Is Born again

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A stencilled phoenix in the Bogside, Derry’s, Meenan Square. The phoenix dies in flames and from its ashes rises another; a symbol of Irish republicanism.

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Crusading

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This past Saturday saw the north Belfast derby between Crusaders and Cliftonville, with the League-Champion and league-leading Crues coming out on top 4-3. Today’s images are from their Seaview home ground: above are the railings and below a mural on a side wall. The newspaper The Express employs the same emblem of a Christian knight.

Previously: Hatchet Men

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