The north and west sides of the substation at Boundary Way in the Lower Shankill estate have been repainted, restoring the Union flag (M02467) and “UYM” (M02469) lettering in vibrant red, white, and blue.
The other two sides, which previously featured “UFF” (X00249) and a C Coy. mural (M02466) are now blank and walled in.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Here is a board from outside the Ulster Rangers Supporters Club (Fb) on the Shankill Road. It highlights the roles played by women during WWI as nurses and welders and in the Land Army. “She hasn’t a sword and she hasn’t a gun. But she’s doing her duty now fighting’s begun.”
The forces are shown gathered outside the West Belfast Orange Hall, on the Shankill at Brookmount Street.
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More David Bowie commemoration in Belfast’s city centre: Visual Waste (Web | Fb) reproduces Bowie as Aladdin Sane, successor to Ziggy Stardust. Here’s an Independent article on the iconic image of Bowie with blue and red lightning bolt across his face. On the make-up artist for both Aladdin Sane and Ziggy Stardust, Pierre LaRoche, see this article.
Previously: Bowie by Boyd – Oh You Pretty Thing
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The new loyalist mural in Ballyduff shows volunteers in sunglasses and scarves standing with flags to either side of a monument which reads “They who kept the faith and fought the fight, the glory theirs and the duty ours. Dedicated to the officers and Volunteers of South East Antrim U.D.A. – U.F.F. Quis separabit.”
Replaces a UDA board, featured previously.
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David Bowie’s song Oh! You Pretty Things (from Hunky Dory) concerns “the impending obsolescence of the human race in favour of an alliance between arriving aliens and the youth of the present society” (Carr & Murray (1981). Bowie: An Illustrated Record: pp. 40-41 | WP). Ziggy Stardust also brought a message of hope for Earth’s youth. In the tribute poster to Bowie’s death (on January 10th, 2016), Leo Boyd (Tumblr | Belfast Print Workshop) takes the image from the cover of Earthling (Bowie’s 1997 album) and adds flying saucers, as though Bowie is to be beamed up. Farewell, Starman.
Previously by Boyd: Big Men Wail Hammers
Here is Bowie performing the song on the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1972.
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The crew whiles away the hours sitting atop a Bogside stairwell, with IRA-emblazoned tricolour fluttering overhead, keeping an eye on a heap of bonfire wood. Below: another tricolour in the same area, with “Brits out now – IRA” board beneath.
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Jef Aérosol (Jean-François Perroy) is a French stencil-artist who did (at least) three pieces in Belfast. Below is a crossed-legged boy that was in Islandbawn Street and above is an accordion-player in Sevastopol Street; for a third piece, on Northumberland Street, see C02031. When the nearby Bobby Sands mural was extended this past year (2015), the stencil was retained. (See also the Visual History page of the Bobby Sands wall.)
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Copyright © 2009 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Back in July (2015) “Taigs will be crucified” graffiti appeared on an box next to the Broadway roundabout but was removed after a few days. “Taigs will be dealt with” then appeared — see the image below.
The graffiti above is not far away on the Donegall Road, when it appeared in July it was joined by a wooden crucifix (for which see this BelTel article); the crucifix has gone but the graffiti was still in place in November. “VTOT” stands for “Village Team On Tour” – referring to the loyalist “Village” area of south Belfast.
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Belfast’s City Cemetery opened in 1869 and was originally intended for the interment of both Catholics and Protestants. At the insistence of Catholic clergy who argued that the ground would not be consecrated if shared, the graveyard was created with an underground wall (shown above) nine feet in height. (Republican News) After further disputes, however, Catholics were not routinely buried in the graveyard until 100 years later; they were buried instead in the nearby Milltown Cemetery.
Here is a short video of local expert Tom Hartley at the wall:
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“No pasarán” is Spanish for “they shall not pass”, a phrase used by the Communists and Republicans as they tried (unsuccessfully) to defend the city of Madrid during the Spanish civil war. The board in front commemorates “those from this area who left Ireland to fight against Fascism during the Spanish Civil War 1936-1938”.
“The Runner” in the background mural (part of The People’s Gallery) is also having trouble holding his ground in the (repainted) famous Bogside Artists’ (web) work intended “to be a cautionary reminder to the young of the dangers inherent in civil conflict”. (CAIN)
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X02962 rossville st Manus Deery Charles Love Patrick Walsh Thomas traynor john murphy benjamin frederick murray eamon mcgrotty george gorman jack flynn james donald peadar o’donnell james campbell hugh o’donnell paddy o’daire joseph kelly paddy roe mclaughlin francis william vincent o’donnell brian goold-verschoyle paddy glacken phil boyle hugh bonner herbert pollock charles mcguinness william mcchrystal joe boyd irsp teach na faılte irsp.ie tear gas
Extramural Activity 