Under a tricolour flying from the roof of the Rock Bar on the Falls, in green, white, and orange: “Rebel Sunday – The Rock Bar – Every Sunday – From 6 PM”
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Rebel Sunday
We Shall Not Sleep
Three wraiths of dead WWI soldiers – one with its head wrapped in a bandage – rise from the grave to issue a final edict: Take up our quarrel with the foe; to you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders’ fields.
For another WWI memorial in Shankill Graveyard see The Great War.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Haunted
During the day these undead come out and show themselves to passers-by on York Road. At night, the shutters roll up and the taxi office comes to life.
By artist MRi.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02171 angel skull ghost handlebar mustache
Under Foot
Stencil on the Falls Road pavement: “End Israeli genocide in Palestine”. For the same message on the New Lodge flats see End The Genocide In Gaza and at Free Derry corner: You Are Now Entering Free Gaza.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Home Front
This new piece in Tiger’s Bay illustrates various kinds of ‘Wartime Work’.
The central image of soldiers at the battle of the Somme is surrounded by images of various occupations: shipyard workers and miners perhaps, along with women welding, carrying coke and nursing. It’s not clear what the “fair wartime wage” refers to: there was a general strike at the shipyards in 1919 (The Great Unrest | Workers’ Liberty). The original Somme photograph is widely known – it was also reproduced in the Bangor mural to Sir Edward Bingham; the nurse is apparently the Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia – WP. The woman carrying a sack of coke is from the Imperial War Museum’s collection.
The image above is from after the main wall was completed; the second image, below, shows the lower wall also. The lower wall is intended to be full, but painting has ceased indefinitely. The third image below shows the red, white, and blue kerb-stones, with the H&W cranes in the distance. The artist Jonny McKerr is shown at work. Another in-progress shot can be found at Arts For All. Last year McKerr did a similarly-styled piece on The Belfast Blitz.
Update: The low wall was completed and an information-board added for the official launched on 2015-06-25 – see Aftermath.
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1912 1914 1916 strike shipyard H&W bugle bugler JMK Piece officially launched 2015-06-25
Summer In The City
Above and below is the scene at the end of summer in the courtyard of the Rex Bar – bunting and bouquets join the flags of the home nations and various boards celebrating the queen’s diamond jubilee and commemorating the 36th Ulster division “who selflessly gave their lives for King and county at the battle of the Somme”. The new boards (on the left hand side of the wide shot) were featured previously in The Last Post, along with the Union flag of The People’s Army. For the same scene ten years previously, see Betting Office.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02194 X02195 no carry outs in seating area no surrender 1952 2012 royal irish rifles no greater love the great war 1914 1918 officers ncos volunteers
Winter In The Tropics
The tropical ravine in the Botanic Gardens is closed for renovation over the winter. The large plants which could not be moved had to be wrapped up as protection against the cold. (Belfast City Council) The ravine – including the elevated interior walkway shown above – was the brain-child of Charles McKimm (Ulster History Circle) whose blue plaque is shown in the second image. The images in this post were taken on the day before closing.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02386 X02387 X02388 1848 – 1907 first general superintendent of belfast parks 1903
Ballyduff UDA
Shown above is a large (approx. 12′ x 10′) board on a gable wall in Ballyduff featuring the emblem of the UDA, including the crown and the red hand of Ulster, except that “Ballyduff” takes the place of the motto “quis separabit”.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Magic Mountain
Here is a final image from the new wall of Disney characters in the Slıabh Dubh estate. (See previously: Look Behind You | If The Shoe Fits.) On Aladdin‘s magic carpet we have Princess Jasmine, Abu the monkey, and Iago the parrot, while on the stairs is Esmerelda (from The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and between them is The Owl from Sleeping Beauty. At the bottom we have Minnie Mouse, Figaro (from Pinocchio and also Minnie’s pet cat), and Daisy Duck.
Two wide shots can be found below. The first shows the entirety of the wall, the second shows (some of) the adjacent wall of superheroes. All 11 current Disney princesses are included, as well as the sisters Elsa and Anna from Frozen.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02379 X02381 X02383 ariel sleeping beauty frozen rapunzel mulan cinderella spiderman superman thor catwoman batman wonderwoman pocahontas merida brave tiana belle wicked witch ursula
The Most That Man Can Give
Computer-generated board in Lindsay Street showing a map of the northern end of the Western Front and images of soldiers marching, on horseback, and in the trenches: Donegall Pass remembers 1914-1918 the great sacrifice. Lest we forget. Here are commemorated the many local men who during the Great War of 1914-1918 gave the most that man can give: life itself for God for King and Country.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02090 36th ulster division those who fell basset dewar dunlop gourley hall halliday hamilton hayes hazlett jess jones kitson kydd mcallister mccollam mckissack mcwilliams motherwell nixon patterson scott wright yates the day break and the shadows flow away st mary magdalene parish
Extramural Activity 