A flyer on the Falls Road, with illustration by Brazilian artist Carlos Latuff (one | two), announcing a march commemorating Bloody Sunday, which occurred on January 30th, 1972 (WP). Bernadette (Devlin) McAliskey was (from 1969 onward) a spokesperson for nationalists in Derry and was present in 1972.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00925 bloodysundaymarch.org speaker civil rights march, 27th jan 2013, assemble creggan shops 2.30pm
“If defeated everywhere else I will make my final stand for liberty with the Scotch-Irish (Ulster-Scots) of my native Virginia.” George Washington commanded the Continental Army during the revolution and served as the first president of the United States beginning in 1789. His ancestry was English and the quote is undocumented, the closest being this statement from McKinley. The note in the corner reads “History records that almost half of Washington’s army were Ulster-Scots”; the basis for this claim might be General (Charles?) Lee’s report that “half the rebel Continental Army were from Ireland.” (See Chapter 2 of Bagenal, The American Irish and their Influence on Irish Politics.)
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01548
Sport and politics intersect in this mural at the junction of Broadway and Donegall Avenue in south Belfast. Northern Irish flags provide a backdrop for the shields of Linfield football club and the Northern Ireland football association.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00926 proud supporters LFC irish football association
They say (some) shows on TV these days are good for you, because they are so complex in structure and signification. The citizens of Belfast are well up to the task, one suspects, as they get plenty of practice just walking down the street (in this case, the Newtownards Road): the Union flag is the most familiar signifier of the group, the fake storefronts (more) might take a moment to process (and make life difficult for bloggers differentiating between murals and street scenes), and one can then attempt to unscramble the meaning of adipose tissue (a.k.a. fat) of a bare-chested man spreading over his “cancer”-banded underwear. The store to the right of (the fake) Marie’s is coincidentally called “Body Language”! See image below ….
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00921 X00920
“Dungiven remembers INLA Vol Kevin Lynch. Help build the socialist republic for which he died.” Lynch died on August 1st, after 71 days on hunger strike.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01547
In an alley running between the backs of houses off Lord Street, the paint-ghost of a child ‘keeper tends goal. Wide shot below …
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00910 X00911
The “Ulsters Past Defenders” mural has been completely repainted though with a similar layout as before: UDR on the left, USC/ B-Specials on the right, but now with the USC emblem joining the UDR’s in the centre.
“Formed in 1970, the Ulster Defence Reg. was an infrantry [sic] regiment of the British army intended to carry out security duties in NI. It was later disbanded in 1992. A total of 197 members were killed through the troubles”
“This is dedicated to those who served in our conflict – we forget not”
“Formed in 1920, the Ulster Special Constabulary had been set up taking action against the IRA. It was divided into three categories A, B, and C specials. Later in 1970 they were disbanded. Then the UDR replaced them.”
Newtownards Rd, east Belfast.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01546
“Striking, I Defend.” UDA murals in Lord Street, below the Albertbridge Road, accented by Union jacks (and, as can be seen in the wide shot, below, a pair of silver bells). The mural in the background of the wide shot is featured in All Gave Some.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00912 X00933 LPA UDA UFF UYM edith street est. 1973 free our prisoners
Christmas decorations can still be found on poles around Belfast in late January. In some cases, as here, they are joined by Union flags.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00909
A banner and board reminding people of the deaths of Jimmy McCurrie and Bobby Neill, next to their memorial garden (in the right of the shot) on the Newtownards Road, with the cranes Samson and Goliath in the background. The two civilians died in the course of rioting and a gun battle around St. Matthew’s that was “the first major confrontation to occur in east Belfast during the troubles” (McKittrick et al., p. 50). It is not clear at what time each died. McKittrick (Lost Lives, ISBN 978-1840185041, amazon.co.uk, .com) gives the death of both as the 27th, and puts Neill’s death at 2 a.m. (and so strictly on the 28th??). Matt Baggott is the current Northern Ireland chief of police.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00900 Investigate these murders. Where is their justice? murdered 27/28th june 1970; still no truth, still no justice
Extramural Activity 