Prepared For Peace, Ready For War

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This is one of the most famous murals in Belfast on account of its position overlooking the entrance of Mount Vernon and the M2 – the central gunman appears to be aiming right at you as you come down the off-ramp to the Shore Road. The original mural (T00138 | D00382) – which dates back to the ceasefire (1995) – was on a gable at the front of the estate but the entire block of houses was knocked down (c. 2000 – BelTel). It was later recreated (though without the words “3rd battalion” above “North Belfast) in the current more elevated position.

The other gunman-aiming-right-at-you mural is the UDU mural in the lower Shankill estate.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Mickey Marley’s Roundabout

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2012-12-16 MMarleyWide+

Wide shot of the mural detailed yesterday of children’s street games and of Mickey Marley’s Roundabout, pulled by his horse Joey. Mickey Marley was so well-known that a song was written for him, which you can hear on youtube. Townsend St. Presbyterian church can be seen in the background and in the mural.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00784 culturlann macadam o’fiach, swc, the signconi

All The Children Laugh And Shout

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2012-12-13 MMarleyDetail+

Here is a detail from a fairly long mural depicting children’s street games and Mickey Marley’s Roundabout on a wall and security gate that are part of the Townsend Street “peace” line. More to come. (See also: Stroud St.)

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Holiday Union

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2012-12-18 ProudToBe+

This house-front on the Shore Road is a mix of union flags and Christmas decorations. The centre-piece states that the resident is “Proud To Be British”.

The ASDA railings in the background were the site of the memorial to Billy Hunter.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Send Our Prisoners Home

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This vintage UDA/UFF stencil goes back to the time of the ceasefire and the Agreement.

On the shutters of A1 Alterations on the Newtownards Road, east Belfast.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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City Of Industry

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The industrial high-point of Belfast, according to this mural, would seem to be when people travelled on trams, cloth was woven by hand, and Titanic sat in dry dock. Only the Shorts-Bombardier aircraft confuses the nostalgia.

Bloomfield Ave, east Belfast.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Letters Only

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2012-12-13 Letterbox+

A Post Office box on the Falls Road that’s green, has a Free Marian Price sticker on it, and has a letter-only aperture to prevents parcel-bombs, pipe-bombs, etc. being inserted

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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All Ireland Champions

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2012-12-17 UnionJackSetanta+

Another union jack, this time on the Shore Road, next to a banner boasting that Crusaders (featured previously 1 | 2) are “All Ireland Champions 2012”, having won the Setanta cup (WP). “Setanta” is Cúchulainn’s original name; Setanta sports-television business based in Dublin (WP).

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00785 welcome to seaview crusaders F.C. setanta sports cup winners home of owned by fans run by fans

Nollaig Shona

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2012-12-13 NollaigShonaMid+

Seasonal greeting in support of Republican political prisoners – with candles at base – in Northumberland St. This is the centre part of a wider mural-board composite – left and right shots below.

2012-12-13 NollaigShonaLeft+

2012-12-13 NollaigShonaRight+

The “Nollaıg shona” and board  in the picture just above together replace the previous “human rights” mural; the area below the “doors” hoarding, where the phoenix now appears, was previously blank.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00779 X00778 X00780 remember cogús p.o.w’s at christmas nollaig shona support all republican this time doorways quality doors r.i.c. murder gang harrison nixon the beehive 1926 victims september 1920 vol. ned trodden sean gaynor sean mcfadden

Quick Copy

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2012-12-03 QuickCopy+

Here is a board bearing Carson’s image, on the Newtownards Road at Welland Street, opposite the junction with the Albertbridge Road, below a banner to East Belfast Protestant Boys. Carson also appears in a variety of other murals concerning the Ulster Covenant and the threat of Home Rule.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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