Homecoming Parade

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“MOD deny our troops a well deserved homecoming parade. We as a community need to stand together as one and show our support for those who have sacrificed their lives and served this Country. Please show your support for these brave servicemen and women at Belfast City Hall on Sunday May 22nd 2011. Everyone will be meeting at 12 noon at the Shankill Memorial Gardens and walking to Belfast City Hall. If you care be there.”

For a little background, see this BBC article.

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Mussen Cortège

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“Richard Mussen joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (27th foot) at the age of 15. At the outbreak of the Zulu wars he volunteered for active service and was transferred to the Second Battalion The South Wales Borderers (24th foot). At the outbreak of the Great War he joined the 9th Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles and with him went his 4 sons and 2 sons-in-law. His son Richard (junior) was killed at the Somme on Thursday 21st March, 1918 and is remembered at Pozieres Memorial. Richard Mussen was buried from 22 Dundee Street [which was just above Agnes Street] on 29/12/1936 and was accorded full Military Honours. He was laid to rest in Belfast City Cemetery.” (From the accompanying plaque.)

Here is a short NVTv documentary about Mussen, including (at 12m25s) the image on which the mural shown here is based. The mural was done with spray paint by artist Sam Bates a.k.a. SMUG. It was unveiled on June 24th, 2011.

For some close-ups and the plaque, see the 2016 post.

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Join RSYM

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Republican Socialist Youth Movement graffiti with stencil of Connolly and (defunct) internet address (Fb | ig) at the site of the old Andersonstown RUC barracks.

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Save Brendan Lillis

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Brendan Lillis was imprisoned in 1977 but freed in 2003. He was returned to prison in 2009 on robbery charges. Lillis was released from Maghaberry on August 19th, 2011, on humanitarian grounds – he suffered from a severe form of arthritis (BBC-NI).

At the site of the old Andersonstown RUC barracks.

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New Mural Loading

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Muraling gets meta, just off the Cliftonville Road. A mural is such a familiar mode of expression in Belfast that one is expected on every wall, and even more so in the post-Agreement years when the state enters as a third source of murals. The pixelated hourglass and font of the text hearken back to computers of the 1990s.

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Business As Usual

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“Buisness [sic] as usual” at the Red Barn Gallery off Rosemary Street – perhaps a comment on the state of arts funding.

Rosemary Street, Belfast city centre

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RHC Youth

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“Ballybeen Youth C. Company” Red Hand Commando, with the names of the six counties and the slogan “Lamh Dearg Abu” (a corruption of “Lámh Dhearg Abú”, “red hand to victory”).

Next to another mural mentioning RHC Youth in Morven Park.

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Ballybeen RHC

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“Where so ever, how so ever or whenever we are called upon to make our exit, we shall do so as proud men.” (Another UVF mural in east Belfast has “as free men”.) A hooded gunman from the Red Hand Commando stands at the ready. The first of the four crests is the (rare, possibly restricted to the Morven Park murals) “RHC Youth”; then PAF, UVF, and YCV. Morven Park, Ballybeen.

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Ballybeen Bonfire

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The Ballybeen bonfire on Drumadoon Drive takes shape, with nine days to go. Tyres are stacked on pallets.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ballybeen UFF

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The emblem of the UFF is flanked by Ulster Banner and Union Flag.

Strone Park, Ballybeen.

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