“The product” is condensed community confidence. But it’s “out of stock”. In imitation of Andy Warhol’s 1962 work Campbell’s Soup Cans.
North Street, Belfast city centre.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
[X00425] X00426 X05107 X00427
“Only by remembering these men, and others like them, can we ever repay their memory.” Nine Victoria Cross recipients from the 36th (Ulster) Division in World War I are honoured in this board on the Shankill at the Co-Op (which was previously across the road in Crimea Street).
The nine are (from 1917 and 1918) E[dmund] De Wind, E[rnest] Seaman, C[ecil] L[eonard] Knox, N[orman] Harvey, (from 1916) G[eoffrey] St. G[eorge] S[hillington] Cather, W[illiam] F[rederick] McFadzean, E[ric] N[orman] F[rankland] Bell, R[obert] Quigg, and J[ames] S[amuel] Emerson.
The illustrations come from Cyril Falls’s book The History Of The 36th (Ulster) Division (from Project Gutenberg).
The poem In Flanders’ Fields is by Canadian John McCrea.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00413
The troops in question are British forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, though the withdrawal of troops from Iraq had just taken place (on May 22) prior to the photographing of the image above (June 26).
Charlotte Street, Belfast.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00545
Young Conquerors flute band (Fb) mural in Pine Street, Donegall Pass. The flags are regimental flags of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00521
Here are the main parts of the YCV mural in Walnut Street, off Donegall Pass, from left to right. The earliest image of this mural is 2001’s M01522.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00396 X00395 X00394
In 1992, the Forest Of Belfast project was started, a public-private to preserve old trees and encourage tree-planting. Above is one of the murals painted to publicise the effort, on Hillman Street at the Antrim Road. (Another was painted on the Falls Road.)
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00431
“Lay them away on the hill side/along with the brave and the bold/Inscribe their names on the role [sic] of fame/in letters of purest gold.” The Ulster Tower at Thiepval commemorates the WWI dead of the 36th (Ulster) Division. The words, however, come from a song about James Daly, who was executed by firing squad for taking part in a 1920 mutiny of the Connacht Rangers in India in protest of the activities of the Black and Tans. Above (and below – not shown) are the insignia and names of UVF volunteers from UVF South Belfast 2nd battalion – see Lay Them Away On The Hill Side.
On the side of The Hideout, Pine Street.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Extramural Activity
X00451
South Belfast MP Robert Bradford was assassinated by the Provisional IRA in Finaghy at a meeting with constituents; the caretaker of the community centre, Ken Campbell, was also killed by the fleeing attackers. In late 1981, with the hunger strikes having ended only a month before, the killing was noted around the world and raised fears of broad civil unrest (BBC | NYTimes).
“Vita, veritas, victoria” [life, truth, victory] is the motto of Londonderry. Here we have “vita, veritas, victa” [life, truth, conquered; perhaps the intended meaning was “conquering” rather than the passive]. The crest is also not quite the crest of the Apprentice Boys, with a ship in the bottom right rather than a skeleton. Get in touch if you can resolve either discrepancy.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00424 Oak St
“Over us all is the self same sky”. “A hands across the divide production, 2011”. A heart filled with swallows and a ribbon with the names of the various participants.
Crumlin Road at the Ardoyne shops, north Belfast.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05106
Rangers Football Club, founded in 1872 (rather than the 1873 shown here – Brittanica), has its home in Glasgow, Scotland, but has a large following among Northern Irish Protestants.
Union Street, Edgarstown, Portadown.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00508
Extramural Activity 