Che’s Afterlife

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Henri Cartier-Bresson said of Che Guevara’s eyes that they “glow; they coax, entice and mesmerize.” (WaPo), and (in a special feature ‘This Is Castro’s Cuba Seen Face To Face‘ that he shot for Life magazine) described Che as “an impetuous man with burning eyes and profound intelligence who seems born to make revolution”. The descriptions seem to fit the iconic “Guerrillero Heroico” photo by Alberto Korda, which Jim Fitzpatrick took as the basis for his two-tone poster version, but raised the eyes even more (WP).

This small Che board is in the alley between Ross Road and the Falls Road, near You’re Never Alone, over the back door to someone’s yard. It dates back to at least 2016.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09815 X09814

Peace Wall Stories

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The ‘Peace Wall Stories’ installation along the Cupar Street “peace” line, was launched last Saturday (April 2nd). Photographer Stephen Wilson (web) has produced half-tone portraits in newspaper style, each 2.5 metres tall, of a dozen people from both communities who live near barriers in Belfast.

There is an iPhone/iPad app that goes along with the project, which allows you to point your mobile at a portrait and have the person pictured come alive and speak to you about their experiences; for those without iPhones or the app, the recordings can be heard at the project’s web site.

Part of the Imagine! Belfast Festival, 2022.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09921 X09917 X09920 X09923 X09919 [X09918] X09922


Stop War

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here are three images from CNR west Belfast commenting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine (plus a bonus one calling for the abolition of capitalism). Above, “End the war” and “Stop war in Ukraine”. The Leeds United flag has presumably been deployed for its blue and yellow colours, rather than for its “Marching on together” slogan. At bottom, “Stop the war! Russian troops out – Disband NATO – Support all refugess – Worker’s [sic] unity across Europe – www.socialistdemocracy.org“. In between, two Lasaır Dhearg (web) stickers on pedestrian crossing boxes: “US military out of Shannon – stop imperialist war planes” and “‘The day has passed for patching up the capitalist system; it must go’ – James Connolly [from Labour, Nationality And Religion]”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09831 [X09832] X09810 X09811 X09822

All Children Have Rights

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Bogside Inn and bogside shops have been razed and “exciting plans” made for a new development (Derry Journal). All that remains at present is the electrical station near Durrow Park, and all that remains of the murals along Meenan Square is the final panel shown above: “All children have rights and these rights must be protected.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
X09788 X09789

The Joy Of Our Hearts

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Newington tribute to Bobby Sands and the other deceased hunger strikers of the 1970s and 80s (see previously: Mol An Óıge Agus Tıocfaıdh Sí) has been augmented with four plaques to republicans from the area who died in the Troubles: (l-r) Martin McDonagh, Rosemary Bleakley, Colm Mulgrew, and Sean ‘Maxi’ McIvenna.

Unbeknowst to her parents (Lost Lives), Bleakley had joined Cumann Na mBan at 18 and was four days short of her nineteenth birthday when she and McDonagh were killed in a premature bomb explosion in the North Street arcade (Victor Patterson image of the blast), along with civilians Ian Gallagher and Mary Dornan (Sutton); 20 others were injured (Fortnight). Bleakley was not buried in the republican plot (in Milltown) but coincidentally in the plot adjacent to Dornan (BBC).

Bleakley was portrayed in the old New Lodge Volunteers mural.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09856 X09857 X09858 X09859 X09860 X09861

Take These Seeds

Extramural Activity1 Comment

A Ukrainian woman in Heniches’k (just north of Crimea) (tw | with subtitles) became famous for berating an invading Russian soldier with the words “Take these seeds and put them in your pockets so at least sunflowers will grow here when you all die here.” Ukraine is the world’s largest producer of sunflower oil (WP) and since the Russian invasion began on February 24th, prices have increased – so far – by about 70% (Money Control), sending countries (especially India – Reuters | Bloomberg) and companies around the globe scrambling for alternatives, such as the replacement of sunflower oil by rapeseed oil in the making of crisps in Ireland (The Journal). The sunflower has become a symbol of solidarity with Ukraine, along with the Ukrainian flag. This giant sunflower was painted by emic (web | tw | ig) in Harrow Street.

Update: added to the side wall “Ar scáth a chéıle a mhaıreann na daoıne”, here translated as “People live in each other’s shadows.” See the images in the Paddy Duffy collection.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09845 X09844

One Boy, One Voice

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“North Belfast stands with Fiona [Donohoe]”. This is a shrine to Noah Donohoe and rallying post in the campaign for answers as to how he was found dead in a storm drain near Northwood Road six days after going missing.

The hashtags include #RememberMyNoah and (see No More PSNI Cover Ups).

Waterworks, north Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09854 X09855 X09853

Sailortown Dockers

Extramural Activity2 Comments

This is a mural of a painting of a mural of a mural. The original is the piece by Terry Bradley (web) and Friz (web) at the Titanic museum’s pub (see Dockers’ Rest), which was then reproduced in a different colour for the opening montage of the Kenneth Branagh film Belfast. The success of the film prompted the Department Of Justice to commission Bradley for a painting that could be turned into a mural and he reproduced the film version (BelTel). The mural that enlarges that painting was painted by DMC on Lanark Way, just above the security gates (Belfast Live).

“The dockers who feature in the painting are inspired by real characters and men Terry remembers walking home from the shipyard when he was a child. These hardworking men from Sailortown, Belfast, show a glimpse into the past of the shipyard pubs, where the men congregated after a hard day’s work.”

With support from R-City (web).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09884 X09883 [X09885] X09886 X09887

You’re Never Alone

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Be smart, don’t start” – taking drugs, that is. This is a recent mural on the Falls Road, Belfast, with nine panels that discourage youth from taking drugs, alternately by reminding them of their dangers (including death – “Drugs can thrill but they also kill.” “I’m dying to meet you.” “If you dance with the devil you remain in hell.” “Don’t let drugs ruin something beautiful.” “Don’t get trapped by drugs.”) and providing support in persevering through dark times (“There is always light beyond the darkness.”
“We all have a choice in life.” “Hugs not drugs.” “Always remember you’re never alone.” “Try to be leader not a follower.”)

With support from Belfast City Council, Divis Youth Project, Greater Falls Neighbourhood Partnership, Falls Partnership Initiative (Falls Residents).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09813 X09812

The Irish Dancer

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

One goal of the voluntary group Larne Renovation Generation (Fb) is to bring “Main Street alive with community spirit in the evenings”. To this end, they are supporting various murals along the street, with this Irish dancer providing a bookmark at the eastern end on the side of the Silver Lounge Café (Fb).

By Visual Waste (web | ig), based on a photograph by Bernie McAllister of a dancer perhaps from the Lisa Dempsey school (Fb).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09375 [X09374]