Author: Extramural Activity

Northern Island

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2013-10-13 UFF1973+

In the course of its history, the UDA has flirted with the idea of an independent Northern Ireland and of a repartitioned Northern Ireland. This mural in Avoniel Street, just off Albertbridge Road in east Belfast, shows a Northern Irish island, supporting two masked gunmen, beneath a red fist. The Ulster Freedom Fighters (and its youth organisation, the Ulster Young Militants) was formed in 1973 to give legal cover to the UDA; the UFF was banned immediately, the UDA in 1992.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01388 u.y.m. terrae fillius quis separabit formed 1973 dee st. coy. ulster defence association

Old Foundary 1767

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2013-10-12 Foundary+

Above is a scored clay piece showing workers in a “foundary” (foundry). There are foundries in Belfast dating to the mid-to-late 1700s (e.g. Eileen McCracken, “Charcoal-Burning Ironworks in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Ireland”, Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 21 (1957)) but nothing specifically about 1767 or about a foundry in Exchange Place (or whatever preceded it – Exchange Place dates to the Victorian era). If you have information, please get in touch. There is a set of six pieces in a similar style on the Cupar Way “peace” line, regrettably covered in graffiti and tourists’ signatures. See also: Pot-House Lane.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01384

JFTC2

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2013-10-12 JFTC2Murph+

“JFTC2” stands for “Justice for the Craigavon 2” and is the latest Black Mountain project from the GaelForce Art group. Above is a view from Ballymurphy, over the Cú Chulaınn mural on Glenalina Road, and the image below is the view from the Slıabh Dubh estate (off Springfield Road, opposite the barracks), where a new series of super-hero murals (including Spiderman) are currently being painted. The “2” are Brendan McConville and John-Paul Wootton and appeals for the innocence (in the death of PSNI Constable Stephen Carroll), are ongoing. (Video from U.tv.)

2013-10-12 JFTC2Spidey+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01385 X01386

Shed Lockout

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2013-10-11 1913LBSShed+

This image comes to us courtesy of Jason McLean and the LBS (Loughlinstown, Ballybrack, and Shankill) Men’s Shed (LBS facebook page | Men’s Sheds.ie) who painted the piece shown above to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Dublin Lockout.

Video of the launch, including a ballad written for the occasion and a reenactment of Larkin speaking …

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Copyright © 2013 Jason McLean
X01383

Against Established Law

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2013-10-09 CheFallsRd+

“Che Guevara – Blood of an Irish rebel.” A colourful new mural has been completed on the Falls Road (at the end of McQuillan Street) in time for the anniversary of Che Guevara’s death, on October 9th, 1967. The mural features multiple copies of Korda’s iconic Guerillero Heroico (discussed in the Visual History page on Jim Fitzpatrick), two quotes from Che – “When forces of oppression come to maintain themselves in power against established law, peace is considered already broken” and “If you tremble with indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine” – and the flags of (from left to right) the Basque Country, Palestine, Ireland, Cuba, Catalonia and Argentina (where Che was born; or perhaps Guatemala, where he was first active – the shield above contains no central icon, which would distinguish the flags).

Che’s father declared that the blood of Irish rebels ran through his son, in reference to their Irish ancestry. For genealogical information, see the previous entry on the Che Guevara Lynch mural in Derry.

The artist is Damian “DeeDee” Walker, of the Gaelforce group. The piece has been in progress for about a month.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01378

Free Otegi

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2013-10-08 FreeOtegi+

This new pro-Basque mural on the International Wall on Divis Street calls for the release of Arnaldo Otegi, one-time ETA member and leader of a pro-Basque party, along with other political prisoners. (More information on Otegi at arnaldotegi.com and WP.) “Pake bidean” is the Basque for “The pathway to peace”.  (The mural is at the eastern end of the wall; takes the place of the Ian Knox anti-racism mural featured in Never Actually Existed.)

Update: Otegi was released in March, 2016 (Irish Times)

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01375 over 700 political prisoners in Spanish and French jails. Free them all! Stop the political trials in the basque country. Scaoiltear saor uilig iad.