This is a 2010 close-up of the RIC Murder Gang mural previously discussed in 2007.
Northumberland Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05962
RIC Murder Gang
Author: Extramural Activity
Say No To Tory Cuts
In the two-person game of ‘rock-paper-scissors’ (or four-person ‘rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock’) rock prevents scissors from cutting. Sınn Féın are encouraging stoney resistance to austerity proposals by the Conservative party (Tories).
The cuts would continue – see Stop Tory Cuts – and persist throughout the decade: WP | Guardian
Falls Road/Glen Road – former site of the Andersonstown RUC barracks
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05961
Fır Na Pluıde
The “blanket” (Gaeilge: pluıd) protest (not wearing prison uniforms) was a response to the removal of political (Special Category) status in 1976 (WP). The “no wash” or “dirty” protest (not using toilet facilities) followed in 1978 (WP). Both forms of protest are illustrated in the board shown above: three unshaven men wear blankets and go barefoot in a cell with excrement smeared on the walls.
An information plaque was added below, on the Phoenix mural (not shown – see M04941).
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05956
Not Spain, Not France
“1650-2009: 350 years of occupation, 350 years of resistance. Catalan language has been spoken since VIII century. Nowadays, after 350 years of occupation and prohibition, there are 9 million Catalan speakers. The spirit of revolt against the Spanish kingdom and French state is still alive. The struggle of the Catalan people continues against the existing discriminations. Not Spain, not France.” “Saoırse na hÉıreann, Llibrtat Països Catalans”.
Clowney Street, Beechmount, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05957
Stand Off! Trade Off!
This “stand-off – trade-off” mural reappears in Artana Street, Belfast, previously recorded in Stand Firm. The mural dates to 1998, when an Orange Order march was allowed to parade along Ormeau Road. Parades Commission chairman Alistair Graham (pictured in the mural beneath the evil-eyed OO member) “insisted that the Ormeau Road decision “was not a simple trade-off for our earlier decision on Drumcree”” (Irish Times).
Painted by Troy Garity, recreating an Ian Knox cartoon (Belfast Media).
Artana Street, lower Ormeau, south Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05952
Markets Sport & Culture
In 2008 and 2009 artist Raymond Henshaw completed a series of cultural murals about the Markets are of Belfast. This one focuses on sport but Clarence Place Music Hall and Tir Na Nog Drama Group are included to represent ‘culture’.
There were six boards in total: Portraits | Social | Social History | Sport & Culture | Bars | Industry
Eliza Street Close, Markets, south Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05950
Markets Volunteers
This is the 2009 repaint of the mural in the Markets to IRA volunteers. Names have been added below the portrait of each IRA/Fianna mural. They are: Tony Nolan, Joseph Downey, Frank Fitzsimons, Joey Surgenor, Paul Marlowe, Jim Templeton, and Brendan Davison.
See previously 2002 and the paint-bombed 2006.
The photograph on which this mural is based can be found in this entry on a 1981 Rosnareen mural.
Friendly Street, Markets, south Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05951
Is Fearr Gaeılge Bhrıste Ná Béarla Clıste
“Broken Irish is preferable to skilful English”, itself written in somewhat broken Irish. In each corner is a gold ring (fáınne óır), sometimes worn by fluent Irish-speakers. The top hat and the ?daisies? alongside the harp, shamrock, and ?flute? are unusual; if you can explain their appearance here, please comment or get in touch.
Iveagh Youth mural in Iveagh Drive/Céıde Uíbh Eachach
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05949
Unchangeable
“RUC-PSNI – unchanged, unchanging, unchangeable – www.eirigi.org“
Poster in the Markets area of Belfast.
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05947
Do You Remember?
“A bucket on the stove boiling all the whites. The big tin bath on Saturday nights.
Keys in the locks, doors on the latch. Long hot summers, ponies and traps.
Crombie coats, paddy hats, corner shops small. Horse drawn hearses, with black plumes tall.
A half-moon water mark, like a front door mat. Soda farls, wheaten farls, cooling on a rack.
Gas mantles, lamp-lighters, billy cans of tay. Walking home from dances, courting on the way.
Carbolic soap, Brylcreem, 7 o’clock blades. Sugar and water potion, making permanent waves.
Hotspur and Rover, Dandy, Beano too. A 3d matinee on jam pot in lieu.
Top twenty from Luxembourg, Desert Island discs. Henry Hall’s guest night, Rock n’ roll and twist.
Billy Cotton’s band show, a book at bedtime too. The list is never ending – but who was ‘skiboo?”
Lower Ormeau memories of the good old (i.e. pre-Troubles) days. With support from the Lottery Fund, New Belfast Community Arts Initiative, and St John Vianney Youth Club.
By Steven Tunley in Dromara Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05941
Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 