Extramural Activity

No EU, No Irish, No British

2022-06-172026-08-24Extramural Activity1 Comment

The graffiti reads “No EU, No Irish, Buy British” but the cars parked in front of these graffiti are a BMW – a German company with factories also in China, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa and the US (WP) – and a Ford – a US company with factories all over the world, but since 2002 Ford cars have not been made in Britain (WP). The graffiti is a protest at the NI Protocol (as seen in roughly 22 previous posts).

In the Dee St/Newtownards Rd Iceland car-park, adjacent to the ‘pilgrims’ mural seen in Please Pay Here.

Reminiscent of: ‘No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish’ in Oppose Racism | No Irish No POWs | More Blacks, More Gays, More Irish

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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Children In Crossfire

2022-06-172026-08-24Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Michael Blakstad’s Children In Crossfire is a justly famous documentary portraying the lives of children in Creggan (Derry) and various areas of Belfast, such as Ballymurphy & Springmartin, Divis, and the area around Gawn St in east Belfast. The documentary is on youtube and an image from it (c. 28m 13s) is depicted in this mural (Connswater Chronicle) at the foot of the Dee Street overpass into what is now the “Titanic Quarter”.

The panel to the right shows the original Armitage Street; the area has been redeveloped and the street was built over with a cluster of houses named Armitage Close.

By Dee Craig with support from the Housing Executive, City Council, and Connswater Homes.

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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Multicultural East Belfast

2022-06-172026-08-24Extramural Activity1 Comment

Topical commentary from East Belfast graffitist Hallion: Above, “к черту Путина”, in the blue-and-yellow of Ukraine, is Russian for “To hell with Putin” (or something a bit stronger); below, “Thran rights nai” – “thran” is an Ulster-Scots word meaning “stubborn” or “contrary” (entry for thra – the related verb – at Hamely Tongue) but perhaps here standing for Ulster-Scots in general and commenting on the tortured history of what is now (as of May 2022) the ‘Identity & Language’ bill (BBC) covering Irish/Gaeilge and Ulster-Scots/Ulstèr-Scotch in Northern Ireland. “Hallion” is itself is a Scots/north England word, meaning a scoundrel or rapscallion (MW | etymonline).

Previous Covid pandemic commentary from Hallion:
2020: Wash Your Hawnds | It Hasn’t Gone Away
2021: Wear A Mask Or The Easter Bunny Gets It

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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Endless Ways In Which We Rob Ourselves Of Ourselves

2022-06-102026-08-24Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The phrase “your silence will not protect you” comes from the essay “The Transformation Of Silence Into Language And Action” (pdf), in which US feminist and civil rights activist Audrey Lorde describes the damage to the self wrought by silence in response to fear and encourages us to find a perspective on fear that gives us strength: “I am not only a casualty, I am also a warrior.”

A week of speaking out from the Museum Of Free Derry/bloodysunday50.com and ArtsEverywhere begins today (June 13th) at 6 p.m. with the launch of an art exhibition entitled ‘From Bloody Sunday To Brexit’.

The tarp is on the rear of Free Derry Corner.

A graffitist at Amelia’s on Foyle Road has also found their voice: “50 years, no justice”, as the wrangling over the prosecution of Soldier F (and others) continues (Guardian).

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Copyright © 2022 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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James McClean

2022-06-102026-08-24Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Soccer player James McClean grew up in Creggan and – while playing for a succession of English clubs – has been criticised for refusing to wear a poppy (while at Sunderland) and turning his back on the St George’s Cross as ‘God Save The Queen’ played (while at West Bromwich Albion). He also has a tattoo of Free Derry Corner flying a Tricolour on his thigh (Irish Times).

In the mural (by Dublin artist Aches (ig)) McClean is pictured here in an Ireland strip – McClean has 7 caps for the Northern Ireland under-21 squad but plays senior soccer for Ireland (WP).

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Copyright © 2022 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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Update: A plaque was added for McClean’s 100th Irish (soccer) cap: “James McClean – 100 international caps. Creggan’s hero. Derry’ hero. Ireland’s hero.”

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courtesy of Paddy Duffy
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Under The Cherry Blossoms

2022-06-092026-08-25Extramural Activity1 Comment

Castle Arcade is so-called because it is the site of the original castle of Belfast, built by the Normans in the late 12th century and then rebuilt by Arthur Chichester in 1611. Chichester’s castle had “spacious gardens which extended from the river along to Cromac Woods and near Stranmillis” with “orchards, bowling greens and cherry gardens … fish ponds,” for “hunting, hawking, and other sports”. It was destroyed by fire in 1708 after which the area became commercialised as a market (ArchiSeek | Mary Lowry | BBC | Belfast Entries).

By Friz (ig) and Gerry Norman (ig).

See previously: You’ve Got The Key Of The Street.

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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Belfast Or Bust

2022-06-092026-08-24Extramural Activity1 Comment

Two from Swiss artist Bust (ig | web) for HTN22, who describes his current work as “neo-pop”, combining pop art, cartoon characters, and traditional graffiti writing. The smaller piece is in Donegall Street, the multi-storey one can be seen from Kent St. A third, more casual, piece can be seen in Love, Loss, And Beyond .

Ballykinlar Internment Camp

2022-05-312026-08-24Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Ballykinlar barracks in County Down was originally Abercorn barracks, used by the British to intern IRA prisoners during the War Of Independence, and the use continued under the new Northern Irish government (WP); the camp held about 2,000 prisoners (McGuffin, ch. 5). The prisoners attempted to maintain their military structure and perform drills; they created a currency using cardboard discs (images can be seen at Old Currency Exchange) – and, as a way to keep up morale, worked on “autograph books” in which prisoners would write dedications and verses for one another and occasionally draw pictures. The pages shown here are from books currently exhibited in Monaghan County Museum; Offaly Archives has digitised an autograph book; a few more images from a book in the Kilmainham collection can be seen at the BBC.