Two pieces of graffiti art on the Cliftonville “peace” line: “Breakin’ BarrieRs”, as though the “peace” line should come down, but also “Respect R Streets”, if you do break through. With a signature panel on the wall of bubbles (not shown).
Rosevale Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Extramural Activity
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Soccer stars Rooney, Dida, Ronaldo, George Best, Larson [sic], Fernando Torres, Nakamura look down from the heavens on a local football match where the ‘keeper has taken one to the face.
Harcourt Street, north Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Jim O’Neill was killed in February 1976 during an IRA arson attack on a furniture warehouse on the Antrim Road near the New Lodge – Gerry Fitt’s house next door might have been the ultimate target (Belfast Child); Robert Allsopp appears to have accidentally shot himself in March 1975 (Irish Peace Process). Both were members of Na Fıanna. The flute band (Fb) is named in their memory.
Below the portraits of Jim O’Neill and Robert Allsopp is written “Glaıne ınár gcroí, neart ınár ngéaga, beart de reír [réır] ar [ár] mbrıathar.” [Purity in our hearts, strength in our limbs, action consistent with our words]
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“End forced strip searches, end internment [at] Maghaberry concentration camp”. Republican prisoners are held in the Roe House at Maghaberry. Several republican prisoners (as many as five) are conducting a “dirty protest” in response to conditions and treatment, including integration with loyalist prisoners (Irish Echo | BBC). The green ribbon as an emblem goes back to the campaign after the ceasefire to release POWs — here is a mural from 1995.
International Wall, Divis Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Jesus Of Nazareth with a crown of thorns – a stencil of unknown provenance at the shops next to the Andersonstown Iceland (long ago the Busy Bee).
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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IRA volunteer Francis Liggett was shot by the British Army in January 1973 as he attempted to rob the Royal. One of the images of Gerry Adams in paramilitary beret comes from Liggett’s funeral. Paddy Brady was a Sınn Féın activist shot in 1984 at his work by the UFF (Sutton). Both were from the St James’s area of west Belfast. Their portraits are on either side of Éıre personified. The verses are from Bobby Sands’s poem Weeping Winds.
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This is a wide shot of the ‘dockers and carters’ mural in Northumberland Street, seen previously (in 2007) in two pieces. To the left is RIC Murder Gang; to the right is IRSP POWs.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Since 1970 seventeen people killed [by rubber and plastic bullets] – including 8 children.” Central is Norah McCabe, along with Julie Livingstone, Brian Stewart, and Carol Ann Kelly; on the left are John Downes and Keith White, a Protestant killed in Portadown in 1986.
Islandbawn Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“[Youth responds to praise] – the laughter of our children – the joy of our hearts.” A young Bobby Sands is shown in the front right, part of the Stella Maris soccer squad for 1967; he would later “respond” by becoming an IRA volunteer and hunger striker.
The plaque to the hunger strikers was originally on the left of the previous ‘1798’ mural, and the plaque to the deceased from the “greater Newington area” was embedded in it – see M03672.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Sporting mural on the side of Sean Graham’s bookmakers. Ireland’s leading goal-scorer Robbie Keane is on the left. Cú Chulaınn plays hurling in the centre. (See also the mural on Casement Park M05144.) The boxer on the right is John Caldwell, a champion from the 1950s and 1960s from Cyprus Street (WP). Painted by a Short Strand artist at the junction of Whiterock and Falls roads.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 