“Cogús supports the republican prisoners”. Cogús (Fb) is (was?) the prisoners’ welfare arm of the RNU. The board above — using a vintage illustration going back to 1981’s I’ll Wear No Convict’s Uniform — replaced More Blacks, More Gays, More Irish on Pantridge Road, Dunmurry, joining the “Join RNU” and mental health boards shown below.
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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Here is a small piece of repbulican graffiti in the Elmfield area of Glengormley – a hammer and sickle.
See previously: Glengormley Republican Youth | Gleann Ghormlaithe Poblachtacht
Church Crescent, Glengormley, Newtownabbey.
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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Gladstone Bar — seen on the right of the image above – was in Gilford Street at the junction with Divis Street, which stretches towards the city on the left. The other street image is perhaps also Divis St/Falls Rd though there are no easily-identifiable landmarks. In between them is a scene from the 1930 Laurel and Hardy film, Night Owls (WP).
To the left of these three is a mural of an island paradise, and to its left (in the final image) we find Muhammad Ali, based on the famous photo of Ali standing over Sonny Liston in their second encounter.
The murals are in a courtyard off Ross Road and were probably painted at the request of a local resident. The Ali-Liston fight – in 1965 – perhaps gives a date for the consciousness that groups all of these items together – the Gladstone was still standing in the 60s and Laurel and Hardy played on UK televisions into the 1970s. The source for the palm trees is unknown.
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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Active Communities Network (web) is a non-profit in Belfast, Manchester, and London, focused on youth and community development: “Tackle inequality; create opportunities; inspire change”. Passers-by are invited to stand in the middle of the mural and “spread their wings”.
Replaces: Embrace Change Together.
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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“There is no lie big enough to cover the shame of jailing two innocent men #JFTC2”, in this case Brendan McConville and John Paul Wooton. Their portraits have been appearing on RNU (Fb) walls (and on Sliabh Dubh) since 2013. They are in prison, for 25-year and 18-year minimums, respectively, for the 2009 killing of PSNI Constable Stephen Carroll (BBC).
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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Martin “Rook” O’Prey was the Belfast brigade commander of the IPLO [Irish People’s Liberation Organisation], a breakaway INLA group responsible for killing George Seawright and attacking the Orange Cross social club (WP).
There is a plaque to O’Prey in Leeson Street (M07985).
The RNU has reserved the spot to the left; the edge of the Kieran Abram board is visible on the right.
“Martin ‘Rook’ O’Prey – OC IPLO. Murdered in 1991 aged 29 by loyalist death squads in collusion with British state forces. He fought and died for Ireland. Also remembering his fallen comrades. “Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.””
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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Over the course of a long career as a Fian, IRA volunteer, and Northern Command adjudtant, Jimmy Steele saw action in the S-Plan (see Joe Malone’s gravestone in Far Dearer The Grave Or The Prison) and the border campaign, went on hunger strike and “strip strike” (blanket), escaped from Crumlin Road gaol, and was the first editor of Republican News. (Treason Felony | WP) This poster (from the Irish Republican Martyrs’ Commemorative Committee – Fb) calls people to a commemoration of Steele on the anniversary of his death, August 9th, 1970.
“Óglach Jimmy Steele Commemoration. Assemble at Milltown Cemetery gates 3:00pm Wednesday 9th August. Irish Republican Martyrs Commemorative Committee wreath laying ceremony 53rd anniversary. All welcome/fáılte roımh chách.” “Jimmy Steele will lead us … Éıre abú. An Phoblacht abú.”
Northumberland Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The number is arrived at by aggregating the days served by republican prisoners in Maghaberry, Hydebank, and Portlaoise (IRPWA – page contains images of all the locations in which this board was mounted).
Braemar Street, west Belfast.
“End internment by remand! 11000 days and counting. Bail denied. Seán Farrell, Davy Jordan, Kevin Murphy, Nick Donnelly, Charlie Love, Shea Reynolds, Ciaran Maguire, Gary Hayden, Sean Walsh, Damien McLaughlin, Sharon Jordan, Mandy Duffy.”
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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Fáılte go dtí Marrowbone youth club [club óıge Mhachaıre Bothaın (Fb)] – better our community by working together.” The verbiage is a mix of Irish and English and the imagery is a mix of youth activities and … a minion.
The previous mural – which included Cliftonville (soccer) and Antrim (GAA) emblems – was seen previously in 2013 and in 2021.
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Derry is well-known as “doire”, an oak grove, and the oak leaf and acorn are used as symbols by many civic and county organisations. Friz’s (ig) piece for Derry Féile combines Derry’s oaky background with the dryads (tree spirits) of Greek mythology.
Central Drive, Creggan, Derry.
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Copyright © 2023 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 