“Resistance is not terrorism – Saoırse don Phalaıstín”. Gazan photo-journalist Motaz Azaiza (ig) visited Dublin – where he spoke at Bohemians (reddit | The Journal), Belfast – where he spoke with Clare Daly at the MAC, and Derry – where he spoke with Jamie Lee O’Donnell at the Guildhall (Derry Now). He also attended a rally at Free Derry Corner (Derry Journal | Derry Now), which has been painted with his likeness in honour of the work he has done documenting the destruction of Gaza by Israeli forces for his almost 18 million people on instagram. Fifteen of Azaiza’s relatives were killed in an air-strike on Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on October 13th, 2023 (WP).
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Copyright © 2024 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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These bird-boxes and platforms were installed by Wild Belfast (web) – a group aimed at enhancing natural habitats – in order to attract house-martins, who visit Ireland in the summer in order to breed, but whose numbers are in decline because of a loss of nesting sites (under the eaves of houses) and building materials (mud).
The boxes are in front of street art by artist Daniela Balmaverde (web) on the end of one of the stands at Cliftonville FC (BBC) – the shamrock earrings are the club’s emblem.
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“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” “Stop the genocide – save Palestine.”
The South Link green-space as been renamed “Gaza Square” (see the small plaque in the wide shot, below) and the murals seen recently (at end of March) in Though An Army Besiege Me, My Heart Will Not Fear have been repainted, switching images of Israeli weapons for the images of death, suffering, and destruction seen here.
According to the Al Jazeera tracker, the Palestinian death toll is approaching 45,000, with more than 100,000 injured.
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The long-running extradition case against Seán Walsh – from the republic to the north – took another twist in March when the supreme court referred his case to the European Court Of Justice. Walsh is wanted on charges of New IRA membership, based on surveillance of meetings organised by MI5 agent Dennis McFadden (Herald). The point now at issue is whether a 2021 UK law on sentencing for those convicted of terrorism charges (pdf) – no early release is possible (gov.uk) – contravenes article seven of the European Convention On Human Rights.
Republicans also claim that he would be subject to maltreatment if extradited (RN).
A write-up of the arguments can be found in this Irish Times article from 2023, when the possibility of referral was first mooted by Walsh’s legal team.
The black shamrock in the centre of the wall pre-dates the Walsh graffiti – see Black Shamrock for its significance. Free Derry Corner has its own Visual History page.
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Copyright © 2024 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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Derry’s ‘Get Up’ graffiti and street art festival took place at the end of June – here is the Strand Road hoarding sprayed by NOYS (ig), POSEA (ig), VENTS (ig), RAZER (ig), Chose Letters (ig) and perhaps others, with support from Peaball (web) and Foyle Maritime (web), as well as City Paints (Fb) and Crown paints.
For the street art pieces from Clarendon Street, see Get Up, Derry.
For the same hoarding in 2023, see Crash Bandicoot, and in 2022, see Some Buzz.
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A new painting of Amelia Earhart has been created by JEKS (ig), on the side of the Foyle building, North West Regional College, on Queen’s Quay. A number of sources claim without citation or measurement that it is the tallest piece of street art in the north – both the BBC and the Chamber Of Commerce use the passive “thought to be”. Its closest competitor would be the recent piece by Zabou on the Telegraph Building in Belfast – see Broken Promises.
The Foyle Building has six “levels” (NWRC) while the original Telegraph Building had four storeys (Archiseek). In addition to comparing images of the two paintings, you can also judge by comparing Street View images of the buildings: Derry vs Belfast.
Information about Earhart’s connection to the Maiden City can be found in the entries on the printed board (But What Do Dreams Know Of Boundaries?) and the mosaic (Flying Solo) to Earhart in Derry.
JEKS did eventually fill in the hair (and so cover over his instagram handle) on the lower portrait.
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Copyright © 2024 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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One of Lidl’s slogans (and a “corporate responsibility objective” of the company) is to work “For a better tomorrow”. The electoral-style placard above urges “Don’t vote Lidl” and alleges that the company is “funding genocide for a bleaker tomorrow” and that its “policy is to fund apartheid, occupation, genocide” – perhaps through selling Israeli-made goods – particularly wipes made by Lupilu (ig video | Fb video | Fb | Change.org) – and through its parent company Schwarz’s acquisition of an Israeli cyber-security company.
The placard in the final image targets Home Bargains. According to the News Letter, it agreed to pull Israeli goods from its shelves back in October. BDS Belfast alleges that such goods can still be found (ig | Fb). These signs are on the Falls/Andersonstown Road where both HB (in the Kennedy Centre) and Lidl (next door) have stores. The Kennedy Centre Sainsbury’s has also been the target of protest (CYM).
The source of the placards is perhaps BDSBelfast (ig).
See previously: Ban Israeli Goods.
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The image above shows the large IRPWA board (Republican Prisoners Still Exist!) being reinstated yesterday (June 21st) at the right-hand end of the International Wall on Divis Street. It was removed (on the 19th) in preparation for a new pro-Palestinian mural (BelTel); the IRPWA protested on-line (web) and it was reported that two men showed up at the house of the mural-painter and threatened to shoot him (BelTel); this led to calls from Sınn Féın for the threat to be withdrawn (Belfast Media). [Update, June 24th: the threat was withdrawn (Belfast Media)]
The IRPWA, reacting on the 20th to the publicity (web), set out its version of events and provided some information about the allocation of spots on the wall – including two anti-Agreement spots – on Divis Street (and also about Northumberland Street).
On Divis Street, the first political prisoner’s board towards the left-hand end of the wall goes back to the Castlerea Five (in 2000), followed by a painted mural in 2004 – Segregation For Irish POWs; at the right-hand end of the wall a Tommy Crossan board was mounted in 2001, though this spot has been used for other purposes at various times. (Complete histories of these spots, and the rest of the wall, can be found on the map.)
There was some tension over the anti-Agreement spots in 2016, when most of the wall was repainted for the 1916 centenary. There was a plan to include the spot on the right-hand end (see the final image of The World Did Gaze In Deep Amaze) but the IRPWA instead asserted its control of the spot and painted a Bilal Kayed mural; the 32CSM mural (in roughly the third spot from left) was covered over – for the launch only – by a version of the intended ‘Public Meeting’ mural that was instead painted on a sheet (see Shared Space). The image of Carson was also vandalised while it was being painted (see We Won’t Have Carson).
During the recent ‘Painting For Palestine’ initiative, the murals in the two anti-Agreement spots – Khader Adnan and Republican Prisoners Still Exist! (the board at the centre of the current controversy) – were left untouched.
See also the recent history of the Kieran Nugent spot at the left-hand end of the wall: replaced by a mural about Catalan independence in 2015 – Votes About Votes – but Nugent (along with Maıréad Farrell) was included in the hunger-strikers mural further down the wall – I’ll Wear No Convict’s Uniform | Peace With Justice; then Nugent was Reinstated in the form of a painted board; then the ‘reinstated’ board was removed for the 1916 centenary painting – Young Ireland; a mural of Nugent was then repainted in 2017 – Kieran Nugent; a D company board honouring Nugent, Hughes, and McKee was mounted in 2019 – They Were Faithful And They Fought.
Other controversial murals (post-Agreement) include: The Butcher’s Apron in Beechmount, 2016 | Ireland Says “No” To Genocide Joe in Divis, 2024.
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“Israeli Genocide” (Israel represented by the Star Of David) – This Antrim Road (north Belfast) graffiti protests the on-going Israeli attacks on cities in the Gaza Strip. The death toll of Palestinians now stands at more than 37,000 people, with 60% of residences destroyed (Al Jazeera).
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 