November 11th is Remembrance Day or Armistice day, the anniversary of the cease-fire of the first world war, while 2014 is the centenary year of the beginning of the war in 1914. As part of this year’s commemoration, a very striking giant poppy has sprouted in the middle of the Manse Road roundabout. A close-up is included below: “We will remember them 1914-2014”.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02328 X02327
This new work in the Somme memorial Garden Of Reflection (between the Shankill graveyard and the Mountainview Tavern), places two headstones (both reading “A soldier of the great war”) in a flower-bed, in front of a mural. The mural shows a soldier, presumably from the Ulster division, on the fields of Flanders: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 1914-2014”
Previously from the Garden: Somme Memorial; and from the graveyard: Queen Of Ireland, Empress Of India | Interment
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02301 that he lay down
Three wraiths of dead WWI soldiers – one with its head wrapped in a bandage – rise from the grave to issue a final edict: Take up our quarrel with the foe; to you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders’ fields.
For another WWI memorial in Shankill Graveyard see The Great War.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02303 ghost spectre
Home to Ballymacarrett District LOL No. 6, Junior LOL District No 3, RAPC District No 6, RBDC No 4 District, Women’s District LOL No 2.
Seen in 2012 in Flags Flying.
Albertbridge Road, east Belfast
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02464
One of the H&W cranes and the spire of Calvary Baptist church (and a street-light) reach to the heavens over the junction of Dee Street and Severn Street and (as the wider shot, below, shows) a “Connswater Women’s Group” mural.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02270 X02269 joining together the women of our community Nothing of the verticality of the divine, no sign of the hallucinatory presence of upright stone.
This graffiti on the hoardings around the building-site at the top of Woodvale Road is in reference to the on-going dispute at Twaddell Avenue, which is just to the right of the PSNI land-rover in the right of frame – each night Orange bands march up to the police line, attempting to march past the Ardoyne shops and finish a parade from the Twelfth (of July) 2013.
See previously: Civil Rights Camp | Twaddell Protest Camp | Supporters Club
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02260
Here are three “nail-ups” from west Belfast, all showing their age.
The first is “IRA – Brits out, not sell out. Join RSF” in Fallswater Street.
The second is a “Lower Shankill UFF C Coy” board high above the “Shankill Protestant Boys UVF” mural at the junction of Northemberland Street and the Shankill.
The third is the phoenix in the apex above the mural in AMCOMRI Street.
The images were taken in late 2014; the phoenix goes back at least to 2003 and the others are at least six years old.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02259 X02267 X02258 republican sinn féin ulster volunteer force
Demolition work in the upper Ballysillan area makes for Mondrian-style artwork (WP).
In the shot below: anti-LVF graffiti on the same wall. See also the painted-over LVF mural in the street.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02196 X02133
Here are two new boards in the courtyard of the Rex Bar on the Shankill Road, describing the formation of the Ulster Volunteers (‘A Force For Ulster’) and commemorating the losses suffered by the 36th (Ulster) Division of the British Army, which the Volunteers became, at the Somme and in other battles, mowed down by “the Hun machine guns” (‘The Great War’).
‘A Force For Ulster’ includes photographs of the recent centenary re-enactments of the Balmoral Review, the Ulster Covenant, the formation of the Volunteers (“east” and “west”) and “Operation Lion” – more commonly known as the Larne Gun-Running.
According to the ‘The Great War’ board, 32,186 men from west Belfast were killed, wounded, or missing. “To them bravery was without limit, to us memory is without end”. The board shows the Thiepval Memorial To The Missing Of The Somme against a background of portraits.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02189 X02197 X02188 last post great war society their name liveth forevermore the brigade moved off as if on parade but alas the slow tat-tat of the hun machine guns caught their advance under a deadly cross fire but nothing could stop this advance and on they went 1914 1918 balmoral ulster covenant fernhill donaghadee operation lion for god and ulster across a century of conflict decades slip past pay tribute to you crawford cunningham glencairn moscow street
Above and below is the scene at the end of summer in the courtyard of the Rex Bar – bunting and bouquets join the flags of the home nations and various boards celebrating the queen’s diamond jubilee and commemorating the 36th Ulster division “who selflessly gave their lives for King and county at the battle of the Somme”. The new boards (on the left hand side of the wide shot) were featured previously in The Last Post, along with the Union flag of The People’s Army. For the same scene ten years previously, see Betting Office.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02194 X02195 no carry outs in seating area no surrender 1952 2012 royal irish rifles no greater love the great war 1914 1918 officers ncos volunteers
Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 