Here are three images from the (upper) blind end of Tower Street, encouraging people to wash their hands (and take other measures) to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus responsible for Covid-19. (“Hallion” is the name of the graffitist.)
Tower Street, east Belfast
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X07199 X07200 X07201 [X07202] Copyright © 2020 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
X08321 Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
Time to get digging! The FGB (Francois Got Buffed | web | previously) sig is behind the clump of weeds. “Build communities” is part of FGB’s support for the campaign to Save The Cathedral Quarter. The wide shot shows the FGB piece plus emic’s In Bloom.
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Copyright © 2020 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
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Ian Ogle (“Big O”) was standing at this spot (Cluan Place and Albertbridge Road) on the night of January 27th, 2019, when he was assaulted and stabbed by a gang of men. Three UVF members have been charged with his death though the UVF say the killing was not sanctioned (Sunday Life). The family continue to campaign for a safer east Belfast (BelTel).
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Copyright © 2020 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
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“Overlooked by the iconic Harland and Wolff cranes, Samson and Goliath, The Yardmen is a bronze sculpture depicting three shipyard workers returning home to East Belfast.” “At its peak 30,000 people were employed in the shipbuilding industry in Belfast. A high proportion of them lived in the terraced streets off the Newtownards Road. Not far away is one of the best preserved terraces of workers’ houses in Belfast – McMaster Street, begun in 1898. Most of the workforce was drawn from the countryside around Belfast, though many skilled workers were recruited in Britain. While shipbuilding was harsh and often dangerous work, the standard of living for workers was generally higher than that of shipyard employees in other British cities.”
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Copyright © Seosamh Mac Coılle
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John harper baptist pastor glasgow mottpottinger tabernacle gave his life jacket to another man westbourne presbyterian ship of dreams mural dee street titanic mural discover ulster-scots belfast maritime trail 1700 large ships most famous being titanic a great ship now locked into worldwide history and romantic myth, fact and myth riveted together
Union flags with “Thank You NHS” in east Belfast, one (above) in front of “Freedom Corner” on Newtownards Road (for the recent history of the mural on the right, see East Belfast Brigade) and another (below) in Ballarat Street.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Political police state” graffiti on the abandoned Carnegie Oldpark library.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Miss McMinn (BEM) created a haven for “Her Girls” in Thorndyke Street Club. It was a home from home where you were encouraged to be yourself. ‘Her girls’ were here life: Her 27 years of service brought joy to the lives of young girls in an area of Belfast that had been devastated by the Blitz. Miss Margaret (Greta) McMinn (we never used Christian names) never married but devoted her life to ‘her girls’. So great was her dedication that during ‘The Troubles’, unable to get to her home in north Belfast, she slept on the premises. With her guidance we learned many arts and crafts which we shared with our family and friends on ‘display night’. We also entered many sports competitively in our own area and the Shankill Road. Many outings to the pantomime, circus, etc. and the annual holidays to Shimna House, Newcastle, County Down, were a real treat for children who had little or nothing in the way of luxury. Wonderful memories of a beautiful lady. – Peggy Bowden”.
Part of the “East Side Lives Heritage Trail” which “celebrates the unsung people who built community in east Belfast. Other entries include The Godfather Of Legal Betting | No Ordinary Woman | Two Smart Alecs | Desano’s. For a list of all fourteen, see the Trail’s pamphlet (pdf).
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Keep the diamond shinning [sic] bright”. The ‘Diamond Project’ is an initiative from Belfast City Council to re-image Lord Street, east Belfast (Belfast Media). Diamonds also feature in Always Keep A Diamond In Your Mind and Shine Bright Diamond Alley
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“VE Day” in large letters composed of images, portraits of servicemen, and newspaper front pages (“It’s Over In Europe”, “Germany Quits” and so on) from the period at the end of WWII in Europe, installed along the Shore Road, Belfast, for the 75th anniversary of the event.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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This is the pro-NHS mural in Newbuildings, south of London-/Derry. The “S” of NHS has been turned into the “S” of superman (see also Prepared For Work, Ready For Coronavirus). The rainbow (7-stripe rather than the gay pride 6-stripe) has become a symbol of positivity in the time of the coronavirus pandemic (see e.g. NHS Forever | Thank You, Postmen).
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Copyright © 2020 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 