Belfast north

Na Fıanna Ard Eoın

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The Fıanna plaque at the top of Berwick Road gets a sunburst background and cut-out portraits of the four Fıanna named on the plaque which dates back to 2009, commemorating “one hundred years of resistance” (1909-2009): Davy McAuley, Josh Campbell, Josie McComiskey, and Bernard Fox, all of whom died in 1972. The vintage Fıan on the left is perhaps Christy Lucey. The medal pictured is the Golden Jubilee medal.

“You may kill the revolutionary, but never the revolution.” “Dedicated by the Republican Network For Unity.” “Strength in our hearts, strength of our limbs, consistency of our tongues.”

For close-up of the plaque, see M06728.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Wolfhill

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Wolfhill is so named because the last wolf in Ireland was supposedly shot there in 1692 (Belfast Hills); this distinction is also claimed by Camlough. The Wolfhill Centre, which is across the Ligoniel Road from this mural, is home to the Ligoniel Improvement Association. On the right of the mural is St Vincent de Paul’s church, which is a little further down the road.

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Bone

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The place-name “Machaıre Bhotháın” perhaps gave rise to the name “The Marrow Bone”, the area around where the Park Inn was, between Ardoyne and Oldpark. (Machaıre – a plain, level land; botháın – hut, shed, cabin. Perhaps a reference to cattle grazing in summer pasture).

The three figures at the top are from left to right – Seán Mac Dıarmada (who was from Leitrim but was a boarder for a time in Butler Street), Pól DeLéıgh, Seán McCaughey; the mini-bus driver is Brendan Bradley. The green-and-yellow uniforms are from Coláıste Feırste. Signed “M Doc 2011” (Mıcheál Dochartaıgh).

With support from Glór [An Tuascırt] and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Great Hunger was previously on this wall (hence the plough). Ardoyne Avenue.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
[X00526] X00633 Staır na gaeılge in ard eoın & machaıre botháın, glór an tuaıscaırt, teach de leıgh, heritage lottery fund, comhıonanas don gaeılge, club óıge, flax cabs tacsaıthe lín, sıopaí, glasraí, baınne, nuachtán, tobac, fáılte

RIP Alan Ryan

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Real IRA member Alan Ryan was killed in north Dublin on September 3rd and graffiti has appeared mourning his death, supposedly at the hands of “drug dealing scum”. For background, see Irish Times | An Sıonnach Fıonn.

These two pieces are both on walls around the tower blocks in the New Lodge.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Death Of Billy Hunter

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The UVF’s Billy Hunter, who served fourteen years for the killings of the McErlane brothers (BBC | Belfast Telegraph), has died by his own hand. On Saturday (25th August) a floral tribute to him was mounted on the railings of the ASDA store where he worked.

According to ‘The Irish News’ (Monday 27th August 2012), “Hunter died after he doused himself in petrol and set it alight at the side of the Ballywalter Road, Millisle, on Friday morning.”

The Irish News quotes Gerard McErlane as saying, “The fella did it and God have mercy on him. What he did he did to himself. John and Thomas had no choice when he murdered them. He had a choice and maybe it was his conscience. I don’t know. I said a prayer and lit a candle for him doing that as I would for any human being doing that to themselves.”

However, Mr McErlane said tributes to Hunter should be removed. “It bothers me that they are supporting him. Even in his death they are supporting him. They are glorifying him. I want it removed.”

Quoting an ASDA spokeswoman, the Irish News reported that the store would support colleagues who want to attend the funeral. She said the store would let the “community decide on floral tributes”.

Detail and wide shot below …

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00591 X00592 X00593 no goodbye no farewell billy so! until the next time good night mate!! john s.r.t, york star linfield s.c.

Exhibition Open

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The big red sign usually says “Road Closed” but has been changed for the exhibition. On this day, however, the exhibition (which is a large satellite-image map of the area, on the ground) was not, in fact, open. The Flax St/Crumlin Road interface, Ardoyne, the day after the 2012 riot.

Below, taken later, a detail of the exhibition … a very small portion

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Inniskilling

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The 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment Of Foot was raised in 1689 at Enniskillen to fight against James II in Ireland (WP). It was folded into the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1881, which in turn was made part of the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968, which in turn was merged with the UDR in 1992 to form the Royal Irish Regiment, whose flag is in the top right – though the colours are incorrect; there are no white bars and two red bars (WP). This RIR served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The flowers around the outside are perhaps orange lilies rather than English roses.

“T-Bay youth – support our troops”

Mackey Street, Tiger’s Bay, north Belfast.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Lower Oldpark Community Action Group

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These are the murals on either side of the Lower Oldpark Community Action Group in Alloa Street. The office might already have been vacated, as the building will be demolished this summer (the office moved to Avoca St).

Above, children play marbles in the street; below, the Oldpark Carnegie Library (Fb) stand beneath Cave Hill and a signpost points the way to old streets in the area that were named after rivers of Ireland: Lee St, Shannon St, Foyle St, Bann St, Suir St, Liffey St.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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