Here are three republican boards, framed – Belfast Brigade ONH, Cogús (POWs), 1981 hunger strikers – encouraging New Lodge residents to “Join the Republican Network For Uni[ty]” (web), above a Bobby Sands quote: “We all know the reason that we are being tortured – because we are political dissidents, POWs, and we won’t bend the knee or conform” (from Thoughts From The Shadows).
Duncairn Parade, New Lodge, north Belfast.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Honour our patriot dead – wear an Easter lily.” Éırígí (web) board on New Lodge Road, with Marian Price graffiti.
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The Provisional IRA arose “Out of the ashes of 1969”, but the lineage is a long one and all but one of the organisations, events, and arms depicted here precede 1969: Cumann Na mBan, Na Fıanna Éıreann, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, a Celtic shield and sword, a pike (from the 1798 Rebellion), a Thompson gun, the Tricolour; only the assault rifle is modern and perhaps also is meant to indicate the “Belfast Brigade” Provisionals. “Fuaır sıad bás as son saoırse na hÉıreann.”
An in-progress shot from March 5th is below. Replaces Laochra Na nGael.
21 portraits of locals were later added – see M08552.
For a PUL use of the phrase, see Out Of The Ashes.
New Lodge Road, north Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Two pieces of graffiti art on the Cliftonville “peace” line: “Breakin’ BarrieRs”, as though the “peace” line should come down, but also “Respect R Streets”, if you do break through. With a signature panel on the wall of bubbles (not shown).
Rosevale Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Extramural Activity
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Soccer stars Rooney, Dida, Ronaldo, George Best, Larson [sic], Fernando Torres, Nakamura look down from the heavens on a local football match where the ‘keeper has taken one to the face.
Harcourt Street, north Belfast
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Jim O’Neill was killed in February 1976 during an IRA arson attack on a furniture warehouse on the Antrim Road near the New Lodge – Gerry Fitt’s house next door might have been the ultimate target (Belfast Child); Robert Allsopp appears to have accidentally shot himself in March 1975 (Irish Peace Process). Both were members of Na Fıanna. The flute band (Fb) is named in their memory.
Below the portraits of Jim O’Neill and Robert Allsopp is written “Glaıne ınár gcroí, neart ınár ngéaga, beart de reír [réır] ar [ár] mbrıathar.” [Purity in our hearts, strength in our limbs, action consistent with our words]
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“[Youth responds to praise] – the laughter of our children – the joy of our hearts.” A young Bobby Sands is shown in the front right, part of the Stella Maris soccer squad for 1967; he would later “respond” by becoming an IRA volunteer and hunger striker.
The plaque to the hunger strikers was originally on the left of the previous ‘1798’ mural, and the plaque to the deceased from the “greater Newington area” was embedded in it – see M03672.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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This is an end-of-life shot of the mural at the pedestrian entrance to the New Lodge. In the front is a landscape scene with “Welcome” in different languages; in the rear are street art figures and signatures; but graffiti covers all.
(Update: It was replaced in 2014 – both front and rear – by ‘old New Lodge’ images.)
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The William Drennan mural in the New Lodge is still hanging on, fourteen years after it was painted. See M01349.
Ludlow Square, New Lodge, north Belfast
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 