Titanic was hull number “401” at Harland & Wolff, and, after hitting an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on April 14th, 1912, sank at 2:20 a.m. (WP). Above is another (see also Hope Lost, Identity) metal-work piece on the Cupar Way “peace” line, with images of a boat dock, solderers, and wind turbines.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01286 creativeness impact training maximising potential once the largest shipyard in the world creativeness tragedy 401 2:20 am
Above is another ‘Alternatives‘ board, on Cupar Way, encouraging reconciliation between victims and offenders (alternativesrj.org).
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01284 the offence offender victim restorative journey agree resolution responsibility restitution reconciliation provides an opportunity for those directly affected by an offence to communicate and agree how to deal with the offence and its consequences alternatives mediation heard accepted compassion empathy proud respected empowered in control satisfied
Previously we featured an image from the north (loyalist) side of the Cupar Way “peace” line, a.k.a. “war wall” or “wall of hostility” – the wall/fence separating neighbourhoods along the Shankill from those along the Falls. Here are two shots from the south (republican) side of the line, in Bombay Street. Divis tower is visible in the distance in the first. The second, below, shows the additional fencing that covers the backs of some houses.
More information about the west Belfast war wall is included in the Visual History page State Art Vs Graffiti On The West Belfast “Peace” Line.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01285 X01273
Board on the Cupar Way side of the “peace” line showing, on the left hand side, rioters with petrol bombs attacking the police, the “peace” line, and a burning vehicle, and, on the right, construction workers, university graduates, and happy children. “Fight for a better future. It is your choice.” For more information, see Daniela Balmaverde.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01283
The ‘Eileen Hickey Irish Republican History Museum‘ — which is across the street behind the Conway Mill — is named for Eileen Hickey, a Provisional IRA member who served time in Armagh prison; she died in 2006, one year before the opening of the museum (obituary at An Phoblacht). A close-up of the woman with a bin lid, in the lower right-hand corner, can be found below.
Next to the opening hours is an image of a prison cell in the Armagh women’s prison. The museum itself contains a cell door and a bed from the prison.
For the Oscar Romero mural in the wide shot, see Eyes That Have Cried. On the right is Australian Aid.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01282 X01275 X00635 X01274
T01619 (courtesy of Paddy Duffy 2023)
Conway Link/Street out of the ashes, harp, maze long kesh
Above is an extra-wide shot (2700 pixels) of another panel from the wall next to the Republican Museum on Conway Street (next to the previously featured Eileen Hickey). The mural features banners of two Australian Republican support-groups, holding banners reading “Australian Aid for Ireland QLD [Queensland] Branch – The Spirit of Freedom” and “The Casement Support Group – Saoirse Melbourne”.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01281 lark, fuiseog, old branch hunger strike amnesty
“(It’s) All Good” on the north side of Cupar Way, near the Howard Street gate. Painted by Dublin street artist Maser (web).
Click image to enlarge|
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01276
The mural above is on the Newtownards Road at Lendrick Street and shows a bombed-out Ballymacarrett library, St. Patrick’s church (the church itself is visible in the lower right-hand corner) – both were hit by the blitz in 1942 – a police land rover (perhaps representing the “fallen” during the Troubles), and Cuchulainn (perhaps representing the IRA, though Cuchulainn is also a UDA icon – see the bottom of the Visual History page on Cú Chulaınn), and Stormont (representing … peace???). Poppies in a field and a H&W crane against stained glass provide a background.
We are supposed to remember the dead because (perhaps) their deaths were unnecessary and misguided as means to peace, at least according to the saying along the bottom (sometimes attributed to Einstein): “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding” – understanding of the Nazis during the blitz, it seems, and of loyalists and republicans during the Troubles. (If you have a better interpretation, please leave a comment.)
The mural was imitated on the hoarding around An Chultúrlann on the Falls Road during its renovation (shown below): the left hand side of the side was replaced with images of the Falls library and Bobby Sands mural and Divis tower, and Cú Chulaınn on the right was placed in front of the GPO, and the poppies were joined by lilies, and the words translated into Irish. The message here seems clearer, lamenting the CNR dead and calling for understanding of the CNR community (sc. by Britain and the Orange state) though the poppies below include the dead of WWI.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01280 X01279 war cogaıdh, peace síocháın, remember the fallen from war cuimhnígí ar mhairbh an chogaidh, peace cannot be kept by force ní féidır síocháın a choınneáıl le fórsa, it can only be achieved by understanding is tríd an chomhthuıscınt amháın a bhaınfear amach í
Printed and framed tarp in Bombay Street, commemorating the burning of Bombay Street during the August 1969 Belfast riots and the death Gerald McAuley, a young IRA member (Fian, not “Fiann” as written here) killed by a sniper during the trouble. Three photographs from the street at the time are reproduced in the bottom third of the board.
Ten years ago, an earlier incarnation of this board could be found on the other side of the street, connected to the issue of the day: No (Decom)mission.
RTÉ archival footage of the aftermath and other clips detailing the events in both Belfast and Derry.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01272
The back wall of Clonard Martyrs Memorial Garden – that is, the so-called “peace” line or (better) “war wall” – is decorated with portraits of twenty-five local óglaıgh and fıanna who died from 1920 to 1992 (though an Easter lily takes the place of Sean Gaynor on the far left).
Left: Dan Duffin, Seán McCartney, Tom Williams, Gerard McAuley, Peter Blake, Seamus Simpson, Seán Johnston, Seán Gaynor, Pat Duffin, Gerard Ó Callaghan, Seamus Burns, Danny Ó Neill, Tom McCann.
Right: Gerard Crossan, Seán Ó Riordan, Martin McKenna, Liam Hannaway, Jim McKernan, Dan McCann, “dedicated to the memory of local republican, Billy Davidson”, Tony Lewis, Joe McKenna, Brian Dempsey, Finbarr McKenna, Seán Savage, Prionsais Mac Áirt.
They are also listed on one of the plaques inside the garden – see the second images in Clonard Martyrs.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05290
Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 