Belfast west

Same Aim – Different Name

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The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was reformed in 2001 as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), as recommended by the Patten Commission. This Saoradh (web | Fb) tarp in Hugo Street questions the extent to which the force has changed. The traditional RUC officer in bullet-proof vest is on the left; the modern officer on the right is more heavily protected. In the centre, the PSNI emblem overlays the old RUC one, with Stormont in the background.

For the board celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, see versions in Andersonstown | Ardoyne | St James’s.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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A Fisherman, An Entertainer, A Shankill Road Man

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From Ordinary People, Extraordinary Roles, here are the three individual plaques to Trevor King, Frenchie Marchant, and Davy Hamilton, three UVF volunteers killed at or near the junction of Spier’s Place and the Shankill Road. The poetic verse (in the wide shot) is from Siegfried Sassoon’s Suicide In The Trenches.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ordinary People, Extraordinary Roles

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“This plaque is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Colonel Trevor King, died 9th July 1994, Major William (Frenchie) Marchant, died 28th April 1987, Volunteer David Hamilton, Died 17th June 1994. These brave men died near this spot [the corner of Spier’s Place and Shankill Road, west Belfast] by the enemies of Ulster. No sacrifice is too great for one’s country. They paid the ultimate sacrifice. ‘They shall grow not old/as we that are left grow old/Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn/At the going down of the sun and in the morning/We will remember them.’” King and Hamilton (along with Colin Craig, an RUC informer and not included on the plaque) were shot by the INLA and died of their wounds three weeks and one day later. Frenchie Marchant (in the middle of the image above) was shot by the IRA outside The Eagle chip shop.

For the individual plaques, see A Fisherman, An Entertainer, A Shankill Road Man.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Life In The Old Dogs Yet

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In addition to their Easter parade in April (Irish News) and large hoarding celebrating Charlie Hughes and Leila Khaled at the corner of Northumberland Street, IRA D Company’s presence in Divis now includes a cut-out assault rifle and tricoloured “IRA” mounted on the light pole.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Action Against Drugs

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Action Against Drugs (AAD) is a anti-drugs organisation of former IRA members and perhaps using IRA weapons. The ‘recruitment’ graffiti and warning to drug-dealers shown above is at the junction of Albert Street and Divis Street in west Belfast.

For more in the graffiti war against dealers, see 2017’s U’ll Do Nottin! and 2018’s Drug Dealers Will Be Shot.

For the mental health board, see Keep Ahead With Your Mental Health.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Our Struggle Continues

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Óglach Charlie Hughes was O.C. of PIRA D Company (“the dogs”) in west Belfast. He was killed in March 1971 as part of the feud between the OIRA and the Provisionals. PIRA volunteers, including Charlie and cousin Brendan Hughes (“The Dark”), had burned down OIRA drinking den The Burning Embers, across from Charlie’s house on Balkan Street, and were moving on to The Cracked Cup on Leeson Street, but were met with gunfire. Hughes was killed later that night, after a ceasefire had been agreed, by a single shot (WP | a 2002 account by The Dark). The mural replaces the small ‘1921’ tarp (see Do Not Touch).

The other figure shown is Palestinian skyjacker Leila Khaled (see also Oppression Breeds Resistance).

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Global Commodity

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This mural of two children in chains being led by an officer in riot gear is another ‘1000 Words’ work and a companion piece to Chuckle Babies/No Walls on the other side of the Imagine mural between the security gates on Northumberland Street. See also see also Fearfully And Wonderfully Made.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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