Belfast west

1 Pill Will Kill

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Jamie Burns collapsed at the Queen’s Student Union last November after taking an ecstasy tablet. His parents, William and Lesley Burns, are at the forefront of a new drug awareness campaign, #1PillWillKill, which was launched on April 11th (UTv | Tele). The campaign includes this new board at the top of Twaddell Avenue, former site of the protest camp, where it is joined by two further boards urging people to send tips about drug dealing to the police.

“This artwork is dedicated in memory of Jamie Burns, 27 June 1993 – 20th November 2016. “We do not measure his life in years but by the endless love and joy he brought to us.” Officially unveiled on June 1st 2017 by Frank Mitchell and Vinny Hurrell. Commissioned by Unite The Union in recognition of the Burns family.”

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Invictus

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Here is the main part of a new printed mural in the Woodvale area of west Belfast (to be officially launched on Saturday, June 3rd). It celebrates the creation of the Woodvale Defence Association as “Defenders of our community since 1969” which in 1971 merged with other associations to form the UDA, whose youth wing is the UYM (lower middle, “terrae filius” = “sons of the soil”) and which uses “UFF” (upper left, “feriens ego” = “attack to defend”) as a cover for military operation. The final emblem is of the LPA (Loyalist Prisoners’ Association, “quis separabit” = “none shall separate us”). The mural replaced by this one is in the bottom left, while the bottom right contains an image of Long Kesh in 1979. The main photograph is of a 1972 march on the Shankill.

For the side-wall, see Remembering Our Fallen.

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Remembering Our Fallen

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Here’s the left-hand side of the UDA mural in Disraeli Street being launched today (June 3rd, 2017). As can be seen most clearly in the final, sideways-on, image, both pieces are a combination of printed poster and attached boards. Lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem For The Fallen of WWI are used: “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 shall remember them.”

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Child Soldiers

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Seán Ó Rıordan was aged 13 when “killed in action by British crown forces” on Cawnpore Street on 23rd March 1972 (Sutton) and he is buried in Milltown cemetery. The 1977 Protocol I of the Geneva Convention would later prohibit conscription of children younger than 15 but allow for their voluntary participation. It is thus notable that this new board to “Fıann [sic] Seán Ó Rıordan” was “erected by the family”.

Ascaıll Ard Na bhFeá/Beechmount Avenue, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Fight For Your Rights

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The UK general election takes place Thursday week (June 8th). Here are two Sınn Féın boards, both at the junction of the Falls and Glen Roads (site of the former Andersonstown police station), the first featuring the image of Michelle O’Neill and exhorting people to “register to vote now!” (Claragh chun vótáıl anoıs) and the second a quote from Gerry Adams’s oration at the graveside of Martin McGuinness: “If you want freedom, go out and take it. Organise. Mobilise. Unite for rights” (Más saoırse atá uaıt, gabh amach agus beır greım uırthı. Eagraıgh, gríosaıgh, troıd ar son do chearta.) A copy of Latuff’s Ireland-Palestine hunger-striker solidarity cartoon (which he also painted as a mural in Northumberland St) has been added to Michelle’s lapel.

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New Life

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“CRF” graffiti on the Northumberland Street security gates outside New Life City church. The Catholic Reaction Force — a “reaction” to the Protestant “Action” Force — declared a ceasefire in 1994.

Previous CRF sightings: Speaking In Code in Beechmount | Badly Drawn, Boy in Glengormley.

Previous images from the New Life courtyard.

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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An Dream Dearg

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Another “Lá Dearg” – organised by An Dream Dearg (Fb) (the red group) takes place next Saturday with a march from An Chultúrlann to the city hall. The image above shows graffiti in Divis Street; the image below shows posters for the event on the Lıú Lúnasa mural.

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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