Faulky Lad

Craig Faulkner died by suicide on July 8th, 2016 (Belfast Live). His was one of the deaths among amateur footballers that spurred the SAMHI initiative (Belfast Live). (See previously: It’s OK To Talk). This board to his memory is on the path between Hightown Road carpark (above the Horseshoe Bend) and the top of the Cavehill Road – he was from and played soccer in Ballysillan.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Brian Stewart

13 year-old Brian Stewart died on October 10th, 1976 – 42 years ago today – six days after being hit by a plastic bullet fired by the King’s Own Scottish Borders near his Turf Lodge Home. He was buried three days later, on October 13th – what would have been his fourteenth birthday. (For the long search for justice, see sister Marie Stewart | sceptic peg | saoirse32).

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Mar Uachtarán

Voters in the Irish Republic go to the polls today (October 26th, 2018) to elect a president. Northerners cannot vote, though a referendum to allow residents of Northern Ireland to vote in presidential elections is expected in 2019 (BelTel). Nonetheless, these posters for Sinn Féın candidate Lıadh Ní Rıada are at the Glen Road/Falls Road roundabout in west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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By A Thread

In ancient Greek mythology, the Athenian Theseus (though here carrying a Spartan shield) killed the Cretan king Minos’s bull (minotaur) to end the sacrifice of Athenian youths as retribution for the earlier death of his son Androgeos at the Panathenaic games. Glasgow artist Rogue One (Fb | ig) recreated the myth for CNBX/HTN18.

Previously: Rogue One in London-/Derry.

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Live Free

The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights was declared 70 years ago, on December 10th, 1948. emic (web) and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Council teamed up to mark the occasion with this CNBX/HTN18 piece of street art. (Replaces SimKardashian.)

Below is another new emic ‘hand’ – compare with Hands and A Lifeboat From Despair.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Earl’s Thorn Bush

The emblem on the flats at the mini-roundabout (where Glandore and Skegoneill avenues meet) depicts a tree and a face, perhaps a reference to the name “Skegoneill” or ‘the earl’s thorn bush” after the place at which Anglo-Norman earl William de Burgo was assassinated in 1333 (PlaceNamesNI).

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Golden Hares Of Rathlin Island

The ‘Golden Hare’ is a leucistic (WP) or albino (WP) hare (sources differ), with lighter fur than typical Irish hares. They are found on Rathlin island (Hare Preservation Trust) and now – in artistic form – in Belfast’s city centre, as painted by Birmingham artist Annatomix (web | Fb) for CNBX/HTN18.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Poet & The Guitarists

In 2003 Seamus Heaney recorded a CD of poems accompanied by the uilleann piping of Liam O’Flynn (Claddagh). He now finds himself (post mortem) in the company of three Irish/Northern Irish guitarists: Bap Kennedy from Belfast (featured previously in Half Bap Bap), Gary Moore also from Belfast, and Rory Gallagher from Ballyshannon and Cork.

“Walk on air against your better judgement” is from the poem ‘The Gravel Walks’ and is inscribed on Heaney’s tombstone. “A friend is someone who walks into a room when everyone else is walking out” is not from any song but attributed to Moore. “Born on the wrong side of time” is a Gallagher-penned Taste song (youtube).

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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South Belfast Volunteers

The main panel (shown below) is a tribute to soldiers in the Great War (1914-1918), with a border of poppies and silhouetted soldiers reflecting over helmets on crosses. To the side, however, is the modern UVF volunteer (shown above), with balaclava and assault rifle.

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