Belfast

Father Time

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Ardoyne republican Sean Colligan was interned during the troubles and spent his life as an activist in the area, particularly in organising the Ardyne Fleadh (via Saoirse32) and the murals in Ardoyne. He died of a heart attack (in 2004?) but his stone carvings survive him. Two were already in front of the Mass Rock mural, and three more have been added in front of a new commemorative wall for former POWs (to be featured tomorrow).

Colligan was among those thanked for their help on the Malcolm X mural.

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#AchtAnoıs

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An Dream Dearg (Fb) takes its campaign for an Irish-Language Act (Acht Na Gaeılge) to the streets of Ardoyne after a deal to introduce such an act collapsed in February (BBC-NI | Irish Times).

Balholm Drive; there is an identical mural on the International Wall on Divis Street.

Previously: An Dream Dearg | An Lá Dearg

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Head Examined

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A crude anatomy of the loyalist brain by TLO, with modules dedicated to Buckfast (tonic wine), flying our flag, The Sash, 1690, killing all taigs, and Saving Ulster From Sodomy. DUP councillor called the poster “a hate crime” (Guardian).

Side-by-side with: Ian Paisley Jr as The Crawler.

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The Crawler

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Adolphe Smith accompanied John Thomson as he travelled around Victorian London in the 1870s, interviewing the subjects in order to provide background for Thomson’s photographs, their combined efforts published as  Street Life In London (pdf from LSE). The entry accompanying this image (in unmodified form) is entitled “The Crawlers“; Smith describes them as “old women reduced by vice and poverty to that degree of wretchedness which destroys even the energy to beg”. The DUP’s Ian Paisley Jr. was recently seen in the House Of Commons apologising for failing to disclose two all-expenses-paid holidays for him and his family to Sri Lanka (Irish Times). His colleagues suspended him for 30 days and withdrew his salary for a month for this failure and for acting as a paid advocate for Sri Lanka’s human rights record (Colombo Telegraph). If 7,543 of his constituents sign a recall petition, he will face re-election. The election poster combining the two is (presumably) by TLO.

Update: “That’s not funny!” above a vandalised version of the poster at the end of August.

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An Ní Is Áılle

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“Níl an ní is áılle – súıl ghléıgheal [sic] an lınbh – slán faoınár gcúram níos mó!” [The most beautiful thing – the sparkling eye of a child/the bright hope of a child – is no longer safe in our care!] This Bóthar Chluanaí/Springfield Road graffiti seems to be a response to the recent vote in the Republic Of Ireland removing the constitutional protection of unborn children (see Yes & No). There has previously been Irish-language graffiti in favour of abortion: Ceart Gınmhıllte Anoıs!

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Bad Road Transport

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“Sub-standard BRT discriminates against residents, traders, the disabled and their carers.” The new Belfast Rapid Transport has begun testing (BelfastLive | BelTel) in preparation for the official launch on September 3rd, with routes from the city centre to east and west Belfast and a “Citi” loop. To facilitate the new “Gliders”, a lane of traffic is being dedicated to the service from 7 am to 7 pm (also open to other public transport, cyclists, and taxis). Some are worried about traffic congestion (Talking Retail) and one business in west Belfast has closed because of the loss of street parking (Irish News). Another concern is that the new transport hub is not integrated with BRT – its stops for the West and East routes will be 380 and 500 meters away (BelTel).

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Run-DMC

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Run-DMC took hip hop into the mainstream in 1984 and were eventually declared the greatest hip hop artist/group by both MTV and VH1. The trio are Joseph “Run” Simmons, Darrell “DMC” McDaniels and “Jam Master Jay” Mizell (who was shot and killed in 2002). Street art by Glen Molloy (previous work including Beastie Boys) in Pattersons Place.

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Copyright © 2018 Cathal Woods
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We Will Remember Them

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Dozens of boards to local soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) Division (by the 2016 Committee) have been added to the Mount Vernon memorial garden to the soldiers of the Great War (the mural) and contemporary UVF volunteers (the garden). For the mural, memorial stones, and outside plaque, see At Home And On The Mainland.

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Hard Brexit

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A “hard Brexit” would involve the UK leaving the European Union and the European Economic Area. For Northern Ireland, that would mean (at least) customs checks at the border with the Republic. Politicians on all sides are concerned about what that might mean for the peace, but the split is encouraged by the board above on the “sports zone” next to the Mount Inn on North Queen Street, Belfast. The Navy and RAF ensigns perhaps suggest how the UK’s borders are to be secured.

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Be There All The Way

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The draw for the 4th round matches in the men’s All-Ireland Football Senior Championship takes place this morning at 8:30. Antrim have already been eliminated (in both football and hurling) but four other Ulster counties await their fates: Armagh, Fermanagh, Monaghan, and Tyrone. The new mural shown above celebrates (men’s) Gaelic games in County Antrim (tw) and at two local clubs: Naomh Gall (web), founded in Clonard Street in 1910, and Naomh Pól (tw | Fb) in Hawthorn Street – the site of the mural – in 1941.

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X04993 Sam Maguire cup, Liam MacCarthy cup established 1884 hayes hotel thurles bunaıthe 1884 ostán uí haodha durlas éıle