Belfast

One Million People Buried Here

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“When the name is called by the one above/Their troubles at once did cease/Like the people who went there before them/I prey they will rest in peace.” The words of Shankill man Albert Haslett are used on a Daniella Balmaverde mosaic commemorating the dead buried in Shankill graveyard. The full poem can be found at Belfast Experience, which claims that the number of burials is about half a million. NVTv has a interview program with Haslett, who died in January of last year (2017) – photos and remembrance at Shankill Area Social History group.

Previously from the graveyard: Queen Of Ireland, Empress Of India | Watch-House | WWI Dead

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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National Republican Easter Commemoration

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Republican political party Saoradh (web) are organising a ‘National Republican Easter Commemoration’ on the Saturday before Easter Sunday (which is April 1st, this year). The parade is expected to be led by a colour party and marchers in combat gear (Irish News | BelTel).

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Front & Sides

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The two derelict houses at the top of the Springfield Road have had a make-over, with a paint-job and fake windows showing curtains and lamps. As can be seen in the two images below, the sides remain the same, with the Ballymurphy Massacre on one side and the Mass Graves Of Ireland mural on the other. Here’s a “before” view on Google Maps.

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Gibraltar And Milltown

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Féıle An Earraıgh – the spring festival in advance of this summer’s Féıle An Phobaıl – includes a series of talks and tours examining the killing of the Gibraltar 3 (l-r, Maıréad Farrell, Daniel McCann, and Seán Savage) and the deaths of (l-r) Kevin Brady/Caoımhín Mac Brádaıgh, John Murray, and Thomas McErlean at the funeral, and (two days earlier) Kevin McCracken. Yesterday (March 6th) was the 30th anniversary (“comóradh 30 blıaın”) of the Gibraltar killings and the date was noted by the launch of the mural above, at the site of the old Andersonstown RUC station. The photograph in the bottom right was reproduced in the 25th anniversary mural.

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Shaftesbury Fringe

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The Accidental Theatre Company (web | Fb) is an experimental theatre company that has taken over 12-13 Shaftesbury Square for the time being. Before Christmas they put on a Michelle & Arlene Holiday Special, with the two political leaders on the run from their self-imposed isolation (review by Alan In Belfast) but still trying to do a deal. The mural above is in the style of another holiday odd-couple road tale, the 1987 film Planes, Trains And Automobiles. Along with theatre duo Amadan, they are “keeping Belfast weird” – artwork by Verz (Fb), below.

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Time For Truth

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Since the 14th, the Time For Truth Committee on its Facebook page has been rolling out videos by relatives who lost family members to British Army or loyalist paramilitary attacks during the Troubles. This Saturday, February 25th, sees a march in support of their call for investigations into these and other deaths. “Fírınne anoıs! Ceartas anoıs!” (Truth now! Justice now!)

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