Belfast – Page 265 – Seosamh Mac Coille Collection

Eıspéıreas Gaeılge/Irish Experience

2014-02-282026-08-17Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The stained glass window above is in Cultúrlann McAdam – O’Fıaıch (cultural centre, named for two clergymen, Presbyterian Robert McAdam and Catholic Tomás Ó Fıaıch) on the Falls Road and features some of the spaces within the centre: An Ceathrú Póılí: Sıopa Leabhar Gaeılge Bhéal Feırste (Irish-language bookstore), Caıfé Feırste (café), Dánlann Dillon (Dillon Gallery).

More stained glass in the Cultúrlann: White Line

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Cry “Havoc”

2014-02-272026-08-17Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Above is a new board (on painted background) at the Falls Road Garden of Remembrance for IRA volunteers in D company (the ‘Dogs’) of the 2nd battalion Belfast Brigade and local civilians from the lower Falls who died in the 20s, 70s and 90s. The main board shows a map of the area from Dunville Park to the Divis flats with lilies marking the spots of various deaths. Surrounding it are the portraits of fourteen of the volunteers listed on the marble – Maguire, O’Rawe, McKelney, Donaghy, Quigley, McAreavey, Hughes, Loughran, MacBride, Kelly, Carson, Campbell, Skillen, Marley.

Below is a wide shot showing the garden and mural.

CAIN have video of the garden

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01709 X01708 falls cultural society quest for irish freedom ar son saoirse na heireann oglaigh roll of honour monument

The Burning Of Long Kesh

2014-02-272026-08-18Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Maze/Long Kesh was set ablaze by Republican inmates 40 years ago, on the night of October 15th, 1974. Above is a picture by Matt Kelly, who was held in Cage 18. The picture is in the Eileen Hickey Republican Museum on Conway Street.

Previously: The Maze Ablaze (includes background information)| Long Kesh At Night | Eileen Hickey | You Know Where

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Wheelchair Monologues

2014-02-272026-08-17Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Above is an advertising hoarding (this one is at the junction of the Antrim and Limestone Roads) for an Irish-language one-man show entitled “The Wheelchair Monologues” by Gearóıd Ó Caırealláın, director of the Cultúrlann and Irish-language activist, about the stroke (in 2006) that has left him paralyzed on his left side. Below is a detail from the boards that surrounded the Cultúrlann during its renovation.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Child’s Play

2014-02-262026-08-17Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Play is the highest form of research – Albert Einstein.” The quote appears to be a common (mis-)attribution.

This is a new board celebrating the play of children, with a UDA/UFF mural in the background. The artist is Ed Reynolds (steadyhanded.com).

Previously by Ed in the lower Shankill: a full-sized Play mural.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01707 X01706 X02453 lt. col. william bucky mccullough

On The Hall’s Walls

2014-02-242026-08-17Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Each Lord Mayor of Belfast has an official portrait which hangs in Belfast City Hall. 2011-2012 Lord Mayor Nıall Ó Donnghaıle’s takes the unusual form of a mini-mural, in the shape of a gable wall and complete with mortar lines. The portrait features a “Short Strand” street-plate (Ó Donnghaıle is from there), images of Titanic, James Connolly – a portrait was mounted at a SIPTU event in the mayor’s chambers in October 2011, after pictures of the royal family had been removed in June, protesters, and an MTV mug. The artist talks about the piece on Slugger (audio) and CultureNI has a good write-up about the process.

Below are a detail from Ó Donnghaıle’s portrait and the more typical portrait of Tom Hartley, Lord Mayor 2008-2009, which includes the bicycle he is famous for riding around town.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Caırde Sınn Féın

2014-02-242026-08-17Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Above is the second of three 2013 murals sponsored by Australian groups outside the Republican Museum in Conway Street. This one shows members of the main sponsoring group, Caırde Sınn Féın (Fb).

Previously: Australian Aid

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The Great Hunger

2014-02-202026-08-17Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This New Lodge mural shows people on the coast, near abandoned buildings, trying to grow crops during the period of the Great Hunger 1845-1852.

“An tOcras Mór” (a literal translation of “the great hunger/famine”) is usually (in Irish) “An Gorta Mór” or “An Drochshaol”.

The left-most and right-most figures are from Searching For Potatoes In A Stubble Field in the Illustrated London News. ILN images are a staple of Belfast muraling on the Great Hunger: see the Visual History page on the Great Hunger. (Here is a list, with links, of all of the illustrations of Ireland in ILN from the period 1845-1852.)

The two central figures, and the composition of the three women together, come from Millet’s The Gleaners. (Thanks to Jeryn Mayer for this pointer.)

There is a Visual History page on the Hunger in murals.

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