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Belfast
Just The Ticket
These are just a few of the panels that are part of the long, long, mural in Stroud Street by Ed Reynolds (steadyhanded.com), “assisted by William McKee Strong, June 2012” – McKee appears as the man putting money into the parking-ticket machine, which is real, as is the street-light pole incorporated in the mural above. (There are a few seconds of footage of children swinging on a light pole at the 1:25 mark of this youtube video.)
The third image is based on a photograph by the celebrated Belfast photographer Bill Kirk whose exhibit ‘Sandy Row 1974’ was at the Red Barn Gallery September-October 2011. At 6:50 in this youtube video one can see the original photograph of the Elliots.
Commissioned by the Belfast City Council, in consultation with the Sandy Row Community Forum and the Residents’ Association. The Tele had a write-up of the work: The Singing Butcher.
Stroud Street, Sandy Row, south Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00583 X00588 sandy row 1907, tram workers sandy row at the albion Alex Higgins Joe Hillerby Alanna Audley-Murphy Ruby Murray James Johnston Joe Bambrick
Local History From Local People
“Get the real story – local history from local people – take a black taxi tour – West Belfast Taxi Association – 40 years unbroken service”. The tours of “local” history are of course aimed at non-locals as part of the ‘dark tourism’ or ‘Troubles tourism’ boom.
Here is the Getty Images photo of British Army soldiers on the Falls Road in 1969, on which the mural is based.
International Wall, Divis, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Never Actually Existed
The new WARN (West Against Racism Network) mural on International Wall.
On the left, an Irish family in front of a window reading “No Irish need apply” is stereotyped as jagged-toothed, shillelagh-wielding hunch-backs in the style of Punch and other magazines’ portrayal of the Irish. The Punch portrayal is described, and Punch named explicitly, in the song ‘Do Me Justice’ a.k.a. ‘Here I Am From Donegal’. (Lyrics | audio: Frank Harte (full song) | Len Graham (clip).) They also carry a copy of “The Big Begorra” – a play on The Big Issue, a newspaper published on behalf of, and sold by, homeless people. “We’re projections of 19th century anti-Irish prejudice—we’ve never actually existed.”
The treatment of the Irish is used as an analogy for the the Roma (WP): “Whereas I, ethnoid steriotypus their creator, have existed since time immemorial. My latest target—the Roma! I hope you’ll swallow all the lies I concoct.”
“Hey—what was the outcome of the harassment of the Roma newspaper sellers?” “The evening edition collapsed!” – this is a reference to the Belfast Telegraph‘s decision to cease printing an evening edition.
This mural does NOT contain a reference to the ‘Free Marian Price’ (WP | FB) campaign, which all of the other murals on the international wall currently (summer 2012) do. In the lower right is the signature of political cartoonist Ian Knox, a.k.a. Blotski (WP) – Marty Lyons and a Short Strand artist were also involved – and date (9 August, 2012 – for Féile 2012 (pictures of the launch).
(Replaces a black-and-red ‘Oppose Racism‘ mural, which replaced the Liam MacCarthy Cup mural.)
International Wall, Divis Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00581 No Irish need apply; we’re projections of 19th century anti-Irish prejudice—we’ve never actually existed;west against racism network’ big begorra issue; whereas I ethnoid steriotypus their creator, have existed since time immemorial; my latest target—the Roma!; I hope you’ll swallow all the lies I concoct; Hey—what was the outcome of the harassment of the Roma newspaper sellers?’ the evening edition collapsed!
Live Life To The Full
“Suicide Awareness. It’s always too early to quit, live life to the full. A helping hand is near. Love your life, love your community” with the numbers for Lifeline and Suicide Awareness. By Divis Youth Project.
Albert Street, Divis, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Extramural Activity
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Askatasuna
This is a new mural in support of the Basque country and in particular political prisoners, unveiled today as part of Féıle 202 in Beechmount, west Belfast. The designs to the left and the right are described in a comment below – thanks BasqueMurals.
Previous Basque mural on Divis St, lower Falls.
Below, a young traditional singer from the Basque country singing at the launch of the new mural.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00576 X00577 saoırse; askatasuna; belfast basque solidarity committee; free all basque political prisoners
Maghaberry Dirty Protest
“Support the Maghaberry “Dirty Protest” 1981-2011″. Republican prisoners in Maghaberry began a dirty protest of throwing urine and excrement onto prison landings, as well as not washing or shaving, to protest forced strip searches (BBC).
See previously: Maghaberry Concentration Camp.
Beechmount Ave/Ascaill Ard Na bhFeá, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Exhibition Open
The big red sign usually says “Road Closed” but has been changed for the exhibition. On this day, however, the exhibition (which is a large satellite-image map of the area, on the ground) was not, in fact, open. The Flax St/Crumlin Road interface, Ardoyne, the day after the 2012 riot.
Below, taken later, a detail of the exhibition … a very small portion
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00563 X00574 oscar muñoz ambulatorio
July 1st
In the old style of calendar (prior to 1752), the Battle Of The Boyne took place on July 1st, the same date as the Battle Of The Somme (in the new style of calendar). It is reported that some soldiers from the 36th Division wore their Orange Order collarettes into battle. In the image above, which reproduces a painting by Carol Graham, they defend their trench from a German assault.
Carson signing the 1912 Covenant is the second of the pair.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00848 X00807
Rugby Avenue
On Rugby Avenue in south Belfast, the new mural of Rory McIlroy. Commissioned by Declan Boyle/RentOurProperty.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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