City/Town

Come For One, Come For All

Extramural Activity1 Comment

In April, UK Defence minister Johnny Mercer resigned/was sacked due to his protestations over the Overseas Operations bill (which passed on April 29th but does not apply to service in NI (BBC)) and the prosecution of two soldiers for a 1972 killing of Joe McCann – they were acquitted (BelTel). Cases against British Army soldier will continue to be investigated, however, unless there is legislation introduced by the British government to deal with “legacy” issues in Northern Ireland. This VASU tarp is next to the Boundary Way waste ground, site of the lower Shankill bonfire. “Support the men who supported & protected us against Sinn Fein IRA – Soldier A-Z.”

See previously: Soldier A-Z.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08164

Happy Birthday, Northern Ireland

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Both Clifton Street Orange Hall and the statue of King William pre-date the creation of Northern Ireland in 1921. The building opened in 1885 (ArchSeek | Belfast Media gives 1886) and the statue was unveiled before a crowd of 50,000 on November 11th, 1889 ((Melbourne) Advocate | (Sydney) Protestant Standard).

For the “Thank you NHS” banner, see Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08171 X08158 X08157 [X08172]

Kitchen Midden Of The Lower Shankill, Late Colonial Period

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The sign reads “Dump wood – PSNI out”; the Ulster Banner flies to mark the boundary; guardians keep warm around a fire; old fridges and furniture lie among the pallets. The signs are unmistakable: collection for Eleventh Night 2021 is under way in the lower Shankill.

For the “Resilient” mural see I Am Not Resilient.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08168 X08167 [X08166] X08165 X08170 X08169

The Clash Street Kids

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Where was all the street art over lockdown????” TMN [The Most Nasty] krew take to North Street with a long piece celebrating comic-book characters The Bash Street Kids, who have appeared in The Beano since 1954; the comic itself has been published weekly since 1938 (WP). They are (above) Danny and Plug, (below) Toots, Wilfrid, Sidney, Spotty, Teacher, Fatty/Freddy, Smiffy, Cuthbert.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08140 [X08141] X08142 X08143 X08144 X08145 X08146 X08147 X08148 X08149 [X08150] North St

Update: [X08514] [X08515]

Only Love Can Save Us

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Above, a memorial to Biggie Smalls is added over Glen Molloy’s “Only love can save us ….” ; below, KRS-One sports a ‘Malcolm X College’ hoodie. The two pieces – both painted by Track One (ig) face each other in Kent Street, Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08137 X07976 close-up T02602 courtesy of Paddy Duffy 2023

Staff Captain Joe McCann

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Joe McCann was IRA/OIRA OC in the Markets area of Belfast. He was famously photographed among burning buildings in Inglis’s bakery, during protests against the introduction on internment, crouched beneath a Starry Plough and holding an M1. (For more, see Battle Of The Markets, which features the same photograph.) For McCann’s death the following year (on April 15th, 1972) see Joe McCann. This new board replaces a tarp in the same location: see On The Brink Of Sectarian Disaster.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08135 X08134 X08136 Clondara St civil rights for everyone Liam mcmillen republican movement soldier of the people James Nora Connolly