For Twinbrook

In 2019, images of Bobby Sands before his (second and final) arrest and imprisonment were rediscovered in the collection of French photographer Gérard Harlay. Sands was serving as a flag-bearer in an August 1976 march from the Busy Bee to Dunville Park to protest the withdrawal of political status. (For some of Harlay’s images, see Bobby Sands Trust.) This new mural in his home area of Twinbrook copies one of the images (though presents him as carrying a Tricolour rather than a harp) along with protesters protesting for “Public transport for Twinbrook now” and “Social housing for Twinbrook now”.

See also: Comóradh 40 Staılc Ocraıs

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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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100 Years

The fourth “Home Rule” bill, formerly known as the “Government of Ireland Act” was passed by the 11 November, 1920, and came into effect on May 3rd, 1921, partitioning Ireland into Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland (WP). There has been little to mark the centenary, perhaps due to distraction from Brexit and the DUP leadership change. The flag shown above celebrates the creation of the North, showing, clockwise from bottom left, the Crown, the Union Flag, King William at the Boyne, and Orangemen parading.

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The Care Zone

“Together let’s value the experience and wisdom of older people in this community.” The Care Zone community initiative (web) attempts to raise the quality of life – and in particular to tackle deaths by suicide – in the ‘Belfast North’ Assembly area. This poster campaign – which features images from the Waterworks – is directed at developing respect for the elderly.

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Serving Their Community Through Transport

“In memory of all taxi drivers – public and private – who were murdered by loyalists/British crown forces during the conflict serving their community through transport.” This is the side wall to a larger mural to black taxi drivers which has been in place since 2001, was repainted in 2011, and is again looking in rough shape.

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The Derry Lama

The Dalai Lama’s hero, Children In Crossfire (web) founder Richard Moore, was blinded in 1972 at age 10 by a British Army rubber bullet. As part of the recent episode on Derry for her show Home Sweet Home, Joanna Lumley had a mural painted in his honour in Great James Street, Derry (Derry Journal).

UVArts has drone shots of the mural on its YouTube channel.

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Copyright © 2021 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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Byrne Out, Foster Out

Arlene Foster yesterday repeated her demand that the Chief Constable of the PSNI Simon Byrne resign over the DPP’s decision not to pursue any prosecutions in connection with the Bobby Storey funeral (BelTel). Residents of the Fountain in Londonderry – in a stencil painted before the current rioting – want both of them to step down.

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A Woman’s Place Is In The Revolution

2021 is the 110th anniversary of International Women’s Day (web). In 1911 it was observed on March 19th, but since 1914 it has been held annually on March 8th. Free Derry Corner (Visual History) was changed to mark the occasion. In the background Bernadette Devlin is seen “inciting a riot” during the Battle Of The Bogside – as the charges against her read; she served six months.

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Comóradh 40 Staılc Ocraıs

On Sunday March 22nd, 1981, forty years ago this week, Raymond McCreesh and Patsy O’Hara joined Bobby Sands and Francis Hughes on hunger strike in Long Kesh/HMP Maze. They would be joined by 19 more prisoners before the strike ended with ten of the 23 meeting their deaths. On March 31st, 1974, Michael Gaughan went on hunger strike in Parkhurst, along with four others, including Frank Stagg. Gaughan died in June as a result of forced feeding; Stagg would die on a later strike, in February 1976.

The board is on the site of the former Andersonstown RUC barracks.

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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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