City/Town

Our Struggle Continues

Extramural Activity2 Comments

Óglach Charlie Hughes was O.C. of PIRA D Company (“the dogs”) in west Belfast. He was killed in March 1971 as part of the feud between the OIRA and the Provisionals. PIRA volunteers, including Charlie and cousin Brendan Hughes (“The Dark”), had burned down OIRA drinking den The Burning Embers, across from Charlie’s house on Balkan Street, and were moving on to The Cracked Cup on Leeson Street, but were met with gunfire. Hughes was killed later that night, after a ceasefire had been agreed, by a single shot (WP | a 2002 account by The Dark). The mural replaces the small ‘1921’ tarp (see Do Not Touch).

The other figure shown is Palestinian skyjacker Leila Khaled (see also Oppression Breeds Resistance).

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Tyred Of Your Culture

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There’s one month to go before 11th night bonfires (and parades on the 12th) and collection of pallets is well under way in loyalist areas. TLO (web) is back this year protesting the use of tyres on bonfires, with King Billy and horse crushed beneath a pile tyres. Under the ‘bonfire management programme’ communities receive funds only if their pyres do not contain tyres. The Irish News reports that 72 groups have signed up this year, down from 95 in 2015. 40% of Belfast fires are in the scheme (BelTel).

Below is one of last year’s posters – still visible – partly covered with a pride sticker (see Good Year For A Bonfire and below that Lost Duppy).

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Aslan Is On The Move

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Here are two versions of CS Lewis’s character of Aslan, from The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe and the rest of the Chronicles Of Narnia, one by Glen Molloy in Bawnmore (alongside The Night King from Game Of Thrones) and the other by Alan Burke in Townsley Street (near Metal Work).

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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