The Trenches Have Vanished Under The Ploughs

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This WWI mural is fading somewhat after at least eight years on a wall in Strule Gardens, Londonderry. It shows soldiers going over the top, as depicted in JP Beadle’s Attack Of The Ulster Division (belfastsomme.com).

The title comes from the Eric Bogle song No Man’s Land (better known as “The Green Fields Of France” or “Willie McBride”. Here (youtube) is the recording by Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy.)

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Pick Us Up If We Fall Down

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This mural featuring the rights of children was painted in Derry’s Brandywell area in 2014; it puts images alongside parts of Caroline Castle’s rendering of the UN’s Rights of the Child. The one above reads “Understand that all children are precious. Pick us up if we fall down and if we are lost lend us your hand. Give us things we need to make us happy and strong and always do your best for us whenever we are in your care. Right no. 3”.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02833 X03154 X03155 X03156 X03157 X02832 whoever we are wherever we live these are the rights of every child under the moon and the stars gallagher and sons oil and coal all children shall have time to play and time to rest when we are tired right no 31 watch over us wrap us up against the cold and rain and give us shade from the hot sun make sure we have enough to eat and drink and if we are sick nurse us and comfort us right no 24 if we are disable either in body or mind treasure us especially and give us the care we need to live happily in the world right no 23 no one on earth has the right to hurt us not even our mums and dads protect us always from anyone who would be cruel right no 19 all children should be allowed to live and to grow and grow and grow until we are grown up and and can decide things for ourselves right no 6 keep our families together and if we have no family look after us and love us just the same right no 9 faılte go dtí welcome to

Partial Eclipse

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An old mural of King Billy crossing the Boyne, which was covered over first by a mural of President Theodore Roosevelt (see M01532) and then a mural of scenes from the old Fountain area (see Past The Gaol), has re-emerged on the wall in Wapping Lane.

For the original version, see M00939. Before the King Billy mural, there was one to Michael Stone from 1989 – see M00627.

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Relief Of Derry Fry

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This is the notice-board outside Cathedral Youth Club in Londonderry’s Fountain area (in August), inviting passers-by to express their loyalty in a ‘Relief of Derry fry’ – an Ulster fry with tea, coffee, or juice – to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support.

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X02846 it’s a knockout summer activities big breakfast

Let The Fight Go On

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Patsy O’Hara mural and (out of shot to the left but shown in close-up below) memorial stone: This memorial is dedicated to the memory of Volunteer Patsy O’Hara, Irish National Liberation Army and H-Block martyr, who gave his life on 21st May 1981. Also dedicated to his nine brave comrades. “If you strike at, imprison, or kill us, out of our prisons or graves we will still evoke a spirit that will thwart you, and perhaps, raise a force that will destroy you! We defy you! Do your worst!” – James Connolly

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X02844 X02845 IRSP socialist party Bishop St Derry

Maghaberry Torture Camp

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Here are three boards in Derry focused on HMP Maghaberry. The high security prison holds 1,000 prisoners and segregates loyalists and republicans, a situation described as “a festering sore” in a recent inspection. (Tele) Republicans say that the current crisis overlooks existing issues such as controlled movement and strip searches. (Irish News)

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X02822 X02821 X02819 justice for political prisoners end forced strip search  in defence of the nation 32 county sovereignty movement IRPWA irish republican prisoner welfare association barbed wire

The Bonfire Watchers

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The crew whiles away the hours sitting atop a Bogside stairwell, with IRA-emblazoned tricolour fluttering overhead, keeping an eye on a heap of bonfire wood. Below: another tricolour in the same area, with “Brits out now – IRA” board beneath.

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Foyle Daycare

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The “Little Blooms” receive a lecture in history and politics each day as they mount the painted kerb-stones and take in a mural of Orange Order flag-bearers and a scene from the Siege of Derry, perhaps of James II demanding the city and being rebuffed with cries of “No surrender”.

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X02825 X02824 X02826 painted 2015-06 walls gate Londonderry siege william union jack ulster banner bishop’s gate 18 april 1869 west bank loyalists still under siege