You Dare To Call Me A Terrorist

2014-07-28 JoeMcDonnell+

Joe McDonnell was a Provisional IRA volunteer (óglach) imprisoned in the Maze H-blocks. He was the fifth hunger-striker to die, on July 8th, 1981 after 61 days. The Wolfe Tones wrote a ballad in his memory (for their 1983 LP A Sense Of Freedom), which FAI chief John Delaney was recorded singing in a Dublin pub a few weeks ago (November, 2014) after a 4-1 win by the Republic over the US in a friendly. He at first denied it was him, then apologized, and has kept his job (Guardian).

As of this morning (December 10th, 2014), the song, re-released by the Wolfe Tones as a charity Christmas single in aid of the Simon Community, is the #7 single at itunes.ie.

The mural above was painted in July by Gerard “Mo Chara” Kelly, on the Suffolk Road, Andersonstown, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02033 long kesh while you look down your gun h5

The Popular Front

2014-07-28 ArabicPhoenix+

The ‘Vote Tommy Doherty’ portion of this RNU mural on Northumberland Street (Visual History) has been replaced with a pro-Palestinian message – a clenched fist in the colours of Palestine between the emblems of the RNU and the Popular Front For The Liberation Of Palestine.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02029 arabic tıocfaidh ár lá our day will come
يومنا قادم

Do Not Disturb

2014-07-28 GazaSStrandDetail+

Carlos Latuff’s cartoon Do Not Disturb – War Criminals Working is reproduced as part of a new mural in the Short Strand – shown in full below. An aproned Benjamin Netanyahu sits in a Gaza trough, filled with the blood of people he butchers with a cleaver in his right hand while gesturing for secrecy with his left. The world watches with some concern, Ban Ki-Moon and the UN look away, and the Arab League is asleep. Barack Obama prevents any intervention with an outstretched arm.

2014-07-28 GazaSStrand+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02031 X02032 supports tacaíonn an trá ghearr le gaza palestine flag tricolour

Kieran Doherty

2014-07-28 DohertyFull+

Kieran Doherty died on this date (August 2nd) 1981 after 73 days on hunger-strike. The new mural above depicts scenes from his funeral on 1981-08-04. The portrait of Doherty in the top left replaces a similar one in the same location; the plaque at the portrait’s top-right corner remains from before. The angled panel shows Doherty’s parents, Alfie and Margaret.

Below are two details – the hearse and the volley – taken in early July but at that time largely complete. At this time, the (in-progress) mural drew criticism for featuring masked gunmen (BBC |  Tele). Finally, there is a shot of the whole wall at an early stage.

There is video of the launch on youtube.

The photograph on which the central panel is based is by Derek Spiers; see also this set at hungerstrikes.org. The volley took place outside the Doherty family home in nearby Commedagh Drive (Belfast Media).

2014-07-10 DohertyHearse+

2014-07-10 DohertyVolley+

2014-07-03 DohertyWideInProg+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02030 X02017 X02018 X02016 vol. kieran doherty t.d. oglaigh na heireann age 25 commenced his hunger strike on may 22 and tragically died on sunday afternoon 2 aug 1981 was elected by the people of cavan and monaghan in their support of the prisoners campaign for political status bobby sand francis hughes raymond mccreesh patsy o’hara joe mcdonnell martin hurson kevin lynch thomas mcelwee michael devine we support the hunger strikers it is not those who inflict the most but those who endure the most who shall conquer in the end terence macswiney

Manage Your “Debt” Live Your Life

2014-07-21 NBAdviceBeach+

Above is the third panel from a recent (2014-07) mural advertising the Ardoyne Association, whose office is just down the street. As the shot of the full mural shows, asking for advice and help with debt will make it finally stop raining (and turn you blonde?). Some images of the mural in progress, painted by Michael Doherty, can be found at the Association’s Facebook page.

2014-07-21 NBAdviceFull+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02023 X02024 hold you back North Belfast Advice Partnership debt consumer rights debt housing sss benefits disability carers employment inland revenue the community foundation

Where Is The World?

2014-07-19 GazaUt+

Gazans flee ahead of smiling soldiers from homes set ablaze by a tank flying the Israeli flag. This new mural on the international wall associates the current Israeli invasion of Gaza (Operation Protective Edge) with the US/South Vietnamese attack on the village of Trang Bang during the Vietnam war by modelling itself on Nick Út’s 1972 Pulitzer prize-winning photograph for the Associated Press of villagers fleeing a napalm bombing (WP). [Authorship is disputed – it might be by Nguyễn Thành Nghệ – see World Press Photo.]

On the ground in front of the mural are tealights that were lit in memorial and solidarity.

Previously: Hands Across The Yard

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02022 immediate expulsion of all israeli diplomats from éire