City/Town

Old Foundary 1767

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-10-12 Foundary+

Above is a scored clay piece showing workers in a “foundary” (foundry). There are foundries in Belfast dating to the mid-to-late 1700s (e.g. Eileen McCracken, “Charcoal-Burning Ironworks in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Ireland”, Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 21 (1957)) but nothing specifically about 1767 or about a foundry in Exchange Place (or whatever preceded it – Exchange Place dates to the Victorian era). If you have information, please get in touch. There is a set of six pieces in a similar style on the Cupar Way “peace” line, regrettably covered in graffiti and tourists’ signatures. See also: Pot-House Lane.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01384

Shed Lockout

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-10-11 1913LBSShed+

This image comes to us courtesy of Jason McLean and the LBS (Loughlinstown, Ballybrack, and Shankill) Men’s Shed (LBS facebook page | Men’s Sheds.ie) who painted the piece shown above to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Dublin Lockout.

Video of the launch, including a ballad written for the occasion and a reenactment of Larkin speaking …

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Jason McLean
X01383

Against Established Law

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-10-09 CheFallsRd+

“Che Guevara – Blood of an Irish rebel.” A colourful new mural has been completed on the Falls Road (at the end of McQuillan Street) in time for the anniversary of Che Guevara’s death, on October 9th, 1967. The mural features multiple copies of Korda’s iconic Guerillero Heroico (discussed in the Visual History page on Jim Fitzpatrick), two quotes from Che – “When forces of oppression come to maintain themselves in power against established law, peace is considered already broken” and “If you tremble with indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine” – and the flags of (from left to right) the Basque Country, Palestine, Ireland, Cuba, Catalonia and Argentina (where Che was born; or perhaps Guatemala, where he was first active – the shield above contains no central icon, which would distinguish the flags).

Che’s father declared that the blood of Irish rebels ran through his son, in reference to their Irish ancestry. For genealogical information, see the previous entry on the Che Guevara Lynch mural in Derry.

The artist is Damian “DeeDee” Walker, of the Gaelforce group. The piece has been in progress for about a month.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01378

Free Otegi

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-10-08 FreeOtegi+

This new pro-Basque mural on the International Wall on Divis Street calls for the release of Arnaldo Otegi, one-time ETA member and leader of a pro-Basque party, along with other political prisoners. (More information on Otegi at arnaldotegi.com and WP.) “Pake bidean” is the Basque for “The pathway to peace”.  (The mural is at the eastern end of the wall; takes the place of the Ian Knox anti-racism mural featured in Never Actually Existed.)

Update: Otegi was released in March, 2016 (Irish Times)

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01375 over 700 political prisoners in Spanish and French jails. Free them all! Stop the political trials in the basque country. Scaoiltear saor uilig iad.

Apocalypse Mime

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-10-07 ExchangePlaceNoAlibis+

Here are two of the panels (and a wide shot) done by davidcreative (web | Fb) in Exchange Place for Apocalypse Mime – a play that was readied for Culture Night Belfast (20th Sept.)

The first features the ‘no alibis’ book store, which is on Botanic Avenue and specialises in crime fiction, and a piece of ‘not for $hale’ graffiti (see previously). Here are some pictures of the work in progress.

2013-10-07 ExchangePlaceTitanic+

2013-10-07 ExchangePlaceWide+

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Extramural Activity
X01372 X01373 X01374

Till Labour Knows No Master

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-10-06 ICTUWide+

“There can be no dignity in labour, till labour knows no master.” The statue of Jim Larkin in Donegall Street Place has been augmented with a massive mural celebrating the many unions which have membership in Ireland. 2013 marks the 100-year anniversary of the Dublin lock-out, which ran from August 1913 to January 1914. The images below show a close-up of the statue (which was previously recorded sporting a placard), three female figures in the border to the right of Larkin (Winifred Carney, Inez McCormack, and Betty Sinclair?) and finally, the plans for the piece, which were hanging on the left-hand wall prior to completion.

2013-10-06 ICTUMid+

2013-10-06 ICTURight+

2013-09-21 LockOutPlans+

Click image enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01370 X01368 X01369 X01325 An Injury To One Is An Injury To All ictu tssa iboa nasuwt atl ucu nuj journalists peace work progress said joe what they forgot to kill went on to organise break the connection with capitalism titanic disaster great loss of life gmb siptu services industrial professional technical i.n.t.o. irish national teachers organisation equity arts means jobs fire brigade ucatt serving youth against racism protect public services education union campaign usdaw workers together hands off my mate la révolution prolétairienne communication we want bread and roses too nipsa pcsc defending jobs and services stronger together congress play for your side join your trade union solidarity forever H&W a better and fairer way unions northern committee