Contemporary Republican stencil containing a trio of classic slogans: Patrick Pearse’s famous closing words at the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa (which was re-enacted this August on its centenary) — “Ireland unfree shall never be at peace”; “PSNI-RUC not welcome”; and – of the greatest vintage – “Tıocfaıdh ár lá. IRA”. Meenan Square, Derry.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03612 X02804 our day will come
For weeks (since April) a whitewashed panel on the International Wall sat empty, before being partly filled in with “RIC – RUC – PSNI”, “RUC -> Collusion covered up by PSNI”, but progress seems to have halted again and a 32-County Sovereignty Movement tarp has been placed on top: Oppose British political policing.
Previously in this spot: End British Internment | Scairt Amach
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02686 in defence of the nation
Oak Street is a fitting place for a mural about the Siege of Derry, as the oak leaf, shown to the left and right of the board above (and in the wide shot, below) is a symbol of the town, “doire” meaning an oak grove. The gates to the city were locked by thirteen apprentices, against the wishes of Governor Robert Lundy who wised to surrender the city. When the deposed king James II and his army arrived and demanded the surrender of the city of Derry, the cry from within was “No surrender!” The city was then besieged for 105 days until relief arrived in the form of ships of the navy of the newly crowned William & Mary.
The board shown above celebrates 50 years of the No Surrender Club South Belfast (1963-2013) a club affiliated with the Apprentice Boys Of Derry.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02674 X02675 X02676 The Siege of Derry, 1688 – 1689, April 18 to July 28 played a key role in the victory of the Williamite forces in Britain and other parts of Europe. The success of William III and the Glorious Revolution effectively stopped the rise of a tyrannical Empire under Louis XIV of France and his ally the deposed king of England, James II. The theory of the divine right of Kings was replaced by reforms created by King William III and Queen Mary, establishing the supremacy of parliamentary democracy and its freedoms which continue to this day. during the war of the three kings showing the jacobite fortifications and position of the boom across the foyle gold mask of the sun king vita veritas victoria protestant nobles stewart dynasty prince of orange convention parliament abdicated battle of the boyne kingdom of england scotland ireland londonderry toleration of roman catholics dissenters cousin dutch citizens walls of derry but the cry was siege of 105 days duly initiated in apprentice boys’ memorial hall shutting of the gates rules and ritual roaring meg siege key
South Belfast MP Robert Bradford was assassinated by the Provisional IRA in Finaghy at a meeting with constituents; the caretaker of the community centre, Ken Campbell, was also killed by the fleeing attackers. Taking place in late 1981, with the hunger strikes having ended only a month before, the killing was noted around the world and raised fears of broad civil unrest (BBC | NYTimes). The board above serves as a substitute for an earlier mural to Bradford on the adjacent gable wall. See below for a wide shot of Oak Street with the Bradford board between the repainted Cemented With Love and No Surrender Club.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02673 X02677 my role is to say harsh things oft-times, but to bathe the sharp sword of my word in heaven, to temper what I say with love and lead people from their folly to a life of fuller service with their king for seven violent year from 1974 to 1981 unionist mp for south belfast an outspoken champion for liberty in ulster unafraid to speak his mind despite the danger he faced daily from terrorist death threats finally they murdered him while he was on constituency duty doing the special work god had called him to do one of the worst political assassinations in recent british history sent shockwave around the world
The ‘Cemented With Love’ mural on Oak Street (Donegall Pass) has been repainted for the 2015 marching season. According to the painted note in the bottom left corner, it was originally painted in 1989 on the 25th anniversary of the erection of the arch in nearby Lindsay Street. The mural shows William of Orange rearing back his horse in the Boyne river while a Jacobite soldier in green, white, and gold expires on the shore (shown below along with a close-up of William and horse).
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02670 X02669 X02668 X02671 Lindsay St arch erected 1964 holy bible william of orange launched 2015-06-19
“End degrading strip searches in Maghaberry now”. Cogús (Fb) is the RNU’s ‘Republican Prisoner Welfare And Support’ association.
The board is on the Oldpark Road, north Belfast.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02463
In May 2013 the Executive pledged to remove “peace” lines in ten years – by 2023 (Tele). One step in this process is see-through gates, such as those at Workman Avenue in the image above. There is no change, however, to the fence on the Springfield Road – see the image below. See previously: the new gates in Howard Street.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02641 X02642
Prince Charles’s last day drew this respond from Gael Force Art on Sliabh Dubh/Black Mountain, “Remember Ballymurphy and Springhill 1971-1972”, a reference to the Ballymurphy Massacre of August 1971, in which 11 people died at the hands of the Prince’s Parachute Regiment (WP) and the Springhill-Westrock Massacre of July 1972, in which five people were killed by British army snipers (WP).
For more Republican reaction to the Prince’s visit last week, see Operation Banner.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02632 X02633 Margaret Gargan, 13, John Dougal, 16, David McCafferty, 15, Patrick Butler, 39, Father Noel Fitzpatrick, 40, irish citizens wounded 2 others time for the truth
In 1997, the office of then-Prime Minister Tony Blair issued a statement acknowledging that the administration of the time of the Hunger failed to intervene (Guardian | Independent).
The mural above asserts that government’s inaction was not merely a matter of negligence but of will: “With over 1,500,000 deaths “sorry” is not enough. It is time the British government and its war machine to leave Ireland and her people in peace. During the genocide of 1845 to 1852 the British government seized from Ireland’s producers tens of millions of head of livestock, tens of millions of tons of flour, grain, meat, poultry and dairy products, enough food to sustain 18 million people. 200,000 British troops (100,000 at any given time) and 12,000 RIC removed Ireland’s food at gun point. This mural is dedicated to the men, women and children who died of starvation during the Great Hunger. To call this period in Irish history a famine dishonors the pain and untold suffering our ancestors endured. British warships took the food of our land for profit while our people starved. It was genocide. With this truth told may they rest in peace.”
Each white cross on the map represents a mass grave. The map is originally from irishholocaust.org.
An in-progress shot from 2010 is included below.
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02625 X02626 X02627 X00351 excise steamer comt stromboli eliza coast guard dee merlin warrior dragon madusa regiments where resistance proved too much for the gun toting militia escorting shipments thru royal canal and grand canal for export to england 17th 32nd 45th 66th 13th dragoons whence the term goons 40 to 70 shiploads of food a day escort army navy hussars lancers guards drons cay my Dark Rosaleen James Mangan do not sigh do not weep a Róısín Dubh na bíodh brón ort fé’r eirigh duit an gorta mór chris fogarty
Here’s a piece of graffiti from just below Divis flats from last week; it has already been removed: Máire Drumm’s 1969 remark “Don’t shout [Up the] IRA; join the IRA”.
Previously on the same wall: Not Working | In-Former Republicans
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02598
Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 