Two masked gunmen point straight at the viewer in this UVF mural in south Belfast’s Village area. Straight-on shot, below.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01465 X01464 2nd battalion B Coy. for god and ulster
This mural commemorates Gerard Fennell, John Rooney, Bobby Sands, and Frankie Ryan, IRA volunteers from the Twinbrook and Poleglass areas who died between 1974 and 1991 (Ryan).
The mural is visible to drivers on the Stewartstown Road.
Painted by Rısteard Ó Murchú.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01451 óglaıgh na héıreann always remembered by the people belfast brigade
Above is a new (November 9th, 2013) piece by Damian Walker/Rebel Rebel of the Gael Force Art group (Fb) showing a bleeding poppy with a skull at its centre, under the words “Symbol of British imperialism around the world”. Palestine, Libya, Malvinas, Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan are listed as areas under British influence or occupation. At the bottom, in red streaking paint, we have “Britain out of Ireland”
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01450 Hugo Street
This LPA (Loyalist Prisoners’ Association) mural in Kenbaan Street (at the junction of Castlereagh Road and Street) shows a red hand in barbed wire against a background of the towers and walls of Long Kesh.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01446
Here are two more pieces of the memorial in Kenbaan Street to deceased UDA members. Another panel honours the LPA; these are devoted to the UDA’s 4th (Castlereagh) battalion and its youth wing, the UYM – Ulster Young Militants.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01444 X01447 X01445 quis separabit terrae filius
Part mural, part board, this is a new piece honouring Colonel Timothy Thomas Cyril “Tim” Collins, OBE, whose speech to troops on the eve of the Iraq invasion in 2003 is reproduced in part on the right: “There are some who are alive at this moment who will not be alive shortly. Those who do not wish to go on that journey, we will not send. As for the others, I expect you to rock their world. But if you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory.” (More at WP)
As can be seen from the second image, the piece was sponsored by Charter NI (amongst others). The piece is one of three pieces which have recently been completed (NewsLetter), the other two being Boxing Through The Ages and Past/Future (Lendrick St). It replaces one of the two UDA 4th battalion panels in the set, the other of which can be seen in the third and final image: the piece in its setting alongside the Kenbaan Street memorial and the pink UDA, UYM and LPA murals.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01440 X01441 X01448 royal irish regiment for god and the empire
“Time changes! But the sacrifice remains the same.” Pictured is a board in Ogilvie Street in east Belfast, sponsored by the EU and the Cosy Somme Association, showing, in black and white, a WWI soldier, who is comforting another solider, in modern gear and in colour. The emblems of the 36th (Ulster) division and Royal Irish Rifles are also shown.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01438 launched September 24th 2012
As can be seen from the initial cartoon for this mural, below, it was originally intended to have two hooded gunmen firing a funeral volley, but because of protest by locals (see, e.g. NewsLetter) this was changed to two unmasked men, one of whom is clearly of the WWI era. The Nissen huts and towers of Long Kesh, however, remain in the image, which thus expresses the complex relationship of loyalists (and especially the UVF, whose members Robert Seymour, James Cordner, Joe Long, and Robert Bennett are listed on the left-hand side) to the British army. As Bill Rolston put it: “How could one display visually the value of opposing British policies in the name of remaining British? What could be the symbols of such a schizophrenic message? (Drawing Support (1), p. ii).
The side-wall to the right of shot is painted solid black but otherwise remains unfinished as of the end of 2013.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01439 X01436
Above is a recently unveiled printed banner to Martin Meehan, an IRA volunteer from the local Ardoyne area. As can be seen from the flyer in the second image, the launch took place on November 3rd, on the sixth anniversary of his death. A gallery of images of the launch can be found at Demotix. The photograph which informs the controversial central portion can be seen on Meehan’s WP page. The piece was paint-bombed on Nov. 6th (Irish News)
Replaces The Flight Of The Earls, and before that, Collusion Is Not An Illusion.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01431 X01432 Ardoyne Ave independent commemoration in honour of óglach sunday 3rd avenue organized by family & friends fáılte gach daoıne everyone welcome poblacht na héıreann the provisional government of the irish republic 1945-2007
Above is a new plaque (unveiled August 11, 2013) in Etna Drive/Corán An Ardghleanna (in Ard Eoın) to Seamus Morris and Peter Nolan, who were shot by the Protestant Action Force (UVF) twenty-five years ago, in August 1988. It reads “Brutally murdered for their faith … by loyalist death squad aided by British crown forces. Never forgotten by family and friends.”
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01413 in proud and loving memory aged 18 25 years
Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 