Detail from a new mural on the Springfield Road, opposite the barracks: End British internment of Irish Republicans, 2013. Painted by Rebel Rebel of the Gael Force Art group. A shot of the whole piece can be found below.
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This is the (second) memorial to Paul ‘Topper’ Thompson in Moyard. He was killed by the UDA on April 27th, 1994. Collusion is alleged – see Relatives For Justice.
“In memory of Topper Thompson, murdered by British death squads, 27th April 1994 aged 25. Deeply missed by never forgotten. Erected by his friends.”
Springfield Park, west Belfast.
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Two more images from inside the Clifton Street Orange Lodge, one of Britannia and a lion by the shore, between the army and the navy, and the other (below) of the victory of William of Orange over James in 1690.
Previously: Total Abstinence | Occupy | All Our Hope On Thee Is Stayed
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As reported in the media a week ago (BBC | Guardian | U.tv video | Slugger), an east Belfast mural featuring footballer George Best, which itself replaced a UVF mural, has been painted over and is being replaced by a new UVF mural. Progress on the piece, however, seems to have halted. This image shows the progress as of Monday 9th, showing no change since the 4th. The mural quotes Martin Luther King’s Letter From Birmingham Jail (pdf), drawing a parallel between the Civil Rights movement in the US and the situation of contemporary Protestants. Below is an image of the George Best piece, courtesy of the Geograph project.
Update 2013-09-13 U.tv reports that the work on the mural has indeed been halted.
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Previously we featured an image from the north (loyalist) side of the Cupar Way “peace” line, a.k.a. “war wall” or “wall of hostility” – the wall/fence separating neighbourhoods along the Shankill from those along the Falls. Here are two shots from the south (republican) side of the line, in Bombay Street. Divis tower is visible in the distance in the first. The second, below, shows the additional fencing that covers the backs of some houses.
More information about the west Belfast war wall is included in the Visual History page State Art Vs Graffiti On The West Belfast “Peace” Line.
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Printed and framed tarp in Bombay Street, commemorating the burning of Bombay Street during the August 1969 Belfast riots and the death Gerald McAuley, a young IRA member (Fian, not “Fiann” as written here) killed by a sniper during the trouble. Three photographs from the street at the time are reproduced in the bottom third of the board.
Ten years ago, an earlier incarnation of this board could be found on the other side of the street, connected to the issue of the day: No (Decom)mission.
RTÉ archival footage of the aftermath and other clips detailing the events in both Belfast and Derry.
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The back wall of Clonard Martyrs Memorial Garden – that is, the so-called “peace” line or (better) “war wall” – is decorated with portraits of twenty-five local óglaıgh and fıanna who died from 1920 to 1992 (though an Easter lily takes the place of Sean Gaynor on the far left).
Left: Dan Duffin, Seán McCartney, Tom Williams, Gerard McAuley, Peter Blake, Seamus Simpson, Seán Johnston, Seán Gaynor, Pat Duffin, Gerard Ó Callaghan, Seamus Burns, Danny Ó Neill, Tom McCann.
Right: Gerard Crossan, Seán Ó Riordan, Martin McKenna, Liam Hannaway, Jim McKernan, Dan McCann, “dedicated to the memory of local republican, Billy Davidson”, Tony Lewis, Joe McKenna, Brian Dempsey, Finbarr McKenna, Seán Savage, Prionsais Mac Áirt.
They are also listed on one of the plaques inside the garden – see the second images in Clonard Martyrs.
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This Sandy Row mural commemorating the siege of Derry is in pretty good shape, despite being more than 20 years old. It features the coat of arms of Londonderry – see Vita, Veritas, Victoria for some background.
For more on the siege, and relief, of Derry, see Breaking The Boom. The siege ended in 1689; the battle of the Boyne was in 1690. It is in Linfield Avenue and is visible from Rowland Way, off Sandy Row.
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Loyalist graffiti on the corner of Wellwood Street and Sandy Row, beneath a variety of UK flags and union bunting. ‘WATP’ is ‘we are the people’; ‘FTPSNI’ is ‘eff the Police Service [of] Northern Ireland’. On the stop sign you can also see ‘UB07’ – Union Bears, a Rangers supporters club.
See previously: A New Look For Us.
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A new half-size (or 2/3rds-size) mural on the International Wall, Divis Street, in stark black-and white: End British Interment of Irish Republicans 2013. The mural was painted to coincide with the anti-internment march on August 9th that was routed through Belfast city centre and sparked violent protests (U.tv video reports).
Replaces the ‘Maghaberry – Stop Strip Searches’ piece, which itself earlier replaced this Maghaberry piece.
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 