political

The Sagart

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-12-05 AlecReid+

A tribute to Father Alec Reid, who died on November 22nd and buried on the 27th, has been added to the international wall on Divis Street. Reid was a priest in the nearby Clonard monastery and helped negotiate between Sınn Féın and the SDLP and between nationalists and the government of the Republic. He is perhaps best known for attempting to save Corporals Wood and Howe and administering the last rites to them, in 1988 (WP).

This piece takes the place of a ‘Free Marian Price” mural; Price was freed on May 30th, 2013.

The pieces to the left and right have been recorded separately: End Internment | Milltown 25

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01474

Covenant Of Hearts

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-11-26 TavanaghStCovenant+

“Ulster’s covenant of hearts” is the title given to the main board in this collection commemorating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Covenant in 1912 and the figure of Edward Carson, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, founder of the Ulster Volunteers, and first signatory of the covenant.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01468 28th september 1912 centenary province it is needful that we knit together as one man each strengthening the other and not holding back or counting the cost ulster council resolution signed by just under half a million men and women home rule bill belfast city hall lord londonderry chruches protestant craigavon unionists some in their own blood

We Defy You!

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“If you leave us at liberty we will kill your recruiting, save our poor boys from your slaughter-house, and blast your hopes of Empire. If you strike at, imprison, or kill us, out of our prisons or graves we will still evoke a spirit that will thwart you, and, mayhap, raise a force that will destroy you. We defy you! Do your worst!” – James Connolly, Courtsmartial And Revolution, 1914.

CNR west Belfast, possibly St James’s. Please get in touch if you know the precise location.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01533

Ring Of Peace

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-10-01 RingPeaceCentre+

Here are three shots of the “Ring Of Peace” mural, a massive, three storey piece in Waring Street, undertaken in 1998 to mark the Good Friday Agreement, by Francisco Letelier (with Jennifer Trouton, Colin McGookin, Marie Thérèse Davis) – here is a shot of the artist working on the piece. The mural shows four double-handed arms clasping each other in a circle against a back-drop of cosmic and nature scenes. In the lower portion, two human figures reach out to each other.

Letelier is a Chilean living in Los Angeles, USA; he flew from LA to paint the mural (LATimes). Here is his blog, and a set of Letelier images on Flickr.

2013-10-01 RingPeaceLower+

2013-10-01 RingPeaceWide+

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01360 X01361 X01364

Occupy

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-09-14 OccupyTillICome+

Another image from inside the Clifton Street Orange Order hall: an outline of the island of Ireland under the title (in Old Irish script) Oḋreaċt na [h]Éıreann – The Heritage of Ireland – surrounded by the coats of arms of the cities of Londonderry, Dublin, Cork and Belfast, and with the words “Occupy Till I Come – Luke 19:13” at the bottom.

“Occupy until I come” is the King James translation of Luke 19:13 (Greek: πραγματεύσασθαι ἐν ᾧἔρχομαι) and is better translated as “conduct business until I come [back]”. It is from the story of the king who gave money to 10 servants to see what they would make with it. The one who does nothing with it says he knows the king is exploitative and harsh (αὐστηρὸς, austere!) and he was afraid (to lessen or lose the money, presumably). To which the king says, roughly, ‘if you knew that I expect to profit from other people, you should have done something with it!’ and has his money taken away; meanwhile, the citizens who spoke against the king in his absence are executed. So the moral of the story for Ireland is … the King has given Ireland to Protestants in order to increase its value, and they better make sure they do, because he expects to collect the profit; and anyone among the natives who protests is to be executed upon his return?

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01306

Let Go Of The Past

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-08-21 LetGoOfThePast+

Board on the Cupar Way side of the “peace” line showing, on the left hand side, rioters with petrol bombs attacking the police, the “peace” line, and a burning vehicle, and, on the right, construction workers, university graduates, and happy children. “Fight for a better future. It is your choice.” For more information, see Daniela Balmaverde.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01283