Time For A Socialist Republic

The waste ground at Corrib Avenue (in the curve between Rossnareen and Lenadoon) is being developed with new houses by Choice (Belfast Media) and Lasaır Dhearg have taken advantage of the hoarding mounted around the construction site to display the messages above — “Remember the hunger strikers” — and below, with an image of James Connolly — “Time for a socialist republic”.

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England Get Out Of Ireland

Irish-language rappers and provocateurs Kneecap (web | ig) unveiled another mural in Hawthorn Street yesterday afternoon ahead of their Falls Park gig last night.

The entry on last year’s mural (Níl Fáılte Roımh An RUC), Incendiary Device, included a shot of the sticker that has been turned into this year’s mural. The sticker, in turn, is based on a vintage mural painted in Strabane (England Get Out Of Ireland) and Belfast (Stad Maggie Anoıs). (See also Give It Back, Thief!)

For images from the launch on August 11th, see the Paddy Duffy collection.

Replaces the large GAA board.

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Love The Brotherhood

This entry is an update to 2022’s Upward which showed the new arch in Denmark Street (the north side of the lower Shankill estate). To each side of the arch has since been added a quote from scripture: on the outside, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel – Psalm 41 v. 13”, and on the inside “Love the brotherhood, fear God, and honour the King – [1st] Peter 2 v. 17”

The ‘Platinum Jubilee’ panel has been replaced with the image from the other side of the ‘Faithful Unto Death’ stained glass that is in Schomberg House (see Our Murdered Brethren), and it has been replaced with an image King Charles III.

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Tiger’s Bay Twelfth 2023

The kerb-stones along the Edlingham Street (Duncairn Avenue) entrance into Tiger’s Bay have been repainted in preparation for this year’s Twelfth and the two pillars given bands of red, white, and blue.

The bonfire is on the waste-ground at Adam Street. The fact that the land is owned by the Department Of Infrastructure made the bonfire controversial in 2021 (see Move At Your Own Risk).

For the mural in the community garden, which now appears defunct, see Seek And You Shall Find.

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You’ll Find Us In The Walk

19 towns and cities will hold gatherings for the Twelfth, with the longest parade being the six miles from Carlisle Circus to the field at Barnett Demesne (near Shaw’s Bridge) in Belfast. Today’s images come from a Shankill parade at the end of June, with (above) the (Shankill) Sons Of Ulster (Fb) and (below) the Billy Boys (Rathcoole) (Fb).

For a complete list of gatherings, see Belfast Live

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Preparations For The Twelfth, East Belfast 2023

The Templemore Avenue area of east Belfast readies itself for the Twelfth: above, a few pallets are collected in Thistle Court, just across the Short Strand “peace” line; immediately below, bunting in Tower Street; finally, flags flying on the “understanding” mural in Lendrick Street.

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My God-Given Right To Rule

“Honi soit qui mal y pense” is the motto of the Order Of The Garter. It appears together with “Dieu et mon droit” (“God and my right”) in the UK’s royal coat of arms (see e.g. United Kingdom). The former means, roughly, “Shame to he who thinks bad of it”, the “it” in this case being the English royals’ designs on France (in the 1300s) and in general the monarchy and its God-given right to rule.

The latest divinely-anointed monarch is Charles III, crowned on May 6th. He was preceded by Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years: “East Belfast would like to thank her majesty Queen Elizabeth II on devoting 70 years of service to our great nation. God save the Queen.”

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