The Lord Has Made Room For Us

2014-04-03 Rehoboth+

This vintage grocer’s signage and “Rehoboth, The Well” shopfronts are in North Queen Street, north Belfast. “Rehoboth” was the name of the well dug by Isaac after several others which got him into disputes with other land-owners. When this one proved uncontroversial he rejoiced, saying “At last the Lord has made room for us and we will flourish in the land.” (Genesis 26:22) Demolition on the site began last week.

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The Lookout

2014-03-27 LouthStained+

This stained glass window from Ravensdale Chapel just across the border in Louth depicts the story in Luke’s gospel (19:1-10) in which the tax-collector Zacchaeus, small of stature, climbs up the sycamore tree in order to see Jesus pass by. The chapel, shown below, is itself shaped like a lighthouse.

Previously: stained glass in Belfast City Hall and in An Cultúrlann.

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A Bunch Of Live Wires

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“Says Joe, ‘Those that they forgot to kill went on to organise.'” Words from ‘(The Ballad Of) Joe Hill’ are included in a mural in Conway Street sponsored by the Australian Electrical Trades Union (ETU) in Victoria.

Previous Australian-sponsored murals: Caırde Sınn Féın | Australian Aid

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One Big Union

2014-02-19 CityHallWindow+

“Not as Catholics or Protestants, not as Nationalists or Unionists, but as Belfast workers standing together.” Belfast City Hall has a number of colourful stained-glass windows, one of which is shown here. It features Belfast industry and Jim Larkin who, while more famous for the Dublin lock-out of 1913, also led a strike by the National Union Of Dock Labourers (NUDL) in Belfast in 1907. In 1908 the ITGWU (the One Big Union, OBU) was formed.

Previous posts involving Larkin: Til Labour Knows No Master | We Only Want The Earth | Shed Lockout | John Quinn

Video of the unveiling, in May 2007

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Mysterious Ways

2014-02-17 StPetersApex+

Like some of the residents of the Divis area in which this cathedral that bears his name now stands, (Saint) Peter found himself in prison. But the night before his trial, there comes an angel who magically releases his shackles and opens all the doors (Acts 12:3-19). James, on the other hand, is not so fortunate. As a scholar on the WP page notes, why James should die while Peter escapes is a “mystery of divine providence”. Wide shot and info board below.

Another previously-featured scriptural conundrum: Occupy Til I Come (Luke 19:13)

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Slowly Those Who Create The Wealth Of The World Are Permitted To Share It

2014-02-16 Labor+

This board on the Cupar Way “peace” line at the North Howard Street gates features a quote by Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, “the most dangerous woman in America” for her labour organizing: Slowly those who create the wealth of the world are permitted to share it – The future is in labor’s strong, rough hands.” Wide shot below.

The two community boards to the right were featured previously: What Divides Us.

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Real Heroes

2014-02-12 MaighArdHeroes+

Spiderman, Hulk, Captain America and the other super-heroes have crossed the Springfield Road and are now fighting depression and drug-abuse in Maigh Ard/Moyard. The image above shows Iron Man, while Thor and Batman feature in the second and third shots, below.

“Be a hero, support your mates.” “Winter, spring, summer & fall, all you gotta do is call 08 08 808 8000 and we’ll be there. You’ve got a friend.” “Real heroes don’t need drugs. And neither do you!”

Previously: WallbustersWalls, Unbroken | Red-EyeCartoon World

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Naming Our Streets

2014-02-04 WinifredCarneyRoad+

The Antrim Road at Carlisle Circus also bears the street-name ‘Winifred Carney Road’ (top left of the image above), as part of the ‘Naming Our Streets’ project. Carney’s name was chosen for this location – SIPTU offices – because she was a trade unionist and also because she grew up on Carlisle Circus. For more information, including biographies of 50 historically important Belfast women, seven of whom were honoured in this way, see the Women’s Resource & Development Agency.

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