social

Say No To Tory Cuts

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In the two-person game of ‘rock-paper-scissors’ (or four-person ‘rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock’) rock prevents scissors from cutting. Sınn Féın are encouraging stoney resistance to austerity proposals by the Conservative party (Tories).

The cuts would continue – see Stop Tory Cuts – and persist throughout the decade: WP | Guardian

Falls Road/Glen Road – former site of the Andersonstown RUC barracks

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Say No To Blow

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The bottom of Farnham Street used open out onto Balfour Avenue and the western embankment of the Lagan, and the gable at the bottom was a good spot for murals. In the late 80s, there was one to celebrate the centenary of Celtic FC (see C00701) and in the 90s there was one to the (Official) IRA (see D00828). And the “Say No To Blow” mural dates back to at least 2004.

In roughly 2008, however, a pair of semi-detached houses were built on the spot, blocking the mural. For an uninhibited view of the whole mural, see D01584.

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Plúr Na mBan

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“Women of substance – plúr na mban. The changing role of women the in Market area.” A century of women’s work, from cooking, child-care, and hand-wringing the washing in 1904 to using computers, reading books, and graduating from university in 2004. The pink symbol in the corner is the emblem of the New Belfast Community Arts Initiative.

Stewart Street, Markets, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Frederick Douglass

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This mural is on the International Wall, Divis Street, celebrating Frederick Douglass 1818-1895 (WP).

“Inspired by two Irishmen to escape from slavery, Frederick Douglass came to Ireland during the famine. Henceforth he championed the abolition of slavery, women’s rights and Irish freedom.”

“Perhaps no class has carried prejudice against colour to a point more dangerous than have the Irish and yet no people have been more relentlessly oppressed on account of race and religion.

(Also by Douglass, and which would have made an apt quote for the mural: “I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.”)

Divis Street, Belfast. There would later be a larger Douglass mural on Northumberland St (Visual History).

To the left of the Guernica mural.

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Copyright © 2009 Cathal Woods
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Belfast Dockers And Carters Strike 1907

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“Not as Catholics or Protestants, not as nationalists or unionists, but as Belfast workers standing together.” For the 100th anniversary of the strike by dockers and carters in Belfast, this large board was painted by Fra Maher and Rısteard Ó Murchú. It was launched without the title across the top (youtube | M03786).

Leaders Boyd and Larkin are portrayed in the middle. The second panel shows speakers (including Larkin) on a platform (O’Hare); the third shows an RIC guard of blackleg workers – about 70% of the force mutinied and the fifth panel shows dismissed RIC constable William Barrett being carried through Belfast; the sixth shows the Cameron Highlanders being stoned by picketers (History Ireland). Margaret Lennon and Charles McMullan, two Catholic victims of British soldiers, shot during protests, are portrayed in the bottom right.

Northumberland Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2007 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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