Being a human is hard and being a good human is harder. But art (specifically the Queens Of The Stone Age ‘God Is In The Radio’) gives us the inspiration to keep coming back for another try. Graffiti on a McHugh’s poster in the New Lodge.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Dominic Cummings, advisor to the ruling Conservative party in the UK government, was a source of controversy and widespread derision in May when he claimed that he had driven (during the coronavirus lockdown) from London to Durham in order to deliver his son to his grandparents and then to Barnard Castle to test his eyesight (WP). Protestations of disbelief and calls for his resignation were widespread, including the amendment to the east Belfast graffiti shown above: “We’re in this together – except for Cummings”. For the original, see Inspiring Belfast.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“#ICantBreathe – George Floyd RIP”. Spurred by the killings of George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and others, marches against police brutality and racism are now well into their second month, with (it seems) greater coordination but diminished frequency and intensity. The graffiti shown here on the wall below the old Sean MacDiarmada club replaces the “IRA here to stay” graffiti, which was on top of the “Dıchoılınıgh D’ıntinn/Decolonize Your Mind” graffiti, which was on top of “Heroin dealers will be shot dead” graffiti.
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Copyright © 2020 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
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HLI (web | tw) works to bring about “An Ireland where God is first”. Its “holy face” campaign asks people to partake in a form of devotion dating back to 1885 that involves reflecting on the face of Jesus in order to affirm the first three commandments (HLI). One of the images used is from the Shroud Of Turin, which radiocarbon dating has dated to the 13th-14th century (which is when it first appeared, in France), hence the graffiti “Get a life, not an afterlife”, “[Seek my face] … find a forgery” (in North Street). On another hoarding, in University Street, “the H_ngm_n” has lost a game of hangman with “Bella”. The final image, with SPUC’s “Repeal Section 9” is also from University Street. For a history of the shroud, see this CNN article.
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Copyright © 2020 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
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“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This RSYM (tw) mural in William Street, Derry, expresses solidarity with the protests over the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis PD. Among Floyd’s last words were “I can’t breathe.” The painter was surveilled and arrested on his way home from painting the mural (IRSP) perhaps because he included “ACAB” [all cops are bastards].
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Copyright © 2020 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb) [X07238] X07239 X07240
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The on-going mural campaign to build more public and affordable housing in Belfast reaches the PUL side of the “peace” line. The old “Lurkers” writing can be seen above.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Here are three images from the (upper) blind end of Tower Street, encouraging people to wash their hands (and take other measures) to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus responsible for Covid-19. (“Hallion” is the name of the graffitist.)
Tower Street, east Belfast
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X07199 X07200 X07201 [X07202] Copyright © 2020 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
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“Political police state” graffiti on the abandoned Carnegie Oldpark library.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Commentary on the coronavirus pandemic Great James Street, London-/Derry: “Lockdown is killing thousands. Covid = Flu”. The coronavirus ‘shelter in place’ orders in the UK and Ireland have various negative health consequences, including poverty from unemployment, an increase in alcohol consumption and domestic violence, and an unwillingness to seek medical attention for non-Covid-related ailments. But it’s far from clear that “thousands” have died. Nonetheless, the continued isolation and disruption to normal living is proving difficult to bear.
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Copyright © 2020 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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May 8th this year (2020) marks the 75th anniversary of victory over the Nazis in Europe, or VE Day. (The war against Japan would not end until August 1945.) Celebrations were muted, however, by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which meant that people dared not congregate in parades or services to mark the occasion. The bunting above is in Sperrin Park in Londonderry’s Caw, which took part in the socially-distanced street party; the window below, which gives dual attention to both VE Day and NHS workers, is in Alexandra Park Avenue in Belfast.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 