“Play is the highest form of research – Albert Einstein.” The quote appears to be a common (mis-)attribution.
This is a new board celebrating the play of children, with a UDA/UFF mural in the background. The artist is Ed Reynolds (steadyhanded.com).
Previously by Ed in the lower Shankill: a full-sized Play mural.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01707 X01706 X02453 lt. col. william bucky mccullough
Each Lord Mayor of Belfast has an official portrait which hangs in Belfast City Hall. 2011-2012 Lord Mayor Nıall Ó Donnghaıle’s takes the unusual form of a mini-mural, in the shape of a gable wall and complete with mortar lines. The portrait features a “Short Strand” street-plate (Ó Donnghaıle is from there), images of Titanic, James Connolly – a portrait was mounted at a SIPTU event in the mayor’s chambers in October 2011, after pictures of the royal family had been removed in June, protesters, and an MTV mug. The artist talks about the piece on Slugger (audio) and CultureNI has a good write-up about the process.
Below are a detail from Ó Donnghaıle’s portrait and the more typical portrait of Tom Hartley, Lord Mayor 2008-2009, which includes the bicycle he is famous for riding around town.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01701 X01702 X01730
This image of Fernhill House is to be found on the wall of the community centre on the Forthriver Road; the house itself stands not far away on the other side of Glencairn park. Below is a video about the museum that was in the house; a video about the history of the house and grounds, which served as a training grounds for the west Belfast Volunteers and UVF at the time of the Ulster Covenant and WWI, is also available.
Previously: A dilapidated Fernhill in 2012 | Revived in 2013 for the UVF anniversary.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01662
The board above commemorates Caoımhín Mac Brádaıgh (Kevin Brady) who was one of three people killed in Milltown cemetery by Michael Stone in his attack at the burial of the ‘Gibraltar 3’. This board is in the South Link (originally it was on the Andersonstown Road), a short distance from where Corporals Wood and Howes were killed during Mac Brádaıgh’s own funeral, three days later (1998-03-19).
For information about the photograph on which the image is based, see 25 Years – In Progress.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01631 milltown march 88 óglach a fuaır bás agus é ag cosaınt a phobaıl
Three panels in Newtownards about the Scotch-Irish (or: Ulster Scots) emigration to the United States in the middle of the eighteenth century. Each of the three shows a stage of the experience: ‘Farewell Brothers’ shows family left behind looking out over the sea at the receding ships; ‘The Voyage’ shows sleeping conditions on-board; ‘The Arrival 1731’ shows the flags of the United States and Northern Ireland, with the statue of liberty superimposed upon a red hand.
The three panels are next to a larger, now damaged, board also portraying emigration to the States, shown in the final images below.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01488 X01489 X01490 X01491 X02975 X01486 muraltec n.i. commonwealth of kentucky united we stand divided we fall
“We too are strong. We too are a threat to the oppressive enemy. We are revolutionaries. We are the other half of our revolutionary men. We are their equal halves.” Earth is contained within the symbol for woman. The IRA’s Maıréad Farrell is in the top left.
Next to Mac Brádaıgh in South Link, Andersonstown, west Belfast
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01600
“History is ours, and history is made by the people — La historia es nuestra y la hacon los pueblos”
Here is a super-wide image of the new (c. Dec. 10th, 2013) board on Northumberland Street celebrating the socialist movement in 1970’s Chile. The Unidad Popular, whose emblem can be seen centre-left and in the close-up below, was a coalition of left-wing parties who supported the Marxist Salvador Allende (seen in the middle) for president in the election of 1970. Allende served as president from 1970-1973 until committing suicide during the coup.
Previously: Brigada Romana Parra board in Ormeau Park.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01476 X05302
This mural commemorates Gerard Fennell, John Rooney, Bobby Sands, and Frankie Ryan, IRA volunteers from the Twinbrook and Poleglass areas who died between 1974 and 1991 (Ryan).
The mural is visible to drivers on the Stewartstown Road.
Painted by Rısteard Ó Murchú.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01451 óglaıgh na héıreann always remembered by the people belfast brigade
“Time changes! But the sacrifice remains the same.” Pictured is a board in Ogilvie Street in east Belfast, sponsored by the EU and the Cosy Somme Association, showing, in black and white, a WWI soldier, who is comforting another solider, in modern gear and in colour. The emblems of the 36th (Ulster) division and Royal Irish Rifles are also shown.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01438 launched September 24th 2012
These three painted boards, in frames, on the exterior of the Connswater Community Centre, were unveiled this past December (2012). The first commemorates Titanic, the second the Somme, and the third the WWII Blitz.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01412 X01409 X01410 X01411 union castle dunvegan southern cross ulster prince white star olympic britanic eagle dunotter seaquest canberra harland and wolff ships men iron steel this mural commemorating the centenary launch of the rms titanic was unveiled by the rt. hon. lord mayor of belfast alderman gavin robinson on 21st december 2012 36th 16th 10th 1914 1918 glorious dead dear mother by the time you receive this i will probably be dead and god was with them as they passed over and the trumpets all sounded for them on the other side battle of the somme ranger andrew allen 1st batt. royal irish regiment ballymacarrett 1941 many killed in night of terror arp sgt. edward donnan irish guards 1940-1956
Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 