Volunteering

2013-05-05 TrekTheMournes+

Two of the UVF flags put up to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the formation of the UVF still flying (on May 5th) above the black-and-white UVF mural in Carrington Street at the junction with the Ravenhill Road. The flags were supposed to come down directly after the parade on April 20th (BBC-NI) but there is now confusion as to who is responsible for their removal.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01085 formation of the UVF east belfast battalion for god and ulster trek the stunning mourne mountains oxfam trailfrekker samson goliath masked

Never At Peace

2013-04-22 TheFoolsWide+

Words from Padraig Pearse’s oration at the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa in 1915 are featured in this mural at the bottom of Brompton Park, in Ardoyne. It ends …

“They think that they have pacified Ireland. They think that they have purchased half of us and intimidated the other half. They think that they have foreseen everything, think that they have provided against everything; but the fools, the fools, the fools! — they have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.”

A colourised photograph from the day itself – with Pearse in uniform – can be found at Goggle Arts & Culture.

2013-04-22 TheFools+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01064 X01063

Thatcher The Real Criminal

2013-04-18 ThatcherCriminal+

“Thatcher The Real Criminal” on Black Mountain, overlooking the Springfield Road, with a Mo Chara Kelly mural in the foreground, commemorating the deaths of five people shot by British army snipers in 1972.

This picture was taken on April 18th; on April 19th the lettering on the hillside had been removed.

Recent posts related to the death of Margaret Thatcher: Rot In Hell | Rust In Peace | Living Like Animals.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01054 springhill westrock massacre, paddy  butler 39, david mccafferty 15, margaret gargan 13, john dougal 16, fr. noel fitzpatrick 40, belfast’s bloody sunday on the 9th july 1972 the british army murdered 5 irish citizens and severely wounded 2 others; it’s time for the truth

Our Wee Country #3

2013-04-07 Ballysillan1+

Two small pieces side by side on the Ballysillan Road in north Belfast. First a “Mural done by Carly and the boys …” showing the IFA’s crest over a banner reading “our wee country”. (Previously: Our Wee Country 1 | 2 )

Below is a mural the sponsoring program “Alternatives“. (Other Alternatives murals: Belfast BlitzWelcome To The Shankill)

2013-04-07 Ballysillan2+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01042 X01043 north belfast victim offender community assisted by n.i.h.e. + scoutlink, irish football association northern ireland

Ulster Says “Tá”

2013-04-05 GlenwoodRight+

A few words of Irish – “Lamh Dearg Abu” – in a loyalist mural in Glenwood Street, just off the Shankill Road, through strictly it should be “Lámh Dhearg Abú”. “Lámh dhearg” means “red hand”, and this is a Red Hand Commando mural.

The same motto was on the mural that this one replaced, which can be seen at M02433.

The title of the post is the headline of a recent article in the Irish Times, giving an account of Irish language classes in (loyalist) east Belfast. “Tá” is Irish for “yes”.

2013-04-05 GlenwoodWide+

2013-04-05 GlenwoodBouquet+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01037 X01038 X01036 believe we dare not boast not fear we stand to pay the cost in all that men hold dear rudyard kipling ulster 1912 belfast west south east down north england co. down antrim scotland a company shankill road; it is not for glory or riches we fight but for our people; in proud and loving memory of our fallen comrades; they went with songs to the battle they were young straight of limb true of eye steady and aglow they were staunch to the end and against odds uncounted they fell with their faces to the foe they shall not grow old as we that are left grow old age shall not weary them nor the years condemn at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them; in memory of volunteer stevie mccrea from the commando staff officers & volunteers

Stevie McCrea

Red Hand Commando volunteer Stevie McCrea was sentenced to 16 years for the murder of James Kerr in 1972 (Behind The Mask) and was subsequently “murdered by the enemies of Ulster” on February 18th, 1989 in an IPLO attack on the Orange Cross (see M00560 | WP).

“For he shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary him nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember him.”

McCrea is included on murals in south Belfast’s Frenchpark Street and Broadway (dating back to at least 1993).

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Sir Edward Bingham

2013-03-29 BangorBingham+

This is a mural in his home town to rear admiral Sir Edward (“Barry”) Bingham, OBE, born in Bangor and recipient of the Victoria Cross (featured in the apex of the roof) for service in WWI.

“Rear Admiral Edward Bingham VC OBE, son of Lord Clanmorris, was born in Bangor and served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in engaging the German fleet during the battle of Jutland. The Bingham family name adorns various settings in the town where he is remembered with pride. Rear Admiral Bingham’s Victoria Cross was purchased by North Down borough council and is on display at the North Down museum.”

This mural is adjacent to a Red Hand Commando mural.

The context shot, below, shows the two together, as viewed through the uprights of a community monument just across the road, featuring old photographs and documenting the history of the local community.

There is a ‘category’ tracking murals with windows.

2013-03-29 BangorWide+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01030 X01032 messines hms nestor for valor born 26th July died 24th Sept 1939

Red Fist

2013-03-29 BangorUFF+

An Ulster Freedom Fighters mural in Bangor, to the northeast of Belfast. The mural is at the edge of a Loyalist estate which is on high ground; it (and its companion) overlook and dominate a major junction on a network of roads around the town.

Some previous non-palm (and non-UDA) red hands: Proud, Defiant, Welcoming | I Would Give My Right Hand

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01031 Bangor Young Newtown