painted wall

Belfast Blues

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The career of Belfast blues/rock guitarist Rab McCullough spanned more than five decades, beginning with the formation of Baraka back in the 1970s, and included opening for Jimi Hendrix and a 20-year residency in the Empire. McCullough died in May (of 2021) after suffering a heart attack while swimming in Andersonstown leisure centre (BBC | BelTel | Belfast Media | Love Belfast). McCullough’s family is maintaining his Facebook page.

The mural was painted in Owenvarragh Park/Páırc Abhaınn Bhearach near his former home by Glen Molloy (ig). (Belfast Media)

Also painted with blue eyes: Samuel Beckett (No Matter, Try Again)

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X11755

Fallen Not Forgotten

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

What’s most unusual here is the tree cross-section (or “tree disk”) (on the left) that has been decorated with a hooded gunman and the insignia of the (east Belfast) UVF and YCV – the final image shows a close-up.

“The uniform may have changed but the cause remains the same. Ulster Volunteer Force. Fallen, not forgotten.” There is a very close variant of this wording on a mural in Bowtown (Newtownards).

For the Tom Moore mural to the side, see You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X11730 X11728 [X11729] X11732 X11731 tullyard way

Hurricane Higgins

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Higgy – simply the best.” 2022 is the 50th anniversary of Alex “Hurricane” Higgins’s first World snooker title as a 22-year-old qualifier, and the 40th anniversary of his second World title in 1982, watched by a television audience of almost 11 million people (WP). You can relive the 1982 world championship on youtube.

This mural is outside the Royal Bar on Donegall Road in Sandy Row, where Higgins grew up. “A true legend of Belfast.”

Seen previously in 2010.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X11722 [X11709] X11721

The Stolen Child

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The re-painted mural to plastic-bullet victim Julie Livingstone was rededicated this past Saturday (October 15th). For the previous mural, see 2010. “The Stolen Child – Come away, O human child/To the waters and the wild/With a faery hand in hand/For the world’s more full of weeping/Than you can understand… – WB Yeats.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X11700 X11699 X11698

Death’s Parade Ground

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The bugler in period uniform and the language of the poem are reminiscent of WWI but all of the UVF mural, roll of honour, and reproduction of an old YCV mural refer to the modern UVF and in particular to William Millar [sometimes given as “Miller”], Bobby Morton, and Tommy McAllister. Millar and Morton were ambushed by the RUC on the 16th of March 1983 – Millar died and Morton was injured (Long Kesh Inside Out). Millar was included in an old Cregagh mural – see T00243). Morton died in 2016 (Young Conquerors), hence his portrait shows him as an older man. The same is true of McAllister’s portrait, though no information about him is readily available.

“As the bugler blows/O’er the graves in rows/As reveille sounds/Over death[‘]s parade ground/Where our fallen comrades lie/With our standards proud/Once their deathbeds shroud/We will come from far and near/To salute our dead/And the roles they played/With the Ulster Volunteers.”

The mural was launched on March 19th (ACT) in Pine St. Below the new mural are a roll of honour and a board reproducing a former mural by Gareth Keys one street over, in Walnut Street – see The Young, The Brave, The Fearless.

The vintage graffiti (second image) is in Oak Street.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X11712 X11715 X11714 X11713

50th Anniversary

Extramural Activity1 Comment

Three months after it was initially whitewashed (mid June, 2022), the repaint of so-called “Freedom Corner” is now complete, with a new mural on each of the 11 panels that make it up. This entry is a gallery of fifteen images from the new wall. The main gables reproduce photographs of the UDA (and more specifically the East Belfast brigade) during the 1970s. The side walls celebrate the formation of the UDA/LPA/UFF/UYM in 1971-1974 and the role of women in supporting prisoners.

By Blaze FX (Fb | ig) on the Newtownards Road. Here is a small gallery of in-progress images: Waiting For The Wall. The ‘five flags’ also appear in An Act Of Betrayal.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
1-2 X11567 [X11568] [X11569] [X11570] X11571 [X11572] [X11573] X11574
3 X11575 [X11576]
4-5 X11577 [X11578] X11579 [X11580] [X11581] X11314
6 [X11582] X11315
7 [X11583] X11316 X11584 [X11585]
wide right X11586 [X11592]
10-11 X11587 [X11588] [X11589] X11590 [X11591]
wide X11565 X11566
[X11407] [X11408] [X11409] [X11410]