painted wall

Irish Republican History Museum

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The Irish Republican History Museum in Conway Mill board has returned to the so-called “International Wall” after the 1916 commemorative murals. The board is new (though it conveys the same information as before) and the painting of the cell has been given some details.

The museum is named for Eileen Hickey, a Provisional IRA member who served time in Armagh prison (An Phoblacht obituary), a cell of which is depicted in the image above. Hickey’s portrait is included in a mural opposite the museum.

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Shaftesbury Fringe

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The Accidental Theatre Company (web | Fb) is an experimental theatre company that has taken over 12-13 Shaftesbury Square for the time being. Before Christmas they put on a Michelle & Arlene Holiday Special, with the two political leaders on the run from their self-imposed isolation (review by Alan In Belfast) but still trying to do a deal. The mural above is in the style of another holiday odd-couple road tale, the 1987 film Planes, Trains And Automobiles. Along with theatre duo Amadan, they are “keeping Belfast weird” – artwork by Verz (Fb), below.

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Onwards & Upwards

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Here are two images of the four-leaf clover used by Ardoyne Youth Club (tw) as their emblem. The image above shows the doors of the club off Havana Way, while the one below is from the recently-completed mural at the top of the road Stronger Together. Compare with the emblem of Celtic FC, as in Just Can’t Get Enough.

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Shine Bright Diamond Alley

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Diamond Alley is a disused alleyway off Lord Street in east Belfast, that has been rejuvenated with paint and plants, many placed in/on objects such as a wine rack, a chest of drawers, and a pair of jeans. The alley was funded by the Urban Villages Initiative and implemented by CharterNI/Diamond Project and East Belfast Mission/Hosford House, and launched on November 1st, last year (2017). The project was profiled on NVTv. (See also Always Keep A Diamond In Your Mind.)

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Crom Abú

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O’Donovan Rossa GAC (web | Fb) dates back to 1916, just one year after the death of republican Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa (at whose funeral Padraig Pearse gave the oration – “The fools, the fools …”). “Crom abú” is a war-cry of the ancient FitzGeralds as they attacked the O’Donovan fortress at Crom, Co. Limerick. Some of those fleeing eventually settled in Rosscarbery, Co. Cork, which is where Jeremiah was born in 1831. The sword is a symbol of justice, the snake of wisdom.

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Choice

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This striking art – perhaps an anti-drugs message? – is on the outside wall of the Turf Lodge Tenants’ Association & Social Club (Fb) – or simply “The Green Hut” – which served as a community centre during the Troubles. For a history, see the middle part of the NVTv programme The Edge Of The World.

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