This is the new memorial for Glen “Spacer” Branagh, on the 20th anniversary of his death, at the junction of Canning Street and Orchard Street, north Belfast. For information and the earlier plaque on N Queen St, see Forever Young.
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08639 [X08638] [X08640] X08636 [X08637] X08641 tiger’s bay first flute 16-11-1984 11-11-2001
Novelist Brian Moore grew up on the Antrim Road and went to St Malachy’s, before emigrating to Canada in 1948. For the centenary of his birth in 1921, Paradosso Theatre adapted Moore’s best-known novel, (The Lonely Passion Of) Judith Hearne, for the stage and mounted this mural in Duncairn Avenue, showing the elements of Judith’s life: the bottle, the beads, the aunt who raised her, the piano used for lessons, and her red coat.
The board by Friz (ig) replaces the anti-joy-riding mural “Where’s The Joy?”, the last to go of the three, the others having been in CNR west Belfast and PUL west Belfast.
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Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Time for unity” and a “Join Saoradh” (web | Fb) stencil on the Monagh Bypass, Belfast, pushing for a border poll (and echoing the message put on Sliabh Dubh last year, among other places).
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Man does not live on bread alone, but on cheese and tomato sauce. And perhaps some extra toppings and side orders, from We Knead Pizza (Fb) in McQuillan St. For information about Sr Faustina Kowalska, “Apostle Of Divine Mercy”, who had visions of Jesus, see This Image Is Blessed.
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“We always knew who was ‘essential’ and who keeps our society going … the working class. Thank you to all our members – keeping the country up and running.” Transport House, built in 1959 and once home of the TGWU, has been vacant and there have been plans to renovate it since at least 2019, without any apparent movement, perhaps due to the expense involved (tw). The modern union, Unite (tw), is supposed to move into it upon completion (tw).
The entrance to the building has been boarded up since 2012. For the previous art on the hoarding, see Unite The Union (one | two). The new (computer-generated and -printed) mural shows a graffitist surreptitiously painting a pro-union message.
Brendan Harkin has a gallery of images of the interior on Twitter.
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“I loved it here, and still miss it. The characters that came into the shop … and I miss the craic!” The advertising hoardings at the corner of Ligoniel and Crumlin roads have been replaced with this community alcove with pavers and a space for “sharing positive stories together” at “the turn of the road” from Ballysillan towards Ligoniel village. The plaque to the UDA’s Bill Reynolds, which stood on the building where he was killed until the building was demolished (see the old plaque) and then replaced with a new plaque next to the hoarding, has been included.
“In loving memory [UDA] Lt. Col. Bill Reynolds murdered [by the IRA] 7-7-87. Always remembered by his family, friends and comrades. Quis separabit.”
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The old shop-window sign of the Irish experience in England “No blacks, no Irish, [no dogs]” is repurposed and reclaimed positively by the RNU in the Colin area, with the rainbow flag, Irish tricolour, and Nelson Mandela (alongside James Connolly) below the skyline of Belfast. For the original, see previously Oppose Racism | No Dogs, No POWs
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Fuaır sıad bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann” [they died for Ireland’s freedom] Although it’s the 40th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike, this Lifford (Co. Donegal) board includes Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg who died in English prisons in the 1970s.
If you can explain the flag in the centre, please get in touch. The wide shot, below, includes a call to rally for 100% Redress, No Less.
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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This Village board celebrates the Covenant, Ulster Volunteers, and the 36th (Ulster) Division, with photographs both vintage and contemporary.
For the photograph of Carson signing the Covenant, and an earlier mural, see Betting Office. For the photograph of the car-mounted gun, and an earlier mural recreating the photo, see UVF 75th Anniversary. For images akin to the contemporary photos, see these BelTel galleries one | two of the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Ulster Volunteers.
Lower Rockview Street, Village, south Belfast
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Part of the most recent development of the upper streets in the Village was not to rebuild the two rows on houses on Ebor and Nubia/Moltke streets and in their place construct a park – the Village Green – and playground. This new board on the outside railings make the park a “community park of remembrance” for WWI, showing an Ulster Banner with a Union Flag in the canton. There was formerly on this site an image of Thiepval Tower and a UVF stone.
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 