printed board/placard – Page 49 – Seosamh Mac Coille Collection

Gibraltar And Milltown

2018-03-062026-08-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Féıle An Earraıgh – the spring festival in advance of this summer’s Féıle An Phobaıl – includes a series of talks and tours examining the killing of the Gibraltar 3 (l-r, Maıréad Farrell, Daniel McCann, and Seán Savage) and the deaths of (l-r) Kevin Brady/Caoımhín Mac Brádaıgh, John Murray, and Thomas McErlean at the funeral, and (two days earlier) Kevin McCracken. Yesterday (March 6th) was the 30th anniversary (“comóradh 30 blıaın”) of the Gibraltar killings and the date was noted by the launch of the mural above, at the site of the old Andersonstown RUC station. The photograph in the bottom right was reproduced in the 25th anniversary mural.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04811 X06309 Glen Road Monagh Bypass

Time For Truth

2018-02-222026-08-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Since the 14th, the Time For Truth Committee on its Facebook page has been rolling out videos by relatives who lost family members to British Army or loyalist paramilitary attacks during the Troubles. This Saturday, February 25th, sees a march in support of their call for investigations into these and other deaths. “Fírınne anoıs! Ceartas anoıs!” (Truth now! Justice now!)

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04800

A Little Part Of Belfast

2017-12-242026-08-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Sandy Row is “steeped in 400 years of tradition”, according to Historic Sandy Row (and sister site Sandy Row Community Forum which has developed a “growth strategy” for the area). Some of that history is presented at the junction with Hope Street, one each for Buildings & Housing, People, Industry, Culture, and History.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04741 X04742 X04743 X04744 X04745 X04746

Comóradh 100 Blıaın

2017-12-132026-08-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Thomas Ashe was born on January 12th, 1885, in County Kerry, into a bi-lingual household. He became an Irish teacher in Lusk and joined the Gaelic League and the Irish Volunteers, commanding the Fingal battalion during the Easter Rising. His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, which in fact lasted only a year. He was released but soon charged and convicted with sedition, and died on hunger strike on September 25th, 1917, after an “inhuman and dangerous” attempt at force-feeding by the authorities (WP). See also Tomás Ághas.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04630

Use The Veto, Leo

2017-12-082026-08-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“First round” Brexit negotiations between Europe and the UK required an agreement in principle on the land border between Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland (a member of the EU). President of the European Council Donald Tusk went to Dublin at the beginning of December to declare that as a member Ireland (and prime minister Leo Varadkar) would have a veto over whether “sufficient progress” had been made (Irish Times), which the the Sınn Féın board above urged him to use. The DUP objected to any “special status/stádas speısıalta” for NI, rejecting the wording proposed on December 4th. An agreement was reached on December 8th which would (somehow) both preserve Northern Ireland’s similarity to the rest of the UK without requiring a “hard border” with the Republic.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04714 X04721 X04713 X04720

The Sons Of Ulster

2017-12-062026-08-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The map in the lower left corner of this WWI commemorative mural shows the defensive lines of both the Allies and the Central Powers. As the inscription on the mural describes, the Ulster Tower is situated close to the Schwaben Redoubt, the primary objective of the 36th Division on the first day of battle.

The plaque (shown second, below) refers to a similar mural painted in 2010.

“Ulster Tower, officially opened 19th November, 1921, by Field Marshall Sir Henry Wilson.” “This Tower is dedicated to the glory of God in grateful memory of the officers and men of the 36th (Ulster) division, and of the sons of Ulster in other forces who laid down their lives in the Great War, and of all their comrades-in-arms who, by divine grace, were spared to testify to their glorious deeds.” “The Ulster Tower stands on what was the German front line during the Battle Of The Somme, 1st July to 18th November 1916. It was erected on the site of the Schwaben Redoubt, a strongly fortified position which the 36th (Ulster) Division eventually captured. It’s opposite Thiepval Wood from where the (Ulster) Division made it’s [sic] historic charge on 1st July 1916, and within close proximity to the village of Thiepval.” “32,186 killed, wounded, missing.” “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Conway Street, Shankill, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04711 X04710 X04724

Pearse Jordan

2017-11-272026-08-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Pearse Jordan was unarmed when he was killed by the RUC on November 25th, 1992 but in this new Éıre Nua Flute Band board he leaves his prints on an assault rifle. (previous Éıre Nua board) His killing was ruled unlawful, and subsequent inquest insufficient, by the European Court Of Human Rights in 2001. The campaign for an inquest continues (An Phoblacht).

The words on the board – “Slan [sic] go foıll [sic] moh [sic] chara, just for a while/We’ll not have your craic, your jokes, or your smiles/But in years to come, your memory’s still true/A brave son of Ireland, we will not forget you” – are the chorus of The Ballad Of Pearse Jordan (words | sung by The Irish Brigade).

The board is in Hugo Street, which is also the site of his memorial plaque, just above the Evolution Of Our Revolution, as seen in the second image, below.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04695 X04709

A Salute To The Brave

2017-11-182026-08-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The poppies and the downcast soldiers come from the first World War but the names are all of modern UVF and RHC volunteers, from 1976 to the present day. Included on the list is John Hanna (junior): the new board is next to the recent John Hanna memorial, as shown in the wide shot, below.

At Play In The Row

2017-11-182026-08-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Some of the children’s mural in Boyne Court (off Sandy Row) is still hanging on, though quite faded and with about half the panels missing. The first two images (from 2017) show children playing on a lamp-post swing in the middle of the street (panel 4); the latter two (from 2012) show a broader view (panels 4-5-6) of Sandy Row buildings and (on the last of the ten panels) an alien landing.

We Will Not Have Home Rule!

2017-11-152026-08-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Ulster Day” is September 28th, the day in 1912 that the Ulster Covenant was signed, pledging to use any means necessary to defend “our cherished position in the United Kingdom” and defeat Home Rule. The first signatory was Edward Carson. The Ulster Volunteers were subsequently formed in January, 1913.

[…] Also visible (on the right of the image above) is a dual-language traffic sign. […]

[…] “Blessed are those who hunger for justice” was discussed in December 2025. […]

[…] wall outside the Royal Victoria Hospital, replacing the MASH tag that unceremoniously blocked out a graffito in support of…

[…] in progress on the first part of the long wall outside the Royal Victoria Hospital, replacing the MASH tag…

[…] addition to Coláıste Feırste) with a mural. In fact, this mural went up before the Titanic and Olympians murals…