British And Proud

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The UDA roll of honour mural (led by John McMichael) in Rowland Way was blacked out in the mid-2000s but has been gradually reappearing since then. (The steps painted on the wall in front read “In proud memory of our fallen comrades who lost their lives in the conflict – we forget them not.”) The banner was used for the “flag protests” surrounding the flying of the Union Flag on Belfast City Hall (in 2012-2013) and then was first hung next to the King Billy mural at the bottom of the Row.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Hard To Kill

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“Frankie + Andy – Village legends.” UVF hitman Andy “Hard To Kill” Aiken died of a drugs overdose in June 2018, six months after the death of his brother Andy (BelTel) who lived in Roden Street (Funeral Times). The graffiti was previously to Frankie alone (Street View).

Aiken was a suspect in the killing Bobby Moffett on the Shankill in May 2010; Moffett had previously been expelled from the RHC for drug use (BelTel).

The referent of “RIP Lee – one love” is unknown. It is perhaps Lee Rigby (WP).

Roden Street/Donegall Road, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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No Hedge Trees Or Shit

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06634 2019-06-11 PDown Dump Wood+

With less than a month to go until 11th night, bonfire builders are busy collecting materials for their pyres, but although they want people to “dump wood”, they don’t want to become dumps. Thanks to squire93@hotmail.com for this image of the site in the Edgarstown estate (Portadown): “Dump wood – no hedge trees or shit.”

For the mural in the background, see In Answer To The Echo Of Alarm.

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Copyright © 2019 squire93@hotmail.com
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Your Wall, Your Border

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US president Donald Trump followed a three-day state visit to the UK (London and Portsmouth) with a few days in Ireland before briefly stopping in France for D-Day commemorations. In London, protesters gathered in their tens of thousands and the ‘Trump baby’ blimp flew in Parliament Square (gallery of images at CNN) before making its way to Dublin (BBC) for the second leg of the trip. The Trumps were likewise met by protesters when they landed at Shannon Airport (Irish Times) where he met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and remarked “I think it [Brexit] will all work out very well [for the UK]. And also for you, with your wall, your border. We have a border situation in the United States and you have one over here, but I hear it’s going to work out very well.”

The besieged president would have been welcome, however, in loyalist west Belfast – the Israeli Star Of David and graffiti shown above were added below the Imagine mural between the security gates on Northumberland Street: “President Trump welcome in Belfast. No surrender.”

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Hard Pressed

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Conway Street used to run all the way from the Falls to the Shankill but was divided into two in response to the intense rioting of August 1969. Makeshift barriers were constructed along the Falls at the bottom of Conway Street and others, soon to be replaced by the permanent barrier. Although the so-called “peace” line largely does its job, the wall is itself a form of oppression to those living in its shadow. “No surrender” to the op(p)ressors. Graffiti on Conway Street above (i.e. Shankill side of) the “peace” line.

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Fáılte Go Dtí Glengormley

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Irish-language signage was in the news recently after Antrim & Newtownabbey council threatened an 85-year-old Randalstown pensioner with a fine of up to 2,500 pounds if she failed to remove a street sign erected by her granddaughter (Irish Central). So far, no action has been taken by the same council against the Glengormley graffitist who added Irish to the new ‘welcome’ sign on the bridge near the Bellevue Arms, though without translating the placename: “Fáılte go dtí (Gleann Ghormlaıthe).” There is a matching sign at the other end of the area, on Sandyknowes roundabout.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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