Dumnie Pamiętane I Nigdy Nie Zapomniane

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Proudly remembered and never forgotten.” The ‘Band Of Brothers’ mural, which celebrates the contribution of Polish airmen stationed in Northern Ireland to the Battle Of Britain in WWII, was partly covered over with a vertically aligned Polish flag, obscuring fire damage from August(?) seen in the third image. The wreath on the right-hand side interestingly combines poppies (perhaps for Armistice Day and the centenary of the end of WWI) and the Polish writing used as the title of this entry, along with the Polish WWII eagle (perhaps commemorating the end of the Battle Of Britain, which is marked (in the UK) on September 15th). The wreath of poppies is next to the Kitchener mural.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06324 X06325 X06112 X06323

Buoys-A-Buoys

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Since the 1980s (BBC | BelTel), Belfast’s maritime history has been celebrated in the form of three buoys outside the Belfast School of Art (known to all as “the art college) in York Street. They were given a face-lift during CNBX/HTN18 by DMC (ig) (above) and (in the middle, below) KVLR and (on the left) Nol (web | ig | Fb).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06319 X06318

East Belfast Ulster Volunteers

Extramural Activity1 Comment

The Union Flag/UVF side-wall is a new addition to the Ulster Volunteers/UVF memorial in London Road, east Belfast. The main panel shows WWI soldiers going over the top (see Between The Crosses) while the four portraits to its right are of deceased UVF volunteers of the 70s and 80s – Seymour, Long, Cordner, and Bennett – (see Ulster’s Brave).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06316

We Shall Defend Our Island

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The mural in Castlereagh Parade has been repainted for the centenary of the end of WWI, but with some notable differences. Three flag-holders have been added above. On the right are now a poppy and mourning soldiers. The quote comes from a speech by Winston Churchill on 1940-06-04 – “We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches. [We shall fight on the landing grounds.] We shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.” – but the current first line was previously omitted in favour of another Churchill quote: “We have nothing to offer but blood, tears, and sweat.” See: Whatever The Cost May Be.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
[X06310] X06311 [X06312]

Victoria Crosses Of The 36th (Ulster) Division

Extramural Activity3 Comments

Dee Craig has updated the Victoria Crosses mural in Cregagh, honoring G[eoffrey St. George Shillington] Cather, W[illiam Frederick] MacFadzean, R[obert] Quigg, and E[ric] N[orman] F[rankland] Bell. Five more were included in a board on the Shankill and another in Willowfield Street. (For the previous Cregagh version, see M03390)

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06313 [X06314] X06315 cappagh gardens

Caırde Agus Comrádaıthe

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Friends and comrades” – IRA volunteers Brendan Hughes (“The Dark”) and Bobby Sands were leaders of the 1980 and 1981 hunger strikes, respectively. Hughes survived when the first strike was called off after 53 days; Sands died in the ’81 strike after 66 days of fasting. “IRPWA” is the Irish Republican Prisoners’ Welfare Association (Fb); Saoradh (web) is a hard-line left-wing republican party.

The mural to the left shows Palestinian double-amputee Saber Al-Ashkar, protesting as part of the Great March Of Return.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06304 [X06317] [X06223] X06322

The Fight For Rights

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

It’s still anybody’s guess as to how Brexit will happen in March, 2019. This week, the ball is in the court of the hard-Brexiteers as they decide whether or not to challenge Theresa May’s leadership of the Conservative Party. Political parties in Northern Ireland claim to be “fighting” for their side – such as this Sinn Féin board on Falls Road – but in practice this means only looking on with fascination and anxiety. “The fight for rights continues – 1968-2018. Don’t let the DUP/Tories take away your rights through Brexit.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06306 Falls Road