Former CIRA commander Tommy Crossan’s 2014 murder by former colleagues was unusual in that is was carried out during the daytime (and also because he was abducted just off the Springfield Rd). (BBC-NI news video) The graffiti above declares that vengeance will be won.
Previously: Tommy Crossan
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02708 RIP Vol Tommy Crossan 18/4/2014 justice will be done
Even the flagpole-holders indicate their allegiance: a red hand of Ulster pole bracket in the Village, south Belfast.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02701
This is a small mural in the alley at the top of the Rock, across from Nuada Reborn.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05336
This is a pro-Palestine mural just off Beechmount Avenue/Ascaıll Ard na bhFeá. If there’s a better translation/pronunciation for the Arabic “Tıocfaıdh ár lá”, please let us know.
Previously: Freedom In Arabic | Viva Palestine on Black Mountain/Slıabh Dubh | Leila Khaled in Hugo Street | The Popular Front
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02697
The Kashmir Bar on the Springfield Road gets a face-lift with a mural of the old Kashmir Bar, including the boast that it was home to the best singers in the west. A look at the Kashmir Bar Facebook page reveals that pool seems to be the foremost activity. For a photo of the old (green-fronted) bar, see D00283. (There is also a small image on the Belfast Forum.) If you can identify any of the locals pictured, please comment or e-mail.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02749 X02760 X02751 established 1895 brendan smyth wine spirits céad míle fáılte in memory of IRA volunteer sean gaynor who was murdered in his home at 236 springfield road by members of the ric on the the 26th september 1920 Image of Sean Gaynor’s grave in Milltown. Account of killing and funeral from Rıstead O Murchú
The six weeks from July 8th to August 20th 1981 saw the death of six hunger strikers – McDonnell, Hurson, Lynch, Doherty, McElwee, and Devine – adding to the four who began in March and died in May. All ten, along with Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg from 1974 and 1976, are remembered in this recent (spring 2015?) board in Rockmore Road, west Belfast.
This is the fourth iteration of this board, which goes back (at least) to 1995. For two of the previous versions, see the Peter Moloney collection: third | first.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02696 lark barbed wire bobby sands mp 5th may francis hughes 12th may raymond mccreesh 21st may patsy o’hara 21st may joe mcdonnell 8th july michael gaughan 3rd june 1974 frank stagg 12th february 1976 martin hurson 13th july kevin lynch 1st august kieran doherty 2nd august thomas mcelwee 8th august michael devine 20th august st james commemoration committee sınn féın
The Wolfe Tones will headline the 2015 Ardoyne Fleadh Cheoıl (Fb) on August 15th. Last year, The Druids caused controversy by advising British Army forces and loyalists to go “back to England” (BelTel).
Along the bottom are various of the posters/programme covers from years past: (left to right) the 1998 cover, by Sean Doran, was also painted in Ardoyne Avenue; Cú Chulaınn on the 1999 poster was painted in Ardoyne Avenue (S00089); the fiddler and bodhrán player appeared on a t-shirt; a classic Wolfe Tones poster shows the four faces in profile; Fleadh Érıu on the 1995 poster (under the go-kart’s left wheel) was painted on this wall in 1994; the 1996 Fleadh poster, also by Sean Doran; disappearing on the right is Doran’s 1997 cover.
The Ardoyne Fleadh Cheoıl emblem (on the go-karter’s t-shirt and under the text on the left) was used in Maıreann An Spıorad. The festival began in 1970.
A new mural will be launched as part of this year’s festival: Boxing Champions.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
[X02930] X02931 X02932
A week before he was assassinated and his government overthrown, Burkina Faso president Thomas Sankara asserted: “While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas.” Sankara gained power of Burkina Faso (then Upper Volta) in a 1983 coup and launched an ambitious programme of literacy, feminism, public health, and agricultural self-sufficiency, in addition to launching a drive against corruption and of nationalizing natural resources. He attempted this all without the assistance of foreign aid or the IMF or World Bank. However, he wielded power outside the jurisdiction of the courts and controlled the press. He and twelve colleagues were killed in October 1987.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02695 Korda Fitzpatrick’s Che Guevara, Kernoff’s James Connolly, hammer sickle communism socialism
The Connswater community garden is called “In The Meanwhile” (one of four in east Belfast operated by Groundwork NI to make use of empty ground in the ‘meanwhile’). A field-mouse(?) and a robin share the hedgerow peaceably in the mural that serves as a backdrop. The work is by Friz. The garden has its own Facebook page. For some background see this Irish News article.
Previously: Ed Hicks’s California Dreamin’
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02791 X02795 connswater st
This fine example of King William III at the Battle of the Boyne completes the Tiger’s Bay trio of murals from the past two days (see You Will Become A Great Nation, Even Many Nations & North Of Ireland Armies). Shots of the three together and of the general scene are included below.
For the UDA mural previously in this location, see M04396.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02688 X02691 X02690 rem 1690 king billy william of orange bible
Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 