The collaborative mural depicting and deploring Margaret Thatcher and The Sun newspaper has been painted out; it lasted only four months. (Featured previously: The Sun Will Make You Blind.) As a riposte to that, perhaps, someone has stencilled this “Ballex” version of the Belfast tourist board’s ‘heart’ symbol.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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A selection of Republican iconography above the James and Nora Connolly mural in Clondara Street: a tarp to Joe McCann – ‘Soldier of the people, Joe McCann 1947-1972 Official IRA’ (WP) – a board with a Liam McMillen quote – ‘”We stand not on the brink of victory but on the brink of sectarian disaster”, Liam McMillen, Bodenstown June 28th 1973’ (see the entry on McMillen in the Peter Moloney Collection) – and two circular pieces, one showing the Starry Plough (created in 1914 as the flag of the Irish Citizen Army) and one to co-founder of the ICA ‘James Connolly 1868-1916’ (WP).
Clondara Street, west Belfast
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X01479 Official Republican Movement
“After we are gone what will you say you were doing? Will you say you were with us in our struggle, or were you with the very system that drove us to our deaths?”
The mural to hunger striker Patsy O’Hara on Shaws Road has been repainted and is now only one half of a long wall, due to impending renovations of the Spar shop whose side it is on. Launched November 17th, 2013 (source: irsp.ie)
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01478 IRSP INLA in proud memory of the ten h-block martyrs who died on hunger strike in long kesh during the struggle for political status
Four local GAA clubs are celebrated in this sloping mural on Shaw’s Road: Naomh Pól, Naomh Treasa, Padraıg Sáırséıl, Uí Donnabháın Rossa. (St. Paul’s, St. Teresa’s, Padraig Sarseil’s, O’Donovan Rossa).
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“History is ours, and history is made by the people — La historia es nuestra y la hacon los pueblos”
Here is a super-wide image of the new (c. Dec. 10th, 2013) board on Northumberland Street celebrating the socialist movement in 1970’s Chile. The Unidad Popular, whose emblem can be seen centre-left and in the close-up below, was a coalition of left-wing parties who supported the Marxist Salvador Allende (seen in the middle) for president in the election of 1970. Allende served as president from 1970-1973 until committing suicide during the coup.
Previously: Brigada Romana Parra board in Ormeau Park.
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This graffiti in Tiger’s Bay relates to the current split in the UDA: “Bunting out – North Belfast UFF”. John Bunting, current leader of the north Belfast UDA/UFF brigade is being challenged by a dissident faction including members previously expelled.
From the Irish News (2013-12-05): “A major split within the UDA was confirmed yesterday as the organisation took the highly unusual step of releasing a statement backing under-fire north Belfast ‘brigadier’ John Bunting.” The statement was signed by east and south Belfast brigades, but not west Belfast. For more, see Tele 2013-11-28, Tele 2013-11-30, Irish News 2013-12-04, Tele 2013-12-05. The stencil of the Queen’s profile on the right was recorded previously.
Update: Imaged below of the same graffiti, blacked out, on 2013-12-20. Other graffiti in other areas remain visible.
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A tribute to Father Alec Reid, who died on November 22nd and buried on the 27th, has been added to the international wall on Divis Street. Reid was a priest in the nearby Clonard monastery and helped negotiate between Sınn Féın and the SDLP and between nationalists and the government of the Republic. He is perhaps best known for attempting to save Corporals Wood and Howe and administering the last rites to them, in 1988 (WP).
This piece takes the place of a ‘Free Marian Price” mural; Price was freed on May 30th, 2013.
The pieces to the left and right have been recorded separately: End Internment | Milltown 25
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“12 years interned. End selective internment.” Michael McKevitt was found liable in civil court for the Omagh bombing and sentenced (in criminal court, in 2003) to twenty years in Portlaoise for “directing terrorism” (WP).
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Sandy Row Ulster Volunteers/WWI memorial: “For God and Ulster 1912, Ulster Volunteer Force, South Belfast Battalion, trained in the adjoining brewery yard. These stones are kept in remembrance, “lest we forget”.”
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Coloured squares, representing tiles, on the exterior of the David Scott Tile Refinery (web) in Blythe Street (off Sandy Row).
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 