Prison First, Then President

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2013-07-23 Mandela+

“”In my country we go to prison first and then become President” – Madiba, Nelson Mandela, freedom lover, friend of Ireland.”

Above is a new mural on Northumberland Street (not on Divis Street’s international wall) in honour of the ailing Nelson Mandela’s 95th birthday, on July 18th. Painted by Lucas Quigley (you can see a signature and a telephone number in the lower right), the mural features Mandela, the flags of Ireland and South Africa, and the Sınn Féın logo (in contrast with the dissident flyers further up to the left, shown in 1 Ireland, 1 Vote). Detail below. The photo reproduced is probably this Getty image.

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The Red Army

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2013-07-21 RedArmyWide+

The Red Army are the supporters of Cliftonville football team which this past (2012-2013) season won both the Irish League Cup and the League Championship. The mural on the right had side, detailed below, looks in such good condition because it was touched up on July 17th —in time for that night’s Champions League match against Celtic — after being vandalized on the 16th.

There is a good summary of Cliftonville history (including their present-day successes), as well as a picture of the “Let’s All Do The Huddle” mural painted for the occasion of the Celtic visit, at the blog Four-Four-Two.

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The Sun Will Make You Blind

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2013-07-08 TheSun+

Members of local graffit artist crew TMN (whose names are listed in the lower left) have collaborated on this new anti-capitalist mural in College Court in the city centre, attacking The Sun (newspaper) and the recently deceased former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, who is shown here with glowing eyes: “The Sun will make you blind life people say … cost you your sight as well as 30p a day.”

In progress image.

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Copyright © 2013 Extramural Activity
X01179 the most nasty jest nota reck bore rase aken kanuz anco ether dex

Orange & Green

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2013-05-29 TullPoppies1+

A three-piece stone in the same Tullycarnet garden as the war memorial and peace mural featured previously. “Orange and green it doesn’t matter, United now, Don’t shatter our dream, Scatter the seeds of peace over our land, So we can travel, Hand in hand across the bridge of hope.” by Sean McLaughlin, a twelve-year-old who was killed in the Omagh bombing of 1998 (WP). The garden was unveiled June 2010 (IFI).

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Ravenhill Business Registry

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2013-06-28 RavenhillPole+

Various local industries of the past are named at the corner of My Lady’s Road and Ravenhill Road in east Belfast: Downshire Pottery [1787-1806], Ravenhill Iron Works [fl. 1910], Ridell And Sons [a grocer/trader in the 1800’s?], Tenants Textiles [probably the still-existing Tennants Textiles], Cromac Distillery [1776-1930], Belfast Vitriol Works [fl. 1852], Sydney Pentland [motor repair 1956-2005?]. An old (wooden) lamp-post in the foreground is painted in red-white-and-blue.

Other businesses, not pictured, include Lagan Engine Works, Charles Hurst, Spence Bryson Factory, Co-Op Bakery And Diary [Dairy], Jam Factory, Inglis, Hugh J. Scott, Devonshire Laundry, Royal Bakery.

The piece was installed in 2012-07 (Daniela Balmaverde).

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Inclusion

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2013-06-28 CarrickfMural+

“Progression Requires Inclusion” – a new UVF mural (painted last Saturday, 2013-06-22) in Carrickfergus shows a balaclava’d head and assault rifle. Wide shot below. For the three boards, see End Political Censorship. For the two boards, see It’s Dangerous To Be Right.

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End Political Censorship

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2013-06-28 CarrickfPanels2+

Three panels adjacent to the new UVF ‘Inclusion’ mural in Carrickfergus, two of which protest perceived discrimination against Protestants. The panels at left (“End political cencorship [sic] of Ulsters [sic] Protestants”) and right (“Stop PSNI violence & brutality against Ulsters [sic] Protestants”) mention the PSNI, while in the left one the BBC and UTV and the judiciary and courts are mentioned in addition. The sponsoring group – Carrickfergus United Loyalists – have a Facebook page.

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X01175 davys street  loyal carrickfergus then, now and always united loyalists

Brigada Ramona Parra

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2013-06-28 BRPmural+

Brigada Ramona Parra (BRP) is the mural-painting wing of the Chilean Communist Party. Some of its members came to Belfast in 2009 and worked with local republican and loyalist muralists to put up this board at the southern entrance to Ormeau Park. The colours are still vibrant, but the board on which the piece was painted is deteriorating significantly. 200 images of the mural being painted can be found here. BelTel report of the launch.

Below: An extra-wide (2500 pixel) straight-on shot and a youtube video of BRP pieces 1968-2011.

Update 2013-09-06: Write-up of BRP on BBC.

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