Flesh

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Here are four pieces of street art by Pablo Caamina, Filth (web), and Dr Lakra x2 (ekosystem): a ratty cat, ?a cloud?, a skeleton kneeling in its own discarded flesh, and a sweating head. The yellow on the far end is part of a piece by Blu – brains falling out of an open head (ekosystem).

The building is now (part of) the site for the MAC, between Hector Street and Edward Street, Belfast; the building on the right is in Exchange Street.

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Copyright © 2007 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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20th Century Northern Ireland

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This is an in-progress set of images of the original “Wheatfield Project” panels on the Ballysillan Road, depicting the 20th century in loyalism. The crown on the YCV symbol and the tombstones and Ulster tower have not been finished and Carson’s statue will be added to the foreground of Stormont.

Later on, an info board would replace the first two panels, and the order after it would be Ulster Day, then Carson signing the covenant, then a new double-sized panel of Fernhill House, and then the rest as above, but with the order of the Sunningdale and UWC strike panels reversed.

Ballysillan Road, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Sinn Fein Toadies

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This is the scene on the Shore Road (north Belfast) at Gray’s Lane. From left to right, “[Tony] Blair/Haine [Peter Hain, NI Secretary] – 2 S/F Toadies”; “And so the sham goes on”; “Johnny Adair – South East Antrim UFF – No Surrender”; and below, the remains of the Tudor Lodge (still present in 2017).

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Copyright © 2005 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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You Know Where

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This is a photograph of the outer fences of “you know where” – Long Kesh/the H Blocks/Her Majesty’s Prison Maze.

Whatever you say, say nothing
When you talk about you-know-what.
For if you-know-who could hear you
You know what you’d get –
They’d take you off to you-know-where

– Colum Sands “Whatever You Say, Say Nothing”


(Makem & Clancy also do a version)

Colum Sands’s song (1981) is pre-dated by Seamus Heaney’s 1975 poem of the same name, from the collection North.
“This morning from a dewy motorway
I saw the new camp for the internees …”

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Copyright © 2005 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ceol Gan Teoraınn

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“Ceol gan teoraınn” – “unlimited music” or “music without boundaries”. Belfast’s Sean Maguire (also McGuire) (1927-2005) was an All-Ireland fiddle champion and world-wide ambassador for traditional music (WP). The Short Strand artist’s signature can be seen in the bottom corner.

Iveagh Parade, middle Falls, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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