“In memory of our fallen comrades of the INLA. Paul McCann, Matt McLarnon, Danny Loughran, Gino Gallagher.” Divis flats, St. Peters, and the plough in the stars, form the background. Information about the deaths of each of the four can be found via this IRSP page.
“This mural was erected by Teach Na Fáılte, Republican Socialist Ex-Prisoners Support Group. 2014. ‘I owe my allegiance to the working class.’ Seamus Costello 1939-1977”
The Craigavon Two – John-Paul Wootton and Brendan McConville – were convicted in 2012 of the 2009 murder of PSNI Constable Steven Carroll (BBC) and sentenced to 18- and 25-year minimums, respectively. The case is under review (Guardian) and a campaign for their release is under way (Fb | Twitter).
The stencilled mural above shows two pairs of arms in chains, surrounded by a border of chains; it replaces the right-hand side of Think Independently.
Hugo Street, west Belfast. The initialism was also seen on Slıabh Dubh last (2013) October.
Here are two Sınn Féın boards on contemporary social issues, at the old Andersonstown RUC barracks. First is “Stand together against racism”; second is support for an Irish Language Act “Sınn Féın ag tacú le Lá Dearg Na Gaeılge, 12 Aıbreán – ag teacht le chéıle ag An Chultúrlann, Bóthar na bhFál, Béal Feırste, 2.00 in.”
As its title suggests, this lower Shankill mural was originally painted in 2000, highlighting UDA prisoners specifically, before being repainted in 2008 in orange. But it has been sitting with damaged plaster in the bottom-left corner for two years or more.
The house bedecked with bunting, UFF flags, and a circular UFF board is on Shankill Terrace (on Peter’s Hill); the UDA board is on a gable around the corner, next to California Close; the three individual UFF/UDA/UYM boards are on gables along Hopewell Avenue.
A new (photographic) portrait and large “UFF” and “UDA” side-walls have been added to the 2011 version (which contains links to prior versions) of the Stevie McKeag mural in the lower Shankill estate.
Here are two new boards in the courtyard of the Rex Bar on the Shankill Road, describing the formation of the Ulster Volunteers (‘A Force For Ulster’) and commemorating the losses suffered by the 36th (Ulster) Division of the British Army, which the Volunteers became, at the Somme and in other battles, mowed down by “the Hun machine guns” (‘The Great War’).
‘A Force For Ulster’ includes photographs of the recent centenary re-enactments of the Balmoral Review, the Ulster Covenant, the formation of the Volunteers (“east” and “west”) and “Operation Lion” – more commonly known as the Larne Gun-Running.
According to the ‘The Great War’ board, 32,186 men from west Belfast were killed, wounded, or missing in the effort to “restore peace in Europe”. “To them bravery was without limit, to us memory is without end”. The board shows the Thiepval Memorial To The Missing Of The Somme against a background of portraits.
Hugh Smyth OBE was born in the Woodvale area and represented the upper Shankill as an Independent Unionist and then a Progressive Unionist in Belfast City Council for forty-one years, until the year before his death in May 2014, including a term as Lord mayor in 1994-1995 – he is pictured in the main image (above) in his mayoral robes.
The portrait on the right (shown solo below) was taken by Bobbie Hanvey and is kept in a Boston College archive; more from the archive can be seen at BC.edu.
As the quote (shown in the second image) indicates, his politics were oriented towards the working class: “Historically, Unionist politicians fed their electorate the myth that they were first class citizens … and without question people believed them. Historically, Republican/Nationalist politicians fed their electorate the myth that they were second class citizens… and without question the people believed them. In reality, the truth of the matter was that we all, Protestant and Catholic, were third class citizen, and none of us realised it!” The board was officially launched on June 19th.
This Caırde Sınn Féın (Fb) mural joins others in Conway Street sponsored by Australian groups. From left to right, the four are: Australian Aid For Ireland & Saoırse Melbourne | this Caırde Sınn Féın mural | AMWU mural | ETU (the Electrical Trades Union).
A new mural on the International Wall combines two current events. One is the furore surrounding the recent description of Islam as “satanic” by Belfast pastor James McConnell (Tele) (and a ‘Rally Against Racism’ to take place today (Saturday, May 31st) – Tele). The middle of the mural reads “Respect and defend our Muslim brothers + sisters – kardeslik azadi”.
The other is the death of Maya Angelou (WP), who died this past Wednesday (May 28th). Angelou is pictured in the top half of the mural, with Muhammad Ali, along with an Angelou quote: “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the past inaccessible.”
In the bottom half appear Padraig Pearse and James Connolly and a line from the Proclamation of the Irish Republic: “Cherish all the children of the nation equally.”
Peter Moloney Collection 