Belfast

Our Brave Defenders

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is the completed version of the mural earlier shown in-progress. The four main panels show the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division going over the top on the first day of the Somme (1st July 1916), the “angel of Mons” (WP), Ulster Tower (“This tower was dedicated to the glory of God. In grateful memory of the officers, non commissioned officers and men of the 36th (Ulster) Division, and of the sons of Ulster in other forces who laid down their lives in the great war, and of all their comrades in arms who, by divine grace, were spared to testify to their glorious deeds. ‘Throughout the long years of struggle …. the men of Ulster have proved how nobly they fight and die’ – 16th November 1918 King George V”), and Thiepval Memorial (“Dear men and brothers, going out/to fight for Ulster’s need/we hail you with a mighty shout/brave friends, and true in deed.//Your country holds you in renown/your names will never be dead/and some sweet angel has a crown/for each dear, manly head.”)

St Leonard’s Crescent (the old Newcastle Street).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M06858 [M06859] [M06860] [M06861] [M06862] [M06863] [M06864] [M06865] [M06866] [M06867] [M06868] [M06870]

100 Years Of Conflict

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Lest we forget – 1912-2012”: “The four panels of the mural represent images from conflict over the past 100 years … the Great War … Luftwaffe raids during the early years of the Second World War … the dark period in our history known as the Troubles … more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Part of the Arts Council for Northern Ireland’s Re-imaging Communities Programme – thiis project placed artist Jim Russell in the heart of the Sunningdale community to work with local people to create a more welcoming environment for everyone.”

Ballysillan Road, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M06925 [M06926] [M06927] [M06928] [M06929] [M06930] M06931

The Elementary Right

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“We seek nothing but the elementary right implanted in every man: the right if you are attacked, to defend yourself.” The mural shows two East Belfast UVF volunteers on manoeuvres.

Together with the We Are The Pilgrims mural that was painted at the same time across the street (both by Dee Craig), this mural can be taken as a good marker of the beginning of re-re-imaging, (that is, of new PUL ‘hooded gunmen’ murals) – see Visual History 11. In particular, this mural, unlike its counterpart, replaced a non-paramilitary mural – the Glentoran Community Trust mural.

At the old Bright Street on the Newtownards Road, Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M06853 [M06851] [M06852] [M06854] [M06855] [M06856] [M06857]

Francis Hughes

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

For the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike, the Dockers & Carters mural was replaced by a large mural of republican heroes on Northumberland Street, with Francis Hughes at the centre.

(For more in-progress images, the completed mural, and a list of the portraits, see X00384.)

Northumberland Street, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M06900 [M06901] [M06902] [M06903] [M06904] [M06905] [M06906] [M06907] [M06908] [M06909] [M06910] [M06911] [M06912] [M06913] [M06914] [M06915] [M06916] [M06917] [M06918] [M06919] [M06920] [M06921] [M06922] [M06923]

We Are The Pilgrims, Master

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“We are the pilgrims, master; we shall go always a little further.” Three hooded gunmen from East Belfast UVF . The line comes from a 1913 poem by James Flecker. This mural was painted at the same time as the ‘self-defense’ mural across the street, and together they can be taken as a good marker of the beginning of re-re-imaging, (that is, of new PUL ‘hooded gunmen’ murals) – see Visual History 11. The design is a popular one: it was used for murals in Mersey Street, in Tamar Street and on the Newtownards Road prior to re-imaging. Painted by Dee Craig.

Newtownards Road, east Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M06848 [M06849]

Hunger Striker Mosaics

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

For the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike, the mosaics of the Troubles-era hunger strikers are mounted around the blanket-men board and above the Phoenix in Clowney Street; for a few years they were previously at the Falls-Beechmount corner.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M06885 M06884 [M06886] [M06887] [M06888] [M06889] [M06890] [M06891] [M06892] [M06893] [M06894] [M06895] [M06896] [M06897] [M06898]

In The East Of The City

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

An owner, with Ireland’s Saturday Night (which ceased publication in 2008) tucked in his coat pocket, shows off his greyhound.

The words of the poem – author unknown – read “In the east of the city, isolated alone, is a dear little place we like to call home. / Old strengthened by new, the homes and the streets, looking out for each other, a broad smile when they meet / The once terraced streets, some narrow, some wide, behind so many faces a story there lies / In the east of the city by the lagan’s fair side, looking back at its history our hearts fill with pride.”

Edgar Street, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M06876 [M06877] [M06878] [M06879] [M06880]

Local Homes For Local Families

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Local homes for local families – BNP – We support Ann Cooper.” Where “local” is not about geography but ethnicity. Ann Cooper stood (unsuccessfully) in Castlereagh East (in east Belfast) for the British National Party (BBC); the graffiti shown is in Fortuna Street, south Belfast. For another piece of the graffitist’s handiwork, see Slugger.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M06705

Our Brave Defenders

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Work-in-progress images from the new mural in memory of the dead from the 36th (Ulster) Division in St Leonard’s Crescent (the old Newcastle Street) in east Belfast.

The four main panels show the men of the 36th going over the top on the first day of the Somme (1st July 1916), the “angel of Mons” (WP), Ulster Tower (“This tower was dedicated to the glory of God. In grateful memory of the officers, non commissioned officers and men of the 36th (Ulster) Division, and of the sons of Ulster in other forces who laid down their lives in the great war, and of all their comrades in arms who, by divine grace, were spared to testify to their glorious deeds. ‘Throughout the long years of struggle …. the men of Ulster have proved how nobly they fight and die’ – 16th November 1918 King George V”), and Thiepval Memorial (“Dear men and brothers, going out/to fight for Ulster’s need/we hail you with a mighty shout/brave friends, and true in deed.//Your country holds you in renown/your names will never be dead/and some sweet angel has a crown/for each dear, manly head.”)

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M06835 [M06836] M06837
M06617 [M06611] [M06612] [M06613] [M06614] [M06615] [M06616]