Author: Extramural Activity

A Bird In The Hand

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These bird-boxes and platforms were installed by Wild Belfast (web) – a group aimed at enhancing natural habitats – in order to attract house-martins, who visit Ireland in the summer in order to breed, but whose numbers are in decline because of a loss of nesting sites (under the eaves of houses) and building materials (mud).

The boxes are in front of street art by artist Daniela Balmaverde (web) on the end of one of the stands at Cliftonville FC (BBC) – the shamrock earrings are the club’s emblem.

July 30th

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Kneecap’s Fine Art

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Kneecap’s new album Fine Art was released on June 14th on Heavenly Recordings. (The cover of the new album is included in the recent update to the mural on Madden’s bar – see Sásta A Bheıth Anseo.)

Their film, also called Kneecap, had its Belfast premiere in the Kennedy Centre, west Belfast, on Tuesday and has been on general release since Thursday (RTÉ | BBC).

The band yesterday (Friday August 9th) launched a third mural in Hawthorn Street/Sráıd Na Sceıthe, (joining Incendiary Device and England Get Out Of Ireland,) which blows up the sticker seen on the street-sign (below; and previously in Land Grab) into a mural: Saoırse don Phalaıstín [Freedom for Palestine]. The launch was moved to an earlier time (2:30 p.m.) so that it would not conflict with the anti-racism rally in the city centre (BelTel).

The mural had previously been a sticker (see the street sign, above) and flyer – this one is from Waterford Street, in April

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Naoıse Ó Caırealláın Móglaí Bap Lıam Óg Ó Hannaıdh Mo Chara JJ Ó Dochartaıgh DJ Próvaí

Garden Of Hope

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The new “Garden Of Hope” in Springmadden is also a memorial garden, with a (second) plaque to four of the victims of the “Ballymurphy Massacre” who were shot near the spot, which was across the street from the old Henry Taggart base. (For the first plaque, see this 2010 entry in the Peter Moloney Collection.) Also in Springmadden is the Reaching Out mental-health art.

Springfield Road, west Belfast

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Honour And Respect His Last Request

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“Honour and respect his last request. Bring him home. Roger Casement, executed 3rd August 1916 9.00AM Pentonville Prison, London. Roger Casement Commemoration & Re-Interment Association.”

Casement’s preferred resting-place was Murlough Bay, as explained in the original entry for the painting on the other side of the gates showing Casement in front of Murlough Bay, included again below but here with a wreath of yellow flowers.

This new (printed) board is on the left-hand side of the gates of the park named in Casement’s honour. Here is the background photo of the GPO at the top of the board; the photograph at the bottom is from NLI (available on Flickr).

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The Language Of Nature

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These images are from Mosey’s Arch, Killyleagh, which is an entry off High Street, just below the Hans Sloane Centre (web). Sloane was born (in 1660) and raised in Killyleagh and his interest in the natural world spurred him to study botany and medicine in London (WP).

The cuneiform markings (in the image below) are a reference to Edward Hincks – born in Cork but rector in Killyleagh – who helped decipher Akkadian (Mesopotamian) cuneiform (WP).

The art – by Pigment Space/MWAK (ig), with support from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (web) – also features the buildings in Killyleagh: above are Killyleagh Presbyterian (left) and St John The Evangelist church (right); below are mills in the area (perhaps reproducing this Fb image).

Also by MWAK and featuring the Killyleagh shore-line: The Great Wall.

(Also in Killyleagh: The Future Of Football)

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Gaels Against Genocide

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“Seasann Léana An Dúın leıs An Phalaıstín [Lenadoon stands with Palestine]”. Gaels Against Genocide – “a collective of people from the Irish language, sporting & cultural communities” (Xitter) – was formed in January (Saffron Gael) and organised rallies in Belfast city centre in February (Pensive Quill | Belfast Media video on YouTube) and in June (BBC | Belfast Media gallery | Irish News).

Lenadoon Avenue, west Belfast

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The Spirit Of Brotherhood

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“”To embrace the story of Mesen/Messines and its spirit of brotherhood is to be freed from the slavery of bigotry and intolerance.” – Glen[n] Barr O.B.E. 2001″

Glenn Barr was a UDA brigadier and spokesperson for NUPRG and its policy of an independent Northern Ireland – see Common Sense. In the 1980s and beyond, his efforts were directed mainly at tackling youth unemployment in Londonderry, for which he received an OBE in 2005. He died in 2017. (WP)

The tower in the mural shown here is (perhaps) the round tower at the ‘Island Of Ireland Peace Park’ in Messines, a cross-community project of Barr’s and (former Donegal T.D.) Paddy Harte’s. The Park honours the soldiers – from both the 36th (Ulster) and 16th (Irish) divisions – who were killed or wounded in the Battle Of Messines Ridge in June, 1917. The source of Barr’s quotation is unknown but he made similar remarks on other occasions (NIWorld | ISPS).

The mural is in the Ebrington Centre’s car park, off Bond’s Street, Waterside, Londonderry. It joins three other murals to the Irish dead of WWI: The Cost of War (which also features the Peace Park) | We Are The Dead | Comrades In Arms.

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The “Crisis” Is Capitalism

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Here is a gallery of boards and flyers from on and around the green-spaces adjacent to Free Derry Corner.

“The “crisis” is capitalism – this is a war on the working class. Don’t fall for their lies. Fight back, join RSYM [Fb]”

“Evict greedy landlords, not struggling families. Rates of housing benefit for private renters in Derry and Strabane … landlords should not be charging working class families more than these rates. Don’t let them rob you! Drop The Rents North West [Fb]” (on top of Cosaın Ár Neodracht)

“Remember our hunger strike martyrs – IRSP [web]”, “Stand up! Fight back! Join Éıstıgí [web]”, “Sovereignty, not Stormont www.32csm.org“, “Remember the ten” [hunger strikers]

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A Corner With A Difference!

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A poem of appreciation for the Bogside Artists and The People’s Gallery, with images of the 12 murals that can currently be seen:

“Known as Aggro Corner,/at the foot of Rossville Street/It was there at the “Battle of the Bogside”/Where people used to meet//All those years of our troubles/You can capture in a day/At the gateway to the Bogside/The people’s gallery on display.//They brought the Bogside back to life/From its darkest days of trouble and strife/Their painted murals on each gable wall/Have become world famous and the fairest of all.//Reflecting memories of our past/Each one a treasure that will last/They give back to the people/What we thought was gone/Thanks to the Bogside Artists/Our memories will live on.”

“An appreciation to the Bogside Artists who have painted our story! Most humble and dedicated, as they continue to strive, without seeking personal glory!”

“Remember the late William Kelly brother of Tom Kelly who passed away January 10th 2017. Trusting in God’s unfailing love RIP William. © Michael Feeney”

Rossville Street at the eastern end of Kells Walk.

See also: And The Next Moment … | The Saturday Matinee

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Derry Girls

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The Derry Girls, and the wee fella, James, are a tourist attraction, thanks to the success of the television show. The mural was updated in 2022 ahead of the third (and final) season, with Michelle holding up three fingers rather than two (compare with the image from 2020).

In Orchard St, London-/Derry, by UVArts (ig).

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