Palestinian artist Taqi Spateen’s (web | ig) third piece in Belfast is in Crocus Street, in Beechmount, west Belfast, in conjunction with the Beechmount Residents’ Collective, which has images of the launch on June 23rd (ig). It replaces the vandalised-and-repaired lower part of the pro-immigrant mural seen in In Search Of A Better Life. In the mural, both an olive tree and slender Easter lilies emerge from the rubble. On these a new society can be built.
For Spateen’s first piece, in Kent Street in the city centre, see Anatomy Of Oppression.
The entry Old Carrick Hill shows the mural of ‘Carrick Hill in yesteryear’ from Stanhope Street. Around the corner in Regent Street there are the fifteen printed boards shown here.
From left to right (top to bottom in this entry) they depict … Park Street; Rafferty’s Bar; The Tea Bar, Carrick House; Unity Flats; Alton Utd, FC (founded in 1921, played in the Falls League, won the 1923 Free State Cup Final – Bohs Sporting Life); All in a day’s outing; Playing marbles; Night-time camping; 1976 Mandiville dart team; Mary McCusker & Kitty Spotwoods; Burns family, Wall Street; Maggie Jane Largey & Mary Ann Largey; Carrick Castle public house; Richard & Alan Crean; The Old & The New.
Carla Hodgson (ig) and kids from the Carrick Hill community centre (with support from the University Of Ulster) painted this mural at the junction of Trinity Street/Sráıd Na Tríonóıde and Regent Street/Sráıd An Leasrí, in Carrick Hill, a spot which is reportedly used by dealers to sell drugs (Belfast Media | 2018 BelTel | 2018 Belfast Live).
Palestinian artist Taqi Spateen’s (web | ig) second piece in Belfast is in Palestine Street in the Holylands of south Belfast, where he worked with Artists Against Genocide (ig) to produce a piece showing the strength of Palestinian women, carrying the land from which Palestinians have been evicted in the Nakba of 1948.
In Irish mythology, Fıonn Mac Cumhaıll/Finn MacCool became wise (when still a boy) because he sucked on the thumb he burned while cooking the Salmon Of Knowledge for his master Finegas (Laud 610). The salmon, in turn, had gained the knowledge by eating nine hazelnuts that fell from nine trees into Tobar Segaıs/Tobar Chonnlaı (Dındshenchas – Boand II and Sınann II). The hazels belonged to Crimall The Sage and … that’s as far back as sources appear to go.
The knot-work dogs are Fıonn’s hounds Bran and Sceólang.
“Newry 2020” is not the place and date of the creation but the name of the initiative (Fb) that brought JMK (Jonny McKerr – ig) to Newry to paint this mural in Edward Street in 2023, with support from Newry BID (web), and the Newry, Mourne, And Down district council (Fb) (Newry.ie).
Ahed Tamimi is a young Palestinian activist famous for slapping and pushing two Israeli soldiers in 2017, when she was 16 (footage at NBC News), after her cousin was hit in the head by an Israeli bullet. She was arrested soon after (USA Today) and served seven months (Al Jazeera | Guardian). She was also arrested last (2023) November (Al Jazeera) and released about three weeks later as part of a prisoners-for-hostages swap on November 29th (BBC).
The mural to Tamimi (above) is in Catherine Street, Newry. Also included (below) are an older mural with the cartoon character of resistance Handala (WP) in front of a Palestinian flag with the words “Let this child return home”, and a Connolly-Costello IRSP (Fb) board.
“I ndıl chuımhne ar Mhıcheál Ó hAodha, Óglaıgh na hÉıreann, a dhúnmharaıgh Arm na Breataıne anseo ar 18 Deıreadh Fómhaır 1974, aoıs 16. In proud and loving memory of Volunteer Michael Hughes, Irish Republican Army, who was murdered by the British Army at this spot on the 18th October 1974 aged 16. I measc laochra na nGael go raıbh sé.”
Hughes was shot when he and several other youths attempted to hijack a bus at the stop at the entrance to the area which was under observation by a Royal Marine unit; the soldier who fired the shot claimed that Hughes had pointed a pistol at him, but no weapon or forensic evidence was recovered (Lost Lives 1208).
This is an enlarged memorial to Hughes at the upper entrance to Derrybeg. For the previous memorial, see M08521); Peter also photographed the bus shelters (in 2002).
From the printed info board: “Michael Hughes was born in Banbridge, Co. Down on 28th June 1958. He was the oldest of seven children born to Patrick and Teresa. He had one brother called John and five sisters, Kate, Elizabeth, Angela, Lorraine and Patricia. Michael began his academic career at St. Peter’s Primary School Bessbrook. He did well at school and moved on to the Abbey CBS Newry and then to St. Joseph’s. His teenage years were thrown into turmoil when he had to come to terms with the death of his father Patsy, who was killed in a premature explosion on the Dublin Road. His father’s death had a big impact on the teenage Michael. From an early age Michael was active on the streets against the British forces and he then decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the ranks of Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann. He became heavily involved with republican activity in the Derrybeg area and his leadership qualities soon impressed all those around him. He was a close friend and comrade of Eddie Grant who also died in action as a result of a premature explosion on Christmas Eve 1973. Apart from his active involvement in the IRA, Michael also enjoyed his social life. Nicknamed “Sticky” by his friends, he liked nothing better in his free time than frequenting the local Community Centre. With his ginger hair, he was instantly recognisable to everyone. He enjoyed football and reading books about Irish history. Realising the hardships faced by large families, Michael decided to look for a full time job to help alleviate his mother’s difficulties. He secured employment at the Nylon factory on the Armagh Road but alas had only completed two weeks work when his young life was cruelly ended. On Friday 18th October 1974, Michael was on active service when he was shot dead on an Ulsterbus by the British Army. He was only 16 years of age. On the day of his burial, his comrades marched along Main Avenue, Derrybeg in military formation in a fitting tribute to a fellow soldier. Michael will always be remembered with pride by his family and friends. Ar dheıs láımh Dé go raıbh a anam.”
Nine people died in the 1972 blast that killed Patsy Hughes, at the customs station in Newry – two lorry-drivers, four customs officials, and three IRA volunteers (Lost Lives 551).
“Beıdh bua agaınn go fóıll” [victory will be ours yet] – Keep on marching, don’t give up – Raymond McCreesh 1957-81, age 24. Died after 61 days hunger-strike, H-Block Long Kesh 1981.” The phrase was spoken at the end of a visit with Jim Gibney.
Outside Raymond McCreesh House – his birthplace – at Maryville, Camlough.
The memorial garden in Quarter Road, Camlough, commemorates deaths and events from 1916 to 1921:
“In memory of the Irish men and women who died in 1916 in conflicts both at home and abroad.”
“1917 marks the formation of the Camlough company of Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann (Irish Volunteers).”
“1917-2017 centenary of the Sınn Féın cumann, Camlough.”
“1918-2018 commemorating 100 years of women’s suffrage ‘For men and women equally the rights of citizenship; from men and women equally the duties of citizenship’. In memory of Hannah Sheehy-Skeffington – suffragist, nationalist, socialist.”
“December 1920, during the Tan War, the RIC barracks in Camlough was attacked by local volunteers of the Irish Republican Army.”
“In December 1920, in the aftermath of the attack on the RIC barracks in Camlough and the ambush at the Egyptian Arch, 10 family homes were burned to the ground by the Black And Tans.”
“In memory of Vol. Sean Doran and his sister Mary Ann Kearney, shot dead by the Black And Tans, 1921.”
Despite the quote “Times change; we need to change as well” (attributed to Nelson Mandela, though perhaps only from Francois Pienaar in the film Invictus) the riot going on in black-and-white is not from the past (as in this east Belfast mural) but the present, and in particular from the 2021 riots on Lanark Way (BelTel) which is the site of this new mural. Similarly, the mural depicted in the background of the riot scene is not from the past – it was refreshed in 2022 and continues to loom over Mount Vernon and the off-ramp from the motorway – see Prepared For Peace, Ready For War.
The mural thus asks young people to decide between two visions of present-day life: the grey world of violence and the colourful world of programmes from R-City – Communities Integrated Through Youth (www.rcitybelfast.com), including “one-one mentoring”, “leadership for life” (QUB), and “SHE” [Supporting Her Empowerment].
Paddy Duffy Collection 