Belfast west

Times Change

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

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].

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T04798 T04797 T04801 T04796 T09310 (2026) T04795 Marty Lyons

Cupar Way 2024

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here is a selection of art from the Cupar Way section of the west Belfast “peace” line. Some of the artists came into town for Hit The North 2024 (Lidia Cao, Lours, Elno). We also see work by DEUX, SNAK, NOYS, BAISE?, NOTA, Keyto, and Kilian (Road Rage Ruth).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T04732 T04733 T04734 T04735 T04736 T04737 T04738 T04739 T04740 T04741 T04742 T04743 T04744 T04745 T04746 T04747 T04748 T04749 T04750

Frank McKelvey

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Francis “Frank” McKelvey grew up at 56 Woodvale Road (based on Lennon Wylie and the blue plaque on the wall at this address – Street View). That would put him a stone’s throw from Woodvale Park, which provides the backdrop for this new mural at the end of Woodvale Street. The photograph reproduced, of “Woodvale park pond”, can be seen on the Old Shankill Fb page. The pond was filled in after the second World War (City Council). McKelvey’s ‘A Summer’s Day‘ is perhaps of Woodvale Park pond. He died in 1974 (Ulster History Circle).

By Holly Hooks (ig) in Woodvale Street, west Belfast.

March 24th

February 14th

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T04691
T04282 T04281 [T04636]
T04066

Turf Lodge Boxing

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is a new mural on boards celebrating boxing in the Turf Lodge area of west Belfast.

Belfast Boxers (ig) gives the names as (l-r) Eoin Hamill, Damaen Kelly, John Ireland, Dee Irving, Damien Fryers, Sean/Jim “Spike” McCormack, Sean McComb.

Hamill (the youngster on the far left) was knocked down and killed on the Springfield Road in 2020 (BelTel | BBC | Irish Times). John Ireland (third from left, with blue collar) died in a crash 2014 at age 20 (Belfast Media).

Norglen Gardens.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T04453 T04452 T04451

In Loco Parentis

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

In the myth of ‘The Pied Piper Of Hamelin’, the piper leads the children away from the village of Hamelin after the mayor there refuses to pay him for charming away their rat infestation. The piper takes his revenge and only the lame child, the deaf child, and the blind child survive to tell the tale. (Here is Browning’s poetic version, along with 30 other references.)

This piper at Holy Trinity primary school (web) and St Martin’s nursery (web) in Turf Lodge might be thought to be leading them away from their parents and into school, but as the final image makes clear, they are on their way to a cavern underground.

The source for the mural is perhaps the painting at The Palace Hotel, in San Francisco (WP).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T04455 T04457 [T04454] T04456

Easter Commemoration

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This RNU (Fb) board calls for attendees at a gathering in Milltown cemetery to commemorate the Easter Rising of 1916. The signatories to the Proclamation can be seen above and behind the large Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann gravestone on the right.

Glen Road, on the grounds of the old Andersonstown RUC barracks.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T04258 [T06468]

Ireland Says “No”

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“… to Genocide Joe”. This mural – a copy of a cartoon by Carlos Latuff – was painted in Divis Street in advance of the visit by Irish politicians to the United States for St Patrick’s Day – for background, see Don’t Look Away and The Fog Of War (which showed the same message on Slıabh Dubh).

In the mural, the leaders of “SF”, “FF”, and “FG” (Sınn Féın, Fıanna Fáıl, Fıne Gael) on their knees offer shamrock to US president Joe Biden, the blood dripping from whose hands spells “Gaza” on the ground.

However, the mural was completely blacked out the week before March 17th (Xitter) and then had to be cleaned, to give the version shown above.

In 2016, a Latuff reproduction in Beechmount, which was critical of Martin McGuinness’s shaking hands with Queen Elizabeth of England, was whitewashed (and was not subsequently restored). See The Butcher’s Apron for ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T04261 [T04260]

Though An Army Besiege Me, My Heart Will Not Fear

Extramural Activity1 Comment

In 2000, during the Second Intifada, Palestinian teenager Faris Odeh was photographed by an AP photographer in the act of throwing a stone at an Israeli tank. He was shot and killed a few days later and the image became a symbol of resistance. (A mural of the photograph was painted in Springhill: see David And Goliath.) The iconic image is updated here for Israel’s current invasion of Gaza, showing a young girl with a soft toy standing in front of a tank that is bedecked with the flags of the European Union, France, the USA, the UK, and Germany.

The F-16 jets and rubble and child with teddy-bear are the same as in the We Stand With Palestine mural in Ardoyne.

For the teddy-bears and soft toys, see Boycott Israeli Genocide.

For the Easter Rising mural, see The Undauntable Thought.

South Link, Andersonstown, west Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T04172 T04171 T04173
T04178 [T04177] [T04176]