“‘The day has passed for patching up the capitalist system; it must go. [… We reject the firebrand of capitalist warfare and offer you the olive leaf of brotherhood and justice to and for all.]’ – James Connolly” [in 1910’s Labour, Nationality And Religion, part 6]
Lasaır Dhearg (web) paste-up at the Grosvenor Road entrance to the Royal, to coincide with the general strike of January 18th that included dieticians, physiotherapists, radiographers, midwives, and nurses (BBC).
In January 2024, in response to the prolonged Israeli attack on Gaza, many murals on the “International Wall” on Divis Street were painted out and work began on reproductions of artworks by artists from Palestine and elsewhere in the region. The project was called Painting For Palestine and a Facebook page and GoFundMe page were launched.
According to Bill Rolston (Fb) (who can be seen in the second image, below), there was a plan last Autumn that Palestinian artists would create their own “international wall” and include murals designed by CNR artists. The Hamas attack on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli invasion on Gaza – now ongoing for 108 days – put paid to that project, and instead art by Palestinian painters is being painted in Belfast in support of Palestine. (Here is an NVTv segment on the project.)
The first (left-most) panel will reproduce a mural called ‘The Land Is Ours’ by Mohammed Alhaj, Abdullah Al Najar, Rami Al Safadi, and Abdel Hamid Fares that once stood in a Gaza school; the second, next to the first, is currently blank (see the image above).
The grid and cartoon for a mural from digital artist Saïd Hassan (web):
Another image by digital artist Saïd Hassan, showing soldiers standing over dead children:
Four murals are being painted over what were previously Lenár Linn and Hunger Strikers (1916). The originals for these were designed by Ahmad Shaweesh (ig), Raed Qatanani (ig), ? [please get in touch], and Saïd Hassan (web).
Shaweesh’s piece is a deliberately unfinished image of a group of people, perhaps a family, in distress. Qatanani’s image is a portrait of Soso and Omar Ashour as they sat in a Gaza hospital during the first week of the Israeli invasion.
The original artist of this figure with a phoenix is unknown.
The last of these four murals is by Hassan and shows a woman cooking over an open fire in front of a tent in a refugee camp.
This painting on the shutters of the Falls Road Suicide Awareness & Support Group/Grúpa Feasachta Agus Tacaíochta Ar Fhéınbháıs (web | Fb) is the same as the mural painted in Cavendish Square by Visual Waste (see Reaching Out Is A Strength) and a companion to emic’s Lifeboat From Despair around the corner in Shiels Street.
Here are matching “KAH” (Kill all Huns/Protestants) and “KAT” (Kill all Taigs/Catholics) graffiti from Broadway roundabout – the interface between Iveagh and the Village – that have been plastered over with paper hearts.
The slogan “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty” has been used in loyalist responses to Brexit and the NI Protocol, in Lurgan, Ballyclare, and Moygashel (one | two). It is used here in reference to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. PFLP (in the bottom-left corner) is the Popular Front For The Liberation Of Palestine (WP) (seen previously in The Popular Front | Solidarity With Palestine | Resistance Is Not Terrorism and murals showing Leila Khaled); in the bottom-right is the emblem of the INLA – starry plough, red star of socialism, Tricolour, and fist holding an assault rifle.
“Dorn san aer do na Gaeıl [a fist in the air for the Irish] Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí 1970-2023”. Mac Aodha Bhuí joined Ráıdió Na Gaeltachta in the 1990s but was best known for his Rónán Beo@3 programme (which is inscribed on the ring on the first), which began in 2006. He was a passionate advocate for the Irish language. He died this past September after a four-year battle with cancer. (RTÉ | Irish Times | Donegal Daily)
The official launch of the mural will be at 2 p.m. on Friday (December 1st). Update: by the time of the launch a photograph of Mac Aodha Bhuí was added.
“Murdered by RUC”. Nine-year-old Patrick Rooney was the first child to be killed during the Troubles, when he was hit by a bullet from a Browning machine-gun mounted on an RUC whippet (Shorland armoured car – see a picture at the Police Ombudsman’s report) on the night of August 14-15, 1969, hours before the British Army arrived in Northern Ireland in reponse to the Battle Of The Bogside (Derry). (Irish Times | BBC)
The board was unveiled in November by the RNU (Fb), replacing the Rook O’Prey board. There is a plaque to Rooney and Hugh McCabe, who died the same night, on the remaining flat, Divis tower (M02005).
“A taste of tradition: Whiterock flute band. Est. 1962. West Belfast, Northern Ireland. New Barnsley, Moyard, Springmartin, Woodvale, Whiterock, Springfield, Highfield, Shankill.” The Whiterock Flute Band board at the top of the Shankill has been updated to reflect the changing of the monarch – the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of Charles III – and also to mark the band’s 60th anniversary in 2022.
The memorial to Elizabeth on the left-hand side replaces the memorial to Alex Thompson (seen in 2021) which had been appended to the 50th anniversary board (A Taste Of Tradition). Thompson is included at the top of the next column, “recognition of loyal service”. The columns on either side of the emblem show photographs from the various deacdes, including the 50th anniversary celebrations. Above the doorways are the names of “members past and present” above drawings by local children of “my favourite image” and a link for the band’s music.
“Embrace the past. Ignite tradition. Inspire the future.” Whiterock Flute Band appear to have fallen under the influence of a public-relations consultant.
“I measc laochra na nGael go raıbh sıad.” Profiles of Patricia Black, Frankie Ryan, Michael Ferguson, and Sean Keenan were added in late 2021 (video of launch) to the pair of existing monuments that memorialise them in Colin/Poleglass (for which see The Undauntable Thought on Peter’s site).
Black and Ryan were IRA volunteers killed by in a premature bomb explosion near London (An Phoblacht).
Michael Ferguson and Seán Keenan were activists and Sınn Féın councillors. Both died in 2006 of cancer (Irish Times | Bel Tel).
On Pantridge Road, which runs down to Michael Ferguson roundabout (An Phoblacht).
