community – Page 27 – Paddy Duffy Collection

Inspire, Uphold, And Make Happy

2022-10-052026-08-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The wall at the top of Springhill Avenue was knocked down to great acclaim in 2017 (Guardian) but the impact was merely cosmetic as a wire fence and substantial shrubbery continued to block the way. The removal of the wall also meant the removal of the pro-Palestinian murals painted on it: Palestine Abú | Man Against Machine | Hellfire. In its place a large board was put in place celebrating the history of the area and especially the contribution made by Des Wilson and Noelle Ryan who worked in Springhill House for over forty years. Both Des and Noelle were interviewed by NVTv in 2012. Noelle died in 2014 (An Phoblacht) and Des in November 2019

The left hand side of the mural shows Mother Teresa, who lived and worked in the area with four nuns from 1971 to 1973 before being put out (allegedly) by the Catholic church (TripleVision documentary).

On the right, the old and new Springhills are contrasted, with images taken from the same spot approximately 30 years apart.

Springhill Avenue, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Let Us Entertain You

2022-09-252026-08-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The LPOW mural in Harvey Court dates back to 1997, to the release of political prisoners as part of the Good Friday Agreement. A recent (2015) version can be seen at Consolidate The Peace. The new mural features performers Jonny Jones, John Calvert, Tony Jones, and Sylvia Pavis. It was painted by Blaze FX with sponsorship from Charter NI and the Housing Executive.

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In The Land Of The Giants

2022-09-232024-07-23Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here are three shots of the new Blaze Fx (web | Fb) “Belfast Giants” mural in east Belfast’s Lord Street. The Giants have been Belfast’s ice-hockey team for the last fifteen years, beginning in 2000. The detail above shows mascot Finn MacCool and the image of the full mural, below, includes the team motto, the (a)politically-motivated “In the land of the giants, everyone is equal.” The mural takes the place of a UDA mural (see, Feriens Tego) and is one of three large murals and various small murals to be replaced or painted out. (This News Letter article puts the total at nine.)

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Night Taxi

2022-09-182026-08-30Extramural Activity1 Comment

Free-hand sprayer Dan Kitchener’s (web | tw) latest mural in Belfast (in Enfield Street in the Woodvale) places a black taxi – a mainstay of transportation in West Belfast – in the streets of Tokyo. To our knowledge, this is the first piece of street art in PUL West Belfast other than on the “peace” line; it will be interesting to see how well it survives compared to both sectarian murals and street art in the city centre.

“The title of the piece is ‘You can go Anywhere’ to show that with hard work and determination, you can explore the world. The mural is Sponsored by local Butchers shop Hugh Linton Butchers and R City youth group which are an award-winning organization helping Communities Integrate Through Youth. With the help of Jonathan Hodge local community volunteer. The taxi’s number plate HWL 1970 is a nudge towards the establishment founder Hugh Linton” (Belfast Walking Tours Fb).

Dan released a video of the mural in progress. Previously by Dan for Culture Night: The Dream | Blurry Eyed.

Funded by Communities In Transition with support from Greater Shankill Partnership and youth group R-City (tw) whose ‘footprint’ logo appears in the top left of the first image, above.

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Only In The Movies

2022-09-182026-08-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Young people from the Lower Shankill pose in the style of a movie poster: “You must have dreams and goals if you are ever going to achieve anything in this world.” The info panel (shown below) incorrectly states that the board replaces a loyalist H-Block mural (of which there were two versions: yellow (M02473) | orange) and, before that, a UDU-UFF-UDA mural; these were on different walls and this board replaces only the Maze mural.

This is the second of five pieces of re-imaging in the lower Shankill. The first was I Am Not Resilient.

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Belfast Taxis Community Interest Company

2022-09-132026-08-28Extramural Activity1 Comment

“Serving the community for over fifty years.” BTCIC is the current name for what was previously the West Belfast Taxi Association. Black taxis have been running up and down the Falls since 1970, providing an alternative form of transportation to local people during the Troubles when buses were cancelled or, as in this picture, burnt out and used as barricades. They now, in addition, provide tours of the murals (such as the Bobby Sands mural in Sevastopol Street) and Belfast city. Taxi Trax has a web site but here provides a phone number for those already at the International Wall, where there has been a black taxi mural since 2003.

There are other WBTA murals in Beechmount and Ardoyne.

The painters have signed the mural: Doherty’s Coal Merchant and Lyons Tea.

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Welcome To The Shankill Road

2012-07-312026-08-04Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The red hand of Ulster in three configurations: “We are proud, defiant, welcoming.” The polaroids show images of the blitz, the Twelfth, sports, murals. The location of the mural is designed to be seen by tourists travelling between the International Wall and the Shankill.

Mural by Blaze FX on Northumberland Street, west Belfast

Nothing About Us

2012-07-312026-08-04Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Nothing about us without us is for us …” From the info board: “The title of this artwork reflects a slogan used internationally, where social and political change has been paramount. It is understood that such change emerges only through true and thorough consultation with the community and that is the wish of residents of Lower Shankill – to affect [sic] social change move forward through collaboration with decision makers and government at every level.This digital installation has been created by artist Lesley Cherry who has worked intensively with the Lower Shankill Community Association and members of the community to produce hundreds of positive images which reflect the need for change and consultation within that process, the ensure a better future for all.

As part of the Re-Imaging Communities Programme, led by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, this artwork replaces previous murals of The Malvern Street Arch, [and before that] The Queen Mother [probably intended is the QEII golden jubilee mural] and [before that] The Scottish Brigade [this mural was in fact three walls to the right; prior to the QEII mural was a UFF mural].”

Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill estate, west Belfast

Shankill A-Z

2012-07-312026-08-04Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“The new mural [replacing Shankill Rd Supports Drumcree] presents and A-Z of the Shankill, celebrating history and tradition and depicting images of those who have become celebrated far beyond. Artist Lesley Cherry worked with members of the Lower Shankill Community Association to research this digital work which was installed May 2009.”

Ship Of Dreams

2012-07-212026-10-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Built in Belfast.” The White Star Line ship Titanic sank in the Atlantic in the early morning of April 15th, 1912, a thousand miles from New York (the co-ordinates are given in the top right), having been launched from Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard, which is near this mural in east Belfast.

The portraits are of Captain Edward Smith, architect Thomas Andrews, Jack Phillips (wireless officer), and paperboy Ned Parfett.

Kenilworth Place, Ballymacarrett, east Belfast