cultural

To All Foreign Nationals Across The Empire

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Are you one of Kitchener’s own?” asks this mural in Northumberland Street: “We here pay grateful and everlasting tribute, to all foreign nationals across the empire, who courageously and passionately fought side by side with their British counterparts, for King and country, during the First World War.” The left-hand side (second image) features images of soldiers from the West Indies and India, including “The Flying Sikh”, Hardit Singh Malik and a French lady as she “pins flowers on a regiment containing Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus.” On the right, images of the “presentation of Colours to the 51st Battalion Canadian expeditionary force” and of Canadian “bluebird” nurses in the Canadian Army Medical Corps.

Replaces (part of) Welcome To The Shankill. See Belfast Live for an image from the launch.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
T00879 [T00882]

Green, White, And Bronze

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Michael Conlan won bronze in boxing at the 2012 Olympics. Boxing is organized on an all-island basis (WP), though at the Olympics boxers can choose to fight for either Ireland or GBNI. At London 2012, Ireland won four medals in boxing. The other winners were Paddy Barnes (bronze), Katie Taylor (gold) and John Joe Nevin (silver).

(P.S. The Nevins are travellers (WP) and Mr and Mrs Nevin could not find an establishment in Mullingar where they could watch the fight – they had to go out of town to a pub where they weren’t known. )

Here’s a picture of the mural in progress. (Replaces the Celtic mural.)

Violet Street, painted by Marty Lyons. Sponsored by the Beehive and McPeakes.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
[T00837] T00838

The Modern Order Of Hibernians

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A Penal law of 1695 forbade the practice of Catholicism and “dissenter” forms of Protestantism –anything other than Anglicism, forcing people and priests to worship in secret. Although the precise date of the founding of the Ancient Order Of Hibernians is shrouded by the existence of various other Catholic fraternal and defensive organisations such as St Patrick’s Fraternal Society and the Ribbonmen – the AOH history page gives 1838 in Pennsylvania – the order traces its roots back to Penal times and in particular to the Defenders in 1784, which arose to protect Catholics from the (Protestant) Peep-O-Day Boys and in defiance of Penal laws forbidding Catholics to bear arms (WP). The Belfast division (58) of the AOH is in Clonard Street.

For Penal laws, see also An Raıbh Tú Ag An gCarraıg? in Glen Bawn | The Mass Rock in Ard Eoın | Penal Days/Laethanta Na Péındlíthe in Andersonstown.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
T00827

Fáılte Feırste Thıar

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Welcome to West Belfast.” The sights of nationalist west Belfast are depicted in (part of) a new mural by Mickey Doherty and Marty Lyons on the side wall of the tourist office. From left to right: The (2015) Bobby Sands mural in Sevastopol Street, tourists being introduced to the IRA D Company memorial garden on the lower Falls by Peadar Whelan, Conway Mill, Divis tower, RISE at the bottom of Broadway (better known as the “Balls on the Falls”), the Falls library, the “international wall” in 2012 (with marchers in support of a nondescript international cause, crocodiles for the Irish language, and gay rights), St Peter’s pro-cathedral, a black taxi, the Connolly statue outside Comhaırle Phobaıl an bhFál, and the model for the new Casement Park stadium.

Below: Michael Conlan (tw | ig) won his first title and tenth professional bout on Saturday night (December 22nd), in Manchester, by defeating Englishman Jason Cunningham (BBC). He is featured here alongside the traditional Gaelic games of hurling, camogie, football, and handball.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
T00812 [T00813] T00814 T01596

The Red Hand Of Ulster

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“There are many legends telling the origins of the Red Hand Of Ulster. This mural depicts only one of those.” In this case, the myth is that Ulster was offered as a prize to whoever could reach it first and was won by throwing a severed hand onto the shore. The flag of Northern Ireland (the Ulster Banner) is in the apex.

Replaces the Lower Shankill UFF mural (M02478).

Shankill Parade, lower Shankill, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy
T00669 [T00668]

Malvern Street Arch

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This mural shows Orange Order marchers in front of a banner depicting previous gatherings in Malvern St. The text on the side wall reads “This mural depicts Malvern St arch which was where the local community gathered to celebrate the traditional 12th of July commemoration.”

By Blaze FX in Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy (no date given)
T00463

The Battle Of Talavera

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Talavera De La Reina is southwest of Madrid, Spain. The French, who had invaded Portugal but been driven out by British forces under Wellesley, fought the combined forces of the Spanish (previously allies of the French in the Peninsular War) and British armies. Writing on the side-wall would later be added (see X00327).

By Blaze FX in Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy (no date given)
T00465 T00468 T00466

Andrew Jackson

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The information along the bottom reads: “Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of the USA and the first of Ulster-Scots descent, his family emigrated from Carrickfergus to North Carolina in 1765. After leading the army to victory in the Battle Of New Orleans in 1815 Jackson became a national hero and became known as “Old Hickory” after the tough wood of the native American tree. His “common man” credentials earned Jackson a massive popular vote and swept him into the Presidency for two consecutive terms (1829-1837).” He also hated the British, owned slaves, and signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which led to the infamous “Trail of Tears” (Irish Times).

Boundary Way, west Belfast

See also the Visual History page on Ulster-Scots murals.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy
T00438