political

12 Men Dead

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Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg are presented along with the ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers on the cross-beam of a large wooden “H” at the top of Turf Lodge.

IRA volunteer Michael Gaughan died in Parkhurst prison in 1974 after 64 days on hunger strike. Gaughan’s coffin was draped with the Tricolour used to bury Terence McSwiney in 1920. He was force-fed seventeen times during the strike and his family alleged that he died from food stuck in a punctured lung. The practice was ended after Gaughan’s death.

Frank Stagg was on the Parkhurst hunger strike with Gaughan, and another in Long Lartin prison, and a third in Wakefield in December 1975. He died after 62 days on February 12th, 1976.

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Two Men, One Love, One Country

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This entry updates 2023’s John McMichael, with close-ups of the smaller boards, in the apex and to either side on the main board, as well as of the stone to Ray Smallwoods, which reads, “In proud memory of Ray Smallwoods (murdered by the enemies of Ulster 11th July 1994) and all our fallen comrades. [For The Fallen] Erected by officers and volunteers of Old Warren A Coy.” Smallwoods was killed by the IRA in the garden of his home in Donard Drive, Lisburn (WP).

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Time Makes More Converts Than Reason

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“Common Sense: “There is no section of this divided Ulster community which is totally innocent or indeed totally guilty, totally right or totally wrong. We all share the responsibility for creating the situation, either by deed or by acquiescence. Therefore we must share the responsibility for finding a settlement and then share the responsibility of maintaining good government.” – John McMichael”

John McMichael, the South Belfast UDA/UFF commander, was killed by an IRA car bomb in 1987. In addition to organising a team of assassins in the 70s and 80s, he founded a Political Research Group and wrote two documents proposing an independent Northern Ireland. The words above come from the end of the introduction to the second of these, Common Sense (available at CAIN).

Lemberg Street, south Belfast, replacing a previous mural to McMichael.

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Tiger’s Bay Loyal

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This pair of hand-painted (and stencilled) boards is next to the Mount Inn on North Queen Street. Tiger’s Bay is loyal to the memory of “1690” and the service of the 36th Division in WWI in 1916.

Greenmount Street, Tiger’s Bay, north Belfast

On the other side of the Mount, at the bottom of the old Lewis Street, are two more hand-painted boards from 2024 – see Friends Of The Somme.

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Loyalist Glenrosa Street

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In case the large medallion celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee (in 2022) was not a sufficient indicator, a small “Loyalist” has been added above the street-sign. In the last century, Glenrosa Street in Tiger’s Bay used to continue across Duncairn Gardens into the New Lodge as Glenrosa Street South.

At the other end of the street is a warning sign next to the bonfire site: “All taigs will be shot – TBH . If this boney goes, so does NLR [New Lodge Road]”

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William & Catherine

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“William & Catherine, prince and princess of Wales, baron and baroness of [sic] Carrickfergus.” Prince William was granted the title of “Baron Carrickfergus” upon his marriage to Catherine Middleton in 2011; he was also made Earl Of Strathearn and Duke Of Cambridge (royal.uk). The couple visited Carrickfergus in 2022 (NI World), shortly after Charles acceded to the throne and William gained the title of Prince Of Wales.

Larne Road, Eden

h/t Alain Miossec

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Cumann Cultúrtha Mhıc Reachtaın

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Bronze busts of Máıre Áıne Mhıc Reachtaın/Mary Ann McCracken and Anraí Seoıgh Mhıc Reachtaın/Henry Joy McCracken have been unveiled outside Áras Mhıc Reachtaın, the Irish-language centre on the Antrim Road and home of Cumann Cultúrtha Mhıc Reachtaın (web).

The pair – brother and sister – were Presbyterians and republicans; their mother was Ann Joy, daughter of Francis Joy, linen manufacturer and founder of the Belfast Newsletter. Henry led the Antrim uprising of the United Irishmen in 1798 and was hanged for it in Corn Market at age 30. (WP)

For information about the social-reformer and educator Mary Ann, see the entry about her statue at Belfast City Hall.

The statues are by sculptor Anto Brennan and were launched on 23rd September, 2025.

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Centuries Of Resistance

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The United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Ireland was created in 1801, a reaction to the 1798 Rebellion, led by (amongst others) Wolfe Tone and Henry Joy McCracken, who were founding members of the Society Of United Irishmen in 1791 in Belfast.

In this mural, Tone and McCracken on the left gaze across the “centuries of resistance” from 1798 to 1916 Rising revolutionaries Countess Markievicz and James Connolly, and beyond to Troubles-era figures Maıréad Farrell, Bobby Sands, and Máıre Drumm.

Around the same time as this mural was painted, a Féıle exhibition called ‘Vibrant Colours, Violent Past’ included A Panorama Of Republicanism which contains dozens of figures but again chooses 1798/Tone, 1916/Connolly, and the Troubles/Martin McGuinness as the pivotal moments and figures.

“Comóradh Éırí Amach Na Cásca Bhéal Feırste/Belfast Easter Commemoration. This is the traditional place where on Easter Sunday Belfast republicans gather to honour Ireland’s patriot dead on their way to Milltown Cemetery.” “Honour Ireland’s patriot dead – wear an Easter lily.” “Unbowed, unbroken.”

The Beeechmount-Falls Corner has its own Visual History page, as the most-often painted wall in Belfast.

July 27th:

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Join Your Local Band

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Here are three from Mersey Street, east Belfast.

Above, a recruitment tarp for the Blues And Royals flute band (Fb).

Below, (and on the wall above the flute band’s tarp) a NI Centenary board using the St Patrick’s saltire in the background. The saltire is an Anglo symbol of Ireland and was included in the Union Flag when the union was between Britain and Ireland and thus – like the word “Ulster” – has been reduced to signifying Northern Ireland after partition.

Last, street-art on the bridge over Conn’s Water.

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Ballynafeigh Remembers

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Three plaques at the Ballynafeigh Apprentice Boys social club on Blackwood Street:

“In loving memory of Allison Jane Smith – you’re missed so much by so many who knew you in Ballynafeigh”, “Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland centennial 3rd May 2021”, “In memory of all our past members”.

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