A million, and perhaps as many as 2 million – one in four Irish people – left Ireland between 1845 and 1855, many sailing on so-called “coffin ships” which had mortality rates of 30%. Another million died in the Great Hunger itself (Visual History), in most cases the proximate causes were fever and dysentery (WP | Irish Central).
Crocus Street, west Belfast. Perhaps by the same hand(s) that painted the Gorta Mór mural in Rossnareen.
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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00113
The immediate reason for this mural depicting traveller life is unknown. In 2006 (ten years after this mural) there were about 24,000 travellers living on the island of Ireland (WP | 1995 Report on travellers in Ireland (archive.org) | a good summary of the 2011 and 2016 numbers (CSO pdf).) About 2,000 were living in Northern Ireland, some at a site on the Glen Road (RTÉ has video from the site in 1987) close to this mural in Rossnareen.
Replaces the Alosa/Fuıseog mural.
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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy (no date given)
T00183
This is an interesting mural from North Queen Street, if only because of its psychedelic colour-scheme and composite style.
The two bulls (presumably from the Táın though they are not the classic brown and white bulls) provide a centre, on either side of which we find Cú Chulaınn dying (and Tuan the eagle) and a dolmen. The horse on the right is perhaps Galloper. There are four faces superimposed on flying geese. The cranes Samson and Goliath are on the left (which suggests a cross-community sponsorship) and a Pride rainbow is on the right.
A wide shot of the whole can be seen in the Peter Moloney Collection. If you have any information about the piece, please get in touch.
North Queen Street, presumably at the bottom of the New Lodge (either where the playing pitch opposite (what was then) Artillery House (now Teach Ghráınne) is, or on a wall of Gallagher’s factory, where the car park for the shopping centre now is?).
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1988 Paddy Duffy
T00171 T00172
Paddy Duffy Collection 