Shepard Fairey used Mannie Garcia’s AP photo of Barack Obama for his ‘Hope’ poster of the 2008 US Presidential election (WP). The three-quarter profile, faraway look and four-tone shading have been repurposed for the board, shown above, in east Belfast: a boy gazes beyond Samson and Goliath, backgrounded by a sunburst: “Dream, Seek, Achieve, Educate, Achieve!”
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Hugh Smyth OBE was born in the Woodvale area and represented the upper Shankill as an Independent Unionist and then a Progressive Unionist in Belfast City Council for forty-one years, until the year before his death in May 2014, including a term as Lord mayor in 1994-1995 – he is pictured in the main image (above) in his mayoral robes.
The portrait on the right (shown solo below) was taken by Bobbie Hanvey and is kept in a Boston College archive; more from the archive of 50,000 images can be seen at BC.edu and on Flickr.
As the quote (shown in the final image below) indicates, his politics were oriented towards the working class: “Historically, Unionist politicians fed their electorate the myth that they were first class citizens… and without question people believed them. Historically, Republican/Nationalist politicians fed their electorate the myth that they were second class citizens… and without question the people believed them. In reality, the truth of the matter was that we all, Protestant and Catholic, were third class citizen, and none of us realised it!” The board was officially launched on June 19th, 2014.
Replaces 90 Years Of Resistance.
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The Gold Rush mural in the lower Shankill estate is gone an in it we have another mural for the Community Rescue Service (web) making a pair with the mural on Northumberland Street (see Hill Or High Water).
“Sponsored by Cab Tours Belfast www.cabtoursbelfast[.com]. Additional sponsors Olympus Gym (Fb), OK Windows (Fb)”
See also West Belfast Supports The CRS.
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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This is the latest iteration of the “Build Homes Now” mural in Northumberland Street, with an update to the central panel which now contains a quote from (presumably) someone living in temporary accommodation: “When you’re in a hostel for so long, it starts to feel like a jail. It’s just so irritating and frustrating.”
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“The Workers Party – Socialist, Secular, And Anti-Sectarian – For Workers’ Unity and Socialism – Libreté, égalité, fraternité”. The Mental Health Matters mural was in a space “kindly on loan from the Workers Party”; the lease expired and in its place the new Workers’ Party (Fb | web) returns to Northumberland Street.
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The Community Rescue Service (web | Fb) respond to calls about missing persons on both land and water. They were involved in the search for Noah Donohoe and in distributing PPE during the pandemic.
The mural was painted by Mickey Doherty and reproduces a Philip Magowan photograph and a photo of founder Sean McCarry (Belfast Live) from the CRS web site. It is sponsored by Cab Tours Belfast (web). It was launched on November 27th, 2021. It replaced the Fidel Castro memorial mural.
On the right: The Irish Republican Prisoners Committee (IRPC) is currently without any web or social-media presence. As with all post-Agreement boards for republican prisoners, it uses only barbed wire and not the lark. For Liam Campbell, see Don’t Hand Him Over.
Northumberland Street, west Belfast
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Óglach Charlie Hughes was O.C. of PIRA D Company (“the dogs”) in west Belfast. He was killed in March 1971 as part of the feud between the OIRA and the Provisionals. PIRA volunteers, including Charlie and cousin Brendan Hughes (“The Dark”), had burned down OIRA drinking den The Burning Embers, across from Charlie’s house on Balkan Street, and were moving on to The Cracked Cup on Leeson Street, but were met with gunfire. Hughes was killed later that night, after a ceasefire had been agreed, by a single shot (WP | a 2002 account by The Dark). The mural replaces the small ‘1921’ tarp (see Do Not Touch).
The other figure shown (on the right) is Palestinian skyjacker Leila Khaled (see also Oppression Breeds Resistance).
Below is James Connolly in a Lasaır Dhearg stencil: “Empires and tyranny perish. We will rise again.”
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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A “European Citizens’ Initiative” allows for legislation to be put before the European Commission if one million signatures are collected supporting it (europa.eu). Signatures are being collected for a petition to ensure that EU-funded work on Covid-19 is shared worldwide by a group calling themselves “No Profit On Pandemic” and “Right2Cure” (web). The mural takes the place of the vandalised George Floyd mural that was replaced with a place-holder reading “#BLM – back soon”.
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Left: Lawyers for the PSNI defended the request for a Public Interest Immunity certificate regarding evidence in the case of Noah Donohoe (PA). This stencil on Divis Street says “not in our name” and asserts that “the public want full disclosure”.
Right: This is the third mural (see 2014 The Maze Ablaze and 2018 The Battle Of Long Kesh) on the International Wall on Divis Street about the ‘Battle Of Long Kesh’, when republican prisoners tried to burn down the cages in protest at living conditions in the camp. CR gas had recently been developed by the British MoD at a lab in Porton Down and is alleged to have been “used against Irish POWs”.
Brady & Faul wrote an 80-page report on the conditions at the camp following the event, entitled The Flames Of Long Kesh. “Telegram to International Red Cross: ‘ … Visited Long Kesh today with others … request immediate investigation into use of “CR gas” … sub-human conditions … SOS … come immed[i]ately’ – 20 Oct 1974, Brian Brady & Fr. Denis Faul”.
The photograph which the central part of the mural reproduces is HU 70205 from the Imperial War Museum’s collection.
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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“Be smart, don’t start” – taking drugs, that is. This is a recent mural on the Falls Road, Belfast, with nine panels that discourage youth from taking drugs, alternately by reminding them of their dangers (including death – “Drugs can thrill but they also kill.” “I’m dying to meet you.” “If you dance with the devil you remain in hell.” “Don’t let drugs ruin something beautiful.” “Don’t get trapped by drugs.”) and providing support in persevering through dark times (“There is always light beyond the darkness.”
“We all have a choice in life.” “Hugs not drugs.” “Always remember you’re never alone.” “Try to be leader not a follower.”)
With support from Belfast City Council, Divis Youth Project, Greater Falls Neighbourhood Partnership, Falls Partnership Initiative (Falls Residents).
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Paddy Duffy Collection 