painted wall

Red Hand, Red Lion

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The ‘Lion Rampant’ in the crest of (Glasgow) Rangers FC comes from the Royal Banner Of Scotland (where it has a blue tongue and blue claws) (WP); the national flag of Scotland is the St Andrew’s Saltire, which appears in the centre of the trio at the top of this mural, between the red hand of Northern Ireland and the red lion. The “RFC” crest, including the word “Ready”, appeared on players’ shirts between 1990 and 1995 (WP).

There has been a version of this mural in Edgarstown, Portadown, since (at least) 2002, though previously it gave 1873 as the date of formation – see M04154 from 2008 and X00508 from 2011.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Their Amazing Attack

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On July 1st, 1916, the Battle of Albert began, the first of many battles in what is known collectively as the Battle of the Somme. Soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) Brigade went “over the top” at 7:28 a.m. By the end of the day, more than nineteen thousand British soldiers were dead, five thousand from the 36th.

Below the main panel, which shows combat at close quarters, are the words of Wilfrid Spender: “I am not an Ulsterman but yesterday, the 1st. July, as I followed their amazing attack, I felt that I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world … the Ulster Volunteer Force, from which the Division was made, has won a name that equals any in history.”

The side-wall and the Mid-Ulster Brigade roll-of-honour plaque concern the modern UVF: “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty“. (Compare to the side-wall in 2016 / 2021.)

Union Street, Edgarstown, Portadown

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Dialogue

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– “Why do they come here, if they can’t speak our language?”
– “We will learn your language! Will you learn to accept us?”

Despite learning the language and opening businesses, immigrants came under attack in early August as part of a wave of anti-immigrant rioting and attacks in a number of UK cities, including Belfast, Bangor, Carrick, Newtownabbey, and Ballyclare. Shops were attacked on Botanic Road and Sandy Row (BBC | RTÉ) and eggs were thrown at a Middle Eastern market on the Falls Road (BBC). In response, anti-racism demonstrators outnumbered an anti-immigration protest five to one (Irish Times | BBC); residents of the middle Falls came out a few days later (Belfast Live).

This anti-racism mural is on Albert Street, Divis, west Belfast. In-progress image (above) from June 23rd; image of completed mural (with additions by kids) below from August 11th

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Ársa Ach Ór

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The Power’s whiskey (web) slogan “Old but gold” has here been translated into Irish as “ársa ach ór” and the red diamond from the ‘gold label’ is now agitating for “An Dream Dhearg [web] – #AchtAnoıs #CeartaTeanga” [The Red Group – #BillNow #LanguageRights].

There is also (below) a new tribute to Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí, similar to the one at An Chultúrlann – for which, see Dorn San Aer.

At Tí Mhadáın/Madden’s Bar in Berry Street, Belfast city centre, replacing the Paddy mural.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Tunnel Vision

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Here is a gallery of the street art and wild-style writing painted in the tunnel at the redeveloped York Street Station (BBC), formerly Yorkgate Halt. Get in touch if you can supply any of the missing artists in the list below …

NOYS (ig)
KONE (ig)
JAM2 (ig)
Karl Fenz (ig)
SNAK (ig)
Kyle McGinley (ig)

WEB1 (ig)
emic (ig)
?emic?
NOKA (ig)
Friz (ig)
?BORE?
KVLR (ig)

Doodles by passers-by (with help from Anie Poole (ig))
Strangford (ig)
Lost Lines (ig)
?train
Cha Cha (ig)

Other side …

Outside Hoarding

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A Bird In The Hand

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These bird-boxes and platforms were installed by Wild Belfast (web) – a group aimed at enhancing natural habitats – in order to attract house-martins, who visit Ireland in the summer in order to breed, but whose numbers are in decline because of a loss of nesting sites (under the eaves of houses) and building materials (mud).

The boxes are in front of street art by artist Daniela Balmaverde (web) on the end of one of the stands at Cliftonville FC (BBC) – the shamrock earrings are the club’s emblem.

July 30th

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Kneecap’s Fine Art

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Kneecap’s new album Fine Art was released on June 14th on Heavenly Recordings. (The cover of the new album is included in the recent update to the mural on Madden’s bar – see Sásta A Bheıth Anseo.)

Their film, also called Kneecap, had its Belfast premiere in the Kennedy Centre, west Belfast, on Tuesday and has been on general release since Thursday (RTÉ | BBC).

The band yesterday (Friday August 9th) launched a third mural in Hawthorn Street/Sráıd Na Sceıthe, (joining Incendiary Device and England Get Out Of Ireland,) which blows up the sticker seen on the street-sign (below; and previously in Land Grab) into a mural: Saoırse don Phalaıstín [Freedom for Palestine]. The launch was moved to an earlier time (2:30 p.m.) so that it would not conflict with the anti-racism rally in the city centre (BelTel).

The mural had previously been a sticker (see the street sign, above) and flyer – this one is from Waterford Street, in April

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Naoıse Ó Caırealláın Móglaí Bap Lıam Óg Ó Hannaıdh Mo Chara JJ Ó Dochartaıgh DJ Próvaí

Garden Of Hope

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The new “Garden Of Hope” in Springmadden is also a memorial garden, with a (second) plaque to four of the victims of the “Ballymurphy Massacre” who were shot near the spot, which was across the street from the old Henry Taggart base. (For the first plaque, see this 2010 entry in the Peter Moloney Collection.) Also in Springmadden is the Reaching Out mental-health art.

Springfield Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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T05296 T05297 “planted 8 June 2024”, “Wee Rita’s flower bed”

The Language Of Nature

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These images are from Mosey’s Arch, Killyleagh, which is an entry off High Street, just below the Hans Sloane Centre (web). Sloane was born (in 1660) and raised in Killyleagh and his interest in the natural world spurred him to study botany and medicine in London (WP).

The cuneiform markings (in the image below) are a reference to Edward Hincks – born in Cork but rector in Killyleagh – who helped decipher Akkadian (Mesopotamian) cuneiform (WP).

The art – by Pigment Space/MWAK (ig), with support from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (web) – also features the buildings in Killyleagh: above are Killyleagh Presbyterian (left) and St John The Evangelist church (right); below are mills in the area (perhaps reproducing this Fb image).

Also by MWAK and featuring the Killyleagh shore-line: The Great Wall.

(Also in Killyleagh: The Future Of Football)

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Derry Girls

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The Derry Girls, and the wee fella, James, are a tourist attraction, thanks to the success of the television show. The mural was updated in 2022 ahead of the third (and final) season, with Michelle holding up three fingers rather than two (compare with the image from 2020).

In Orchard St, London-/Derry, by UVArts (ig).

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