“Love transforms”. In Chinese (Daoist) mythology, Lan Caihe, one of the Eight Immortals, is a sexually ambiguous character who carries a basket of herbs and flowers (depicted on the right of the image above) that symbolise or promote longevity (WP).
Electrical box by Ellymakes (web) in Carmel Street, Holylands, south Belfast.
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In Irish mythology, Fıonn Mac Cumhaıll/Finn MacCool became wise (when still a boy) because he sucked on the thumb he burned while cooking the Salmon Of Knowledge for his master Finegas (Laud 610). The salmon, in turn, had gained the knowledge by eating nine hazelnuts that fell from nine trees into Tobar Segaıs/Tobar Chonnlaı (Dındshenchas – Boand II and Sınann II). The hazels belonged to Crimall The Sage and … that’s as far back as sources appear to go.
The knot-work dogs are Fıonn’s hounds Bran and Sceólang.
“Newry 2020” is not the place and date of the creation but the name of the initiative (Fb) that brought JMK (Jonny McKerr – ig) to Newry to paint this mural in Edward Street in 2023, with support from Newry BID (web), and the Newry, Mourne, And Down district council (Fb) (Newry.ie).
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Ahed Tamimi is a young Palestinian activist famous for slapping and pushing two Israeli soldiers in 2017, when she was 16 (footage at NBC News), after her cousin was hit in the head by an Israeli bullet. She was arrested soon after (USA Today) and served seven months (Al Jazeera | Guardian). She was also arrested last (2023) November (Al Jazeera) and released about three weeks later as part of a prisoners-for-hostages swap on November 29th (BBC).
The mural to Tamimi (above) is in Catherine Street, Newry. Also included (below) are an older mural with the cartoon character of resistance Handala (WP) in front of a Palestinian flag with the words “Let this child return home”, and a Connolly-Costello IRSP (Fb) board.
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“Beıdh bua agaınn go fóıll” [victory will be ours yet] – Keep on marching, don’t give up – Raymond McCreesh 1957-81, age 24. Died after 61 days hunger-strike, H-Block Long Kesh 1981.” The phrase was spoken at the end of a visit with Jim Gibney.
Outside Raymond McCreesh House – his birthplace – at Maryville, Camlough.
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On the left (“perception”) it seems as though three youths are thieving and spraying graffiti on a wall; in fact, on the right (“reality) they are picking up litter and removing graffiti.
High Street, Newtownards
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Feminine Touch (web) is a beauty and tanning salon in High Street, Newtownards; the mural is on the side-wall, in Lower Mary Street.
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Despite the quote “Times change; we need to change as well” (attributed to Nelson Mandela, though perhaps only from Francois Pienaar in the film Invictus) the riot going on in black-and-white is not from the past (as in this east Belfast mural) but the present, and in particular from the 2021 riots on Lanark Way (BelTel) which is the site of this new mural. Similarly, the mural depicted in the background of the riot scene is not from the past – it was refreshed in 2022 and continues to loom over Mount Vernon and the off-ramp from the motorway – see Prepared For Peace, Ready For War.
The mural thus asks young people to decide between two visions of present-day life: the grey world of violence and the colourful world of programmes from R-City – Communities Integrated Through Youth (www.rcitybelfast.com), including “one-one mentoring”, “leadership for life” (QUB), and “SHE” [Supporting Her Empowerment].
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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In January, Bangor singer-songwriter Foy Vance (web) had reason to feel good when he, along with Ed Sheeran and Max Martin, won the (Primetime Creative) Emmy for ‘Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics’ for the song ‘A Beautiful Game’ (youtube) which was used in the final episode of the TV show Ted Lasso (Billboard | Emmys).
Vance’s portrait has been painted by Jossie Pops (ig) in Primrose Avenue. “Upbeat Feel Good” is a song (youtube) from his 2016 album The Wild Swan.
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Here is a selection of art from the Cupar Way section of the west Belfast “peace” line. Some of the artists came into town for Hit The North 2024 (Lidia Cao, Lours, Elno). We also see work by DEUX, SNAK, NOYS, BAISE?, NOTA, Keyto, and Kilian (Road Rage Ruth).
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Paddy Duffy Collection 