This RNU (Fb) board calls for attendees at a gathering in Milltown cemetery to commemorate the Easter Rising of 1916. The signatories to the Proclamation can be seen above and behind the large Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann gravestone on the right.
Glen Road, on the grounds of the old Andersonstown RUC barracks.
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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“Help us!” Two Carlos Latuff cartoons are combined in this pro-Palestinian board in Donegal, with Errigal/An Earagaıl providing the backdrop.
On the left, an Israeli soldier with a smoking rifle and swastika armband walks away from a mother holding a bloodied child (Xitter), while on the right, bombs from an Israeli fighter jet (Xitter) rain down on “An Phalaıstín”.
“Díbrıgh ambasadóır Iosrael láıthreach!” [Expel the ambassador of Israel immediately!] The current ambassador is Dana Erlich; a motion to expel Erlich was defeated in the Dáıl in November (Indo).
(As with the recent board in Belfast for the ‘Joe Cahill memorial tournament‘, the pseudo-Gaelic font chosen here includes both fadas and (incorrectly) dotted “i”.)
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Here is an INLA/IRSP/RSYM pro-Palestine mural from Derry (see also يومنا قادم). “PFLP” stands for “Popular Front For The Liberation Of Palestine” (WP). A very similar PFLP-INLA board was seen in west Belfast: Peoples United. There was PFLP graffiti in Creggan: Victory To The PFLP.
The first two are from William Street and the Bogside; the small INLA nail-up in the final image is in Creggan.
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Two murals have been added to the exterior of Felons’ Club in Andersonstown to show support for Palestine. Above, on the Lake Glen side of the club, a printed board reading “We stand with Palestine – seas leis an Phalaıstín” and including an Emmalene Blake image (ig) on the right (shown in close-up, below); further below, a “Stop the genocide in Gaza” tarp above the entrance.
Also included are images of several memorial plaques from the courtyard, to James Smyth, Anraí (Harry) Osborne, Seosamh Ó Conghaıle (Joseph Connolly), and Roger Casement. “County Antrim Memorial: Tógaḋ an leaċt seo mar ċoṁarṫa urraıme, grá agus dílse do na saıġdıúırí uaısle as Contae Aontroma, a martraíoḋ ar son Ṗoblaċt Na hÉıreann. Ṡeas gaċ glúın díoḃ sa ḃearna ḃaoıl, ag troıd go cróga ċun aontaċt agus saoırse a ṫaḃaırt ar aıs do náısıún na nGael. Go spreaga an leaċt cuımhne seo na daoıne feasta ıonas go leana sıad lorg na laoċra dtí go mbéarfar bua uasal na saoırse ar ball. Erected by the Belfast Committee of the National Graves Association with generous co-operation from sub-committees in America and Dublin.”
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Copyright © 2024 Extramural Activity
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Inspirational mental-health messages in Lenadoon Avenue, west Belfast, such as “Mindfull or mindful?”, “It’s a bad day, not a bad life”, “Don’t believe everything you think”.
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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The UVF mural in Carlingford Street, east Belfast, that the one shown here replaces was controversial at the time (2013) because of its proposed inclusion of two hooded gunmen in fatigues firing into the air. In response to the concerns expressed, the final version put both figures in WWI uniforms and had only one firing into the air – the other gazed downward in prayer – and the modern UVF was referenced only in the forms of the towers and cages of Long Kesh and of a roll of honour. (See Years Of Sacrifice for both the draft and final murals.)
The cages are retained in this new board but the depiction of violence is more explicit here than in the proposed mural a decade ago: at the centre of this piece is a hooded gunman carrying an assault rifle.
For the wider context of re-imaging and re-re-imaging (that is, the disappearance and return of PUL hooded gunmen), see Visual History 11.)
Long Kesh’s cages are also included in a Shankill board to Stevie McCrea – A True Soldier Of Ulster.
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T04149c T04148 T05833 X14985 [X14984] courtesy of Seosamh Mac Coılle
Ulster Volunteers 1912 Ulster Covenant In memory of all friends & comrades of the cosy bar east belfast
“North Belfast is in a crisis. RNU [Republican Network For Unity (Fb | ig)] calls for better mental health provision. Hold on, pain ends. Hope.”
Northern Ireland has the highest suicide rate in the UK, at 14.3 per 100,000 (2021), and Belfast has a suicide rate of 24.9 people (2022), and north Belfast the highest in Belfast, at a rate of 31 per 100,000 (2013-2018) (Assembly Research Matters | Zero Suicide Alliance). Here is a Bel Tel article (£) about the lack of GPs and mental health services in north Belfast, from 2021.
Berwick Road, Ardoyne, north Belfast. Replaces Don’t Ever Give Up.
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Easter Saturday is traditional day for the Joe Cahill tournament, hosted by Cardinal O’Donnell’s (Fb) and involving about 250 children (Belfast Media). Shown above is the new board in Beechview Park, updating the one from last year.
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T04075 [T04076] [T04077] “Mol an óıge agus tıocfaıdh sí” [encourage youth and it will flourish, or less literally, youth responds to praise]
Five steps to mental health – give, connect, be active, take notice, keep learning – and affirmations to live by, such as “This is me”, “You’re a superstar”, “I am what I am”, and “Simply the best“. Part of the Shankill SAFE (Safer Areas For Everyone) project in the Woodvale, with support from Alternatives and the Communities In Transition programme.
From the info board: “#ItsOKToTalk” “This art project was completed as part of Alternative – Safer Areas For Everyone (SAFE) project. The young people involved identified mental health as the theme for their art project and incorporated positive mental health messages & support numbers to highlight the issue. The group also identified the “Steps” area as the location for the art work, to help brighten up the area which had become unsightly, neglected and a focus for anti-social behaviour. This project also engaged with the residents through door to door surveys, provided information leaflets on support services and organised community clean ups to help improve community pride & spirit in the area. Special thanks to Jamie, Dylan, Kyle, Corey and Mason who showed positive leadership in their community, to street artist Emic & Sam from Signlink for the art work & graphics and to the local residents and young people who were involved in the clean ups. SAFE Shankill is supported by the The Executive Office through Communities In Transition programme.”
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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The Pride Of Ardoyne flute band memorial site was overhauled in November. The silhouetted bandsmen (seen in Pride Of Ardoyne) are gone and the cross and wooden plaque at the top (see Billy Hanna) have been joined by two large boards, naming “J. Bailey, W. Hanna, S. Rockett, B. McClure” and, (on the drum) “Charlie Dunn (1957-2021)”, along with 20 small plaques of these five plus 15 more who are an “absent member”, “absent friend”, and “loyal supporter”.
For Bailey, see On This Day. For Rockett, see Essence And Space. For McClure, see UPI. For Dunn, see the band’s Fb Page.
2025-10 Update: the main board was damaged when a wreath was set alight – Belfast Live.
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Paddy Duffy Collection 