“Keep it clean.” “Tidy Tanya” in pink stands guard over the nature on the right side of the riverbank, protecting it from “Messy Mutt” who lies sleeping amongst rubbish on the left bank.
This environmentally-themed art goes back at least to 2011.
Springfield Road, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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This board was mounted in AMCOMRI Street for the fortieth anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike, with photographs from the area in the background, including the Revolution mural at the bottom of Beechmount Avenue in 1996-1997.
“Everyone, Republican or otherwise, has their own particular part to play. No part is too great or too small, no one is too old or too young to do something.”
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Visca Catalunya Lliure – Ireland stands with Catalonia” – tarp above the newsagents at the junction of Springfield Drive and Springfield Road, west Belfast.
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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This Sınn Féın Youth/Maıréad Farrell Youth Committee banner uses Martin Luther King to advocate for non-violent protest (featured previously in Always Avoid Violence). Below is a call to attend a 41st-anniversary commemoration of the 1981 hunger strike.
Beechmount Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Upon news of Queen Elizabeth’s death, the platinum jubilee mural at the bottom of Crimea Street became a memorial, with hundreds of bouquets being laid before it and a “wall of condolences” set up. (For the mural itself, see The People’s Monarch.) In addition, to the right-hand side has been added a small commemoration of her passing, with a quote from her son, the newly acceded King Charles:
“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world”; “Long live the king!”
The fifteen commonwealth “realms” (previously called “dominions”) share a monarch – formerly Elizabeth II and now Charles III – while the commonwealth comprises 41 additional nations, including some which are now republics: Barbados, for example, became a republic on November 30th last year (2021) but is still in the Commonwealth (WP). Additional countries might take the passing of Elizabeth as a suitable juncture at which to sever ties (Edinburgh News has a round-up | for the Bahamas see Caribbean National Weekly | for Canada see Toronto Star).
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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“Sgt. Thomas George Wortley , “D Coy” 14th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles, Service No. 14/17063, Died Messines 07-06-1917, Spanbroekmolen British Cemetary Grave C10″. Wortley was born in Carrickfergus, lived in Belfast, died on the first day of the battle at Messines (findagrave), buried in a small cemetery of British soldiers, many from the 36th (Ulster) Division, in Spanbroekmolen on the Ypres Salient in Flanders (WP) – shown in the mural – and is remembered in Carrickfergus with a parade each year on the date of his death (carrickfergusrollofhonour).
Maple Gardens, Carrickfergus
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Copyright © 2012 Paddy Duffy
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A dead WWI soldier in the scorched Belgian countryside is comforted by an ethereal figure who will convey him to heaven: A soldier standing at heaven’s gate/To St. Peter he did tell/I’m here to enter heaven now/I’ve served my time in hell – a variation on James Donahue’s WWII Soldier’s Poem (WP). The poem was previously used of Republicans in a 1981 mural in Derry (see I Refuse To Change/M00151).
The Larches, Carrickfergus
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Copyright © 2012 Paddy Duffy
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The bravery of two Carrickfergus natives, which won each of them the VC, is recounted on the side-wall to a larger 14th Royal Irish Rifles (YCV) mural. Pte. James Crichton served with New Zealand infantry in France (in WWI) and Sgt. Daniel Cambridge served in Crimea.
The Larches, Carrickfergus
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Copyright © 2012 Paddy Duffy
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Hooded gunmen from the UDA/UFF/UYM take aim at children going to Woodlawn primary school. There are a few emblems and a quote on the side-walls to the right (out of frame), including the phrase “They rose in dark and evil days to free our native land” which comes from the song ‘The Memory Of The Dead‘, about the 1798 Rebellion, rather than the creation of the UDA in 1971.
The Birches, Carrickfergus
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Copyright © 2012 Paddy Duffy
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“HM Queen Elizabeth II 1952-2012”. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor acceded to the throne of the United Kingdom in 1952 (she was crowned in 1953). 2002 was her golden jubilee year. (See also Long To Reign Over Us.) The ‘sponsorship’ box read “This mural was commissioned by 1st batt A coy South East Antrim UDA UFF UYM.” but has been whited out and would later be painted over in black. It is undamaged in J1444.
Owenreagh Dr, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey
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Copyright © 2011/2012 Paddy Duffy
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