Though An Army Besiege Me, My Heart Will Not Fear

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In 2000, during the Second Intifada, Palestinian teenager Faris Odeh was photographed by an AP photographer in the act of throwing a stone at an Israeli tank. He was shot and killed a few days later and the image became a symbol of resistance. (A mural of the photograph was painted in Springhill: see David And Goliath.) The iconic image is updated here for Israel’s current invasion of Gaza, showing a young girl with a soft toy standing in front of a tank that is bedecked with the flags of the European Union, France, the USA, the UK, and Germany.

The F-16 jets and rubble and child with teddy-bear are the same as in the We Stand With Palestine mural in Ardoyne.

For the teddy-bears and soft toys, see Boycott Israeli Genocide.

For the Easter Rising mural, see The Undauntable Thought.

South Link, Andersonstown, west Belfast.

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Seas Leıs An Phalaıstín

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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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Humanitarian Intervention

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On March 25th, Israel declared that it would no longer work with UNRWA to deliver aid into Gaza (Reuters | Guardian). On March 28th, Foreign Minister Micheál Martin announced that Ireland plans to “intervene” in South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel, asserting that the Genocide Convention includes blocking humanitarian aid (BBC | Guardian | RTÉ).

The support for Palestine by Ireland and South Africa is illustrated here by Irish, Palestinian, and South African children standing hand-in-hand. The same type of image was also used, with younger children, in the Painting For Palestine project on the International Wall – see The International Court Of Justice, which also gives details of South Africa’s initial case against Israel.

Painted by MD in South Link, west Belfast, facing the Israeli tank in Though An Army Besiege Me, My Heart Will Not Fear.

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Still Undefeated

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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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Ulster Volunteers 1912 Ulster Covenant In memory of all friends & comrades of the cosy bar east belfast

Carson’s Volunteers

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From the info board (barely visible but mostly out of shot to the right):

“This mural is dedicated to the men and women of Willowfield. In 1912 the 3rd Home Rule bill was introduced and passed by Parliament, and although defeated 3 times by the house of Lords it was sent for Royal assent. On 9th April 1912 over 200,000 unionists attended a rally at Balmoral including the Orange Order and Unionist Clubs which had marched from the city centre. Here they were addressed by among others, Sir Edward Carson, leader of the Irish Unionist Party. On 28th September nearly 500,000 men and women signed the Ulster Covenant. Factories and the Shipyard in Belfast were idle and silent, allowing their workers the opportunity to attend church and then to congregate at the City Hall. 3,242 men and women from Willowfield signed the Covenant, some in their own blood. They then formed into the 2nd Willowfield Battalion of the East Belfast Regiment U.V.F. commanded by Dr. William Gibson. They drilled and trained in the Willowfield Unionist Club that was situated about half a mile from this spot. With the onset of WW1 in 1914, these same volunteers stood to the fore to defend the Empire as the 8th battalion (East Belfast) in the 36th Ulster Division. Many did not return but their bravery and honour will forever be remembered.”

Ardenvohr Street, east Belfast

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Ormeau Bridge At Night

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Ormeau bridge (Street View) is a stone arch bridge between the Ormeau and Stranmillis embankments of the Lagan river, designed by Charles Lanyon and opened in 1863.

This mural of the bridge is by London artist DanK (ig), commissioned by the Lower Ormeau Traders’ Association using a Vibrant Business Destinations grant from the Council, funded by the Department For Communities ‘Revitalisation’ programme (of these, only Vibrant Businesses (web) appears to have an on-line presence). The mural will be officially launched today (Saturday March 16th) as part of a Spring Festival between noon and three. (Belfast Media)

In University Street, south Belfast, looking away from the bridge.

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Down The Woodstock

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“Down the Woodstock” and “Up the Cregagh”. The two roads run into each other, heading north-south between Albert Bridge and Lisnabreeny in east Belfast. The Woodstock Road shops are getting a number of new streetart pieces thanks to a consortium of local businesses, including the two shown here.

The racing trap is by Visual Waste (ig) ((with support from Decowell Restoration (web), Bethany Fruit (web) and Astrl Fibres (ig)) in Willowfield Gardens and the (painted) signage by unknown artists in Oberon Street.

There is already a large mural reading “Up The Cregagh” on the road.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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