By Belfast based artist and designer, Sara O’Neill
Our home has been beamed around the world this week. And as so often when the global spotlight falls upon us, it’s for a scundering reason. Racist scumbags rioting, burning homes & wrecking their own communities (Not the brightest. Obviously.)
For most of this year I’ve been living in Béal Feirste of the 1790s. A class time. A time of hope, of the enlightenment, of ambition. Where a radical group of people wanted to ‘unite Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter under the common name of Irishmen in order to break the connection with England, the never failing source of all our political evils, that was my aim.’ (Wolfe Tone) Researching this time has been glorious, with feminist, socialist, anti-sectarian, anti-racist and abolitionist ideals abounding. One of my favourite characters from this time is Mary Ann McCracken. An incredible woman who stood at Belfast docks campaigning against slavery until she was in her 80s. One of Ulster’s most iconic daughters, her statue was placed in the grounds of City Hall a couple of years ago, along with that of Winnie Carney.
The NI I grew up in (I use NI for the failed structures imposed upon this place) in the 80s & 90s was somewhere that felt like it wasn’t for me in so many ways. I didn’t understand why but it was palpable. Like being excluded, not part of the group. As I’ve got older of course I understand why now, this place was created in order to maintain division & supremacy. The ideals of the 1790s were quashed after the rebellion of 1798 and the establishment ensured division going forward. Because divided societies are easier to control.
Of course you all know I love this place, that’s why I’m still here. I love the land, I love the people. And statues like Mary Ann & Winnie in the grounds of City Hall, iconic Republican women, mean more to me than I ever could’ve guessed. Growing up without symbolism… without a flag or anthem to claim, I thought I didn’t need them but Christ it feels good when you finally have symbols you feel a connection to on public/ gov ground. An illustration of a changed & changing place. Unfortunately in some ways, things haven’t changed enough.
Scenes of marauding goons, of riot police, of burning buildings, cars & buses are too reminiscent of the old days. Of the 1920s, of the 1960s. Except this time the people being burnt out aren’t Irish Catholics, but people who’ve come from around the world to make this their home. Specifically people with brown & black skin. Because the scumbags causing this are not only sectarian but also racist. Remember, this place wasn’t created to be a functioning, successful society, it was created for supremacist reasons. And as much as many here have moved on, work hard and make the best of the place, for a minority that’s a difficult habit to break. When a culture is based on supremacy & colonisation, when there’s a lack of respect for other cultures and tradition (see how the Irish language is treated here), there’s a suspicion, a fear, a hatred of ‘other’. And listen there ARE social issues here, but those issues are not caused by the people who’ve been affected by this week’s disgraceful behaviour. From the people who’ve been burned out & the people who are scared to leave the house, to the businesses that’ve been forced to close across the city. And this isn’t an isolated incident. Racist riots happened this time last year as well. Anti-protocol riots a couple of years ago. This isn’t about ‘protecting arrrr women & kids’, over half of those arrested for racist rioting last year had charges of domestic abuse against them. Almost a quarter of those arrested for participating in the racist disorder in Belfast in August 2024 have since been reported to the police for domestic abuse.
This is recreational rioting for many of the kids involved, sent out by aul fellas who DGAF that these kids might end up hurt or with a criminal record. Men with a bit of power, determined to maintain their power with fear, division and othering. And above them, more powerful men determined to maintain division and so on. People manipulated, people not understanding that if they have a problem with the migration policies here they should take their protests to Downing St and Westminster.
Fortunately we’ve also seen communities rallying to support the victims of these attacks, something Belfast is well used to doing. That’s what I love about the city… the communities that rally round, take no shit & just get on, with the darkest humour. Remember the Mas of the lower Ormeau & Markets during the last riots? Standing on the streets telling the racists to f*ck off, protecting their community? That is Mary Ann McCracken vibes right there.
I write this on the train to Belfast, heading to work. And I know that over the next month we’ll see more burning (we’re a month away from bonfire season) But I also know that while this is a scary time for many, these scumbags are a minority and things will and do change. We need to take a lesson from the radicals of Belfast of the 1790s and come together, unite to make this the best place it can be for those who choose to make it their home.
