The 2023 artwork by anonymous artist Spicebag depicting Gardaí in riot gear conducting an eviction represents a powerful example of how contemporary social movements repurpose historical imagery to create resonant modern mythologies. By deliberately echoing a 19th-century painting by Cork artist Daniel MacDonald that depicted a Famine-era eviction, the image establishes continuity between historical trauma and contemporary housing injustice, transforming immediate political concerns into part of a deeper national narrative.

The artwork's viral spread and emotional impact demonstrate how visual symbols can crystallise complex social and economic realities into accessible narrative frameworks. Just as traditional mythological images condensed complex cultural knowledge into recognisable visual forms, this image distills contemporary housing anxiety into a powerful visual metaphor that connects present circumstances to established historical narratives of displacement and resistance.

Particularly significant is the parallel drawn between historical British colonial power and modern neoliberal forces. By visually equating contemporary Gardaí enforcing evictions with historical British agents, the image suggests continuity in power structures despite formal political independence. This reframing exemplifies how contemporary mythologies often function to make visible otherwise abstract systemic forces, providing frameworks for understanding complex political and economic relationships through concrete visual metaphors.

The fusion of traditional Irish protest imagery with contemporary social media aesthetics demonstrates how modern mythological thinking adapts traditional forms to new media contexts. Like political cartoons in 19th-century Irish nationalism, this viral image transcends its immediate context to become part of Ireland's evolving mythology of resistance, demonstrating how societies continue to create compelling visual narratives that make sense of complex power dynamics and mobilise collective action against perceived injustice.