Author: Extramural Activity

While I Live I’ll Crow

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Lambeg drums can be as loud as 120 decibels – as loud as small aircraft. The skin is goat and the wood is typically oak, the middle part – or “shell” can be painted, with biblical, Orange, or loyal iconography: in the three close-ups presented here we see HMS Thrasher (which was docked for a time in Larne (Fb)), King Billy and the cock of the north, “the late Sir H[enry] Wilson” a high-ranking British Army soldier who was a supporter of the Ulster Volunteers and proponent of the Curragh “mutiny” (WP). The drums were played as part of the Eleventh celebrations in Glynn.

Here are 20 clips from the BBC programme Come Listen To Me Boys.

For another drum shell, see 100 Years Of Service.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X10616 X10618 X10617 X10614

100 Years Of Service

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“100 years of service for the love of one’s country – 1921-2021.” Cairncastle flute band (Fb) marks the centenary of Northern Ireland and local military force with a special shell on one of their drums. The Special Constabulary was founded in 1920, in advance of partition and the creation of Northern Ireland (The Irish Story) and survived until 1970 when the UDR was established; this in turn became part of the RIR in 1992 and the RIR exists to this day.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X10612 X10613 X10611 X10619

Stronger Together

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Suicide awareness and mental health initiative – Larne, stronger together.” With contact information for Extern (web), Lifeline (web), Childline (web), Samaritans (web). Possibly connected to Stronger Together NI (Fb).

For the drugs-awareness board on the left, see Stop Mephedrone Before It Stops You. For the sectarian boards, see The Flax And The Lily and The Loyalty Of Northern Ireland. For the women’s board, see Women Are A Whole Community.

See also the Stronger Together shutters on the Shankill.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X10571 X10567 X10568 X10570

Pledged To Your Service

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine.” Boyne Square (Larne) celebrates “70 glorious years” (the platinum jubilee) of Elizabeth. The quotation comes from Elizabeth’s coronation speech (Royal UK); the image of Elizabeth appears to be from 1952, in Nottingham Council House.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X10563 X10564 [X10565] X10566 god save the queen

NI Beyond 100

Extramural Activity1 Comment

Our Story In The Making – NI Beyond 100 is a NI Office programme collecting stories showcasing Northern Ireland “on the world stage”. It has lent its brand to the Ballycarry centenary boards shown in today’s post, which have black-and-white photographs on the left (beginning with “Home to Ballycarry – General Sir James Stuart Steele visits his birthplace”) and colour photographs on the right (beginning with children visiting the Steele monument).

A ‘Stand With Ukraine’ flag and Ulster Banner fly above the walls; a bonfire is being hastily erected in the background.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X10630 X10632 X10629 X10631

The Volunteers Who Bravely Fought For Our Freedom

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The emblem at the centre of this latest version of the 36th (Ulster) Division mural in Glynn seems to be a novel creation, putting together a crown sitting on a blue ribbon draped over a shield showing a (right-handed) red hand, with a garland of shamrock, thistle, and rose.

This is the fifth mural (at least) on this wall since 2008. The only images we have of the previous one shows it in a vandalised state (see the images from 2020 below); for earlier, see 2015, 2011 (Street View), and 2008.

The plaque on the stone to the right reads, “When you go home, tell them of us and say for their tomorrow we gave our today”

The new mural has the following to its left: “This mural was erected by the Friends of the Somme Co. Antrim in remembrance of the volunteers of the 36th (Ulster) Division who bravely fought for our freedom. ‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle X10622 X10623 [X01624]
Copyright © 2022 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb) X07108 X07109 [X07110]

Communities In Transition

Extramural Activity1 Comment

The young people of Sunnylands (Carrickfergus) are encouraged to “follow your dreams”. On the left, a young man dreams of being a film-maker; on the right, a young woman dreams of being a cosmetician. There is also a lot of soccer: Leeds United, The Northern Ireland team, Glasgow Rangers (“55“), and Carrickfergus Rangers are all included. Follow the example of Scooby Doo, who “don’t doo drugs” and celebrate the centenary of Northern Ireland by “chill”ing in your Orange Order sash on the bonfire (seen previously in Stop Sign).

With support from Communities In Transition and Intercomm (Fb).

Unveiled August 22, 2021 (Fb)

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X10647 X10646 Bridewell Drive

Welcome To Antiville

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Antiville” is perhaps derived from the Irish “an tıgh bhıle, “the house of/by the sacred tree” (rather than just “the house of the old tree”, as on the board below). The two boards shown here are at the Linn Road entrance to the estate: above is the UDA’s welcome, below is the welcome from the Bonfire committee and Antiville Partnership (Fb), showing a tree. The 2022 Antiville bonfire was torn down after the death of one of its builders, John Steele – see With Heart And Hand.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X10509 X10511 Antiville Partnership

You’re In The Anderson’s Band

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is the scene around the Boyne Square (Larne) bonfire, hours before it was set alight on 11th night. There are multiple flags from Constable Anderson Memorial flute band (and LOL 1297 Boyne Defenders); Clydevalley flute band “stand with Soldier F”. On the bonfire itself there are only loyal flags – compare with the Tricolours and electoral posters on the Sunnylands bonfire in Carrickfergus.

There’s also a sticker for live coverage of the Craigyhill bonfire on The ‘Gers TV.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X10578 X10573 X10574 X10575 X10576 X10577 X10582 X10583 X10581 X10580 X10579