The images in the windows of the McLean’s bookies on the Shankill Road suggest that betting on sports – even on George Best – is like playing roulette. The gate to the left (with barbed wire on top) is marked with the letters “U” and “R” of the nearby Ulster Rangers supporters club. (For two murals there, see previously: Save The Shankill | Doing Her Duty).
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Three images of initialisms: Above in Milner Street, “UVF” [Ulster Volunteer Force] has been painted over but “UDA” [Ulster Defence Association], “Q/S” [quis separabit], and “RSD” [Roden Street Defenders] remain.
In the second image, in Beechmount Grove, we have “CRF” [Catholic Reaction Force?], “UTH” [Up the hoods], “FTDHLA”, [Eff the Divis Hoods Liberation Army”, FTW” [Free the weed?], “FTONH” [Eff the Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann]
The last (in Percy St) is left as an exercise for the reader. (Or: we have no idea what “code 5” is.)
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The new loyalist mural in Ballyduff shows volunteers in sunglasses and scarves standing with flags to either side of a monument which reads “They who kept the faith and fought the fight, the glory theirs and the duty ours. Dedicated to the officers and Volunteers of South East Antrim U.D.A. – U.F.F. Quis separabit.”
Replaces a UDA board, featured previously.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Five images of a new, multi-wall, mural in Ballyduff. The main panel shows WWI soldiers bowed over graves in Flanders surrounded by poppies. This is accompanied by the red-hand emblem of the Ulster Volunteers and the shamrock of the YCV.
On a side wall (see the fourth image) is a verse from American professor Moina Michael’s poem We Shall Keep The Faith: “We cherish too the poppy red that grows in fields where valour led; it seems to signal to the skies the blood of heroes never dies”. It was Michael who began to raise funds for servicemen by selling (silk) poppies, also adopted by the British Legion in 1921 (WP).
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03236 X03239 X03237 X03238 X03240 ballyduff gdns East Antrim volunteers UVF For God and Ulster At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them. YCV Lest we forget. Newtownabbey
The years of operation of the UVF in this new Ballyduff mural are given as 1966-1994. The main loyalist paramilitaries began what was to be a lasting ceasefire on 13th of October, 1994. The ceasefire was announced by Gusty Spence, who was the organisation’s original leader in 1966.
“Present peace now, stills our hand, death no longer stalks our land, our weapons are silent, and shall remain, but if needed, we shall rise again.”
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The mural shows a line of fir trees rather than steel gates but the robins on the spiked rail above give away that we’re on the “peace” line separating loyalist west Belfast from nationalist north Belfast and that the road is still closed. “Seasons Greetings” Belfast-style.
UPDATE Jan 3rd: a similar trompe l’oeil piece by Breandán Clarke could be found at this location previously, showing cars parked on the street (via Old Belfast Photographs/Glenravel History).
“Like a bird on a wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir, I have tried in my way to be free.” – Leonard Cohen Bird On The Wire
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Here is a snapshot from the protest camp at Twaddell Avenue, established in July 2013, which remains in place at the junction with the Crumlin Road. The most recent newspaper mention of the protest appears to be this December 29th report in the Newsletter.
For more, including the “civil rights” board behind the barrel, see Twaddell Protest Camp | Civil Rights Camp | Supporters Club | Let Them Home.
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UDA commander John McMichael was also secretary of the New Ulster Political Research Group (NUPRG), a think tank of the UDA/UFF. The group argued for an independent Northern Ireland (based in part on beliefs about a separate Ulster ethnic identity – see the Visual History page on Cú Chulaınn) in two documents, 1979’s Beyond the Religious Divide and 1987’s Common Sense (available at CAIN), promoting the philosophy of ‘Ulster nationalism’, depicted here by the free-floating Northern Ireland. McMichael ran unsuccessfully for the Belfast South seat after the murder of Robert Bradford (see To Bathe The Sharp Sword Of My Word In Heaven).
“As John McMichael stated before his untimely death, we must share the responsibility for finding a settlement and share the responsibility of maintaining good government. He left us hope.”
Here’s a link to an image (from @conflictNI on Xitter) of McMichael at the launch of Common Sense in 1987.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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HMS Caroline’s connection to Belfast is that she served as the headquarters for the Royal Naval Reserve in Alexandra Dock. Originally built in 1914, she served in the Grand Fleet and took part in the battle of Jutland on May 31st, 1916, as shown in the images above and below. She was decommissioned in 2011; it is hoped to open her as a museum and visitor attraction by the time of the centenary of the battle (WP). The Daily Mail has a gallery of images of the ship in its current state. Also present at the battle of Jutland, as captain of HMS Nestor, was Commander (later Sir) Edward Bingham.
The piece is by Jim Russell, who also painted Titanic Town – North Belfast.
Here is a New Visions video on the ship:
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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According to this Irish News article (see also Irish Republican News), the flyer above (this one is on the Crumlin Road in the centre of Ligoniel) is the work of a UDA faction that has intimidated people out of their homes in the Glenbryn area. (See also Irish Republican News.)
“North Belfast UDA: Anyone caught housebreaking or robbing business premises in this area will face severe consequences. No mercy will be shown or second chances given. We will show no leniency in carrying out the punishment your depraved actions deserve. We already have names and this will be acted upon. Our communities will not be left defenceless. This is not a warning this is a promise. Anyone with any information don’t be afraid to come forward. Help us rid our area’s of these vermin. Quis separabit.”
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 