19 towns and cities will hold gatherings for the Twelfth, with the longest parade being the six miles from Carlisle Circus to the field at Barnett Demesne (near Shaw’s Bridge) in Belfast. Today’s images come from a Shankill parade at the end of June, with (above) the (Shankill) Sons Of Ulster (Fb) and (below) the Billy Boys (Rathcoole) (Fb).
For a complete list of gatherings, see Belfast Live
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X12682 X12684 X12683
“Far dearer the grave or the prison,
Illumed by one patriot name,
Than the trophies of all who have risen
On Liberty’s ruins to fame.”
Thomas Moore’s lyrics were written for the air The Lamentation of Aughrim, in honour of the Jacobites who died on 12 July, 1691, but they are applied here to Joe Malone of the IRA’s “Expeditionary Force”.
In January 1939 the IRA declared war against Britain and carried out a bombing campaign called the “sabotage plan” (WP S-Plan). Malone was arrested in May when a tear-gas bomb intended for the New Victoria cinema in London exploded prematurely in the cloakroom, injuring his arm and wrist (Belfast Battalion p. 103 | West Australian).
Malone and other prisoners refused to co-operate with prison authorities and began a hunger strike in January 1941; on day five of the strike, force-feeding began and Malone was injured and ordered off the strike by OC Conor McNessa; despite stomach surgery, he died a year later. (Belfast Battalion p. 126, 136)
“In proud and loving memory of Volunteer Joseph Malone, No. 1 battalion, Irish Republican Expeditionary Force. Captured in London May 1939 and died in Parkhurst prison 21st January 1942. RIP.”
As the info board points out, the red hand is used to denote the graves in Milltown of volunteers from the 1920s to 1940s.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X12396 [X12395] X12670 X12672
The hand-painted UVF Scottish Brigade mural (see Boab Kerr) in Beechfield Street/Tower Street has been replaced by this new printed board. The plaque to Kerr has been retained, but four names have been added – David Totten, Brian Milligan, Billy Inglis, and Jim Holt, who is now the most prominent. Holt died in February 2021 (ACT Fb).
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X12654 X12653
The Templemore Avenue area of east Belfast readies itself for the Twelfth: above, a few pallets are collected in Thistle Court, just across the Short Strand “peace” line; immediately below, bunting in Tower Street; finally, flags flying on the “understanding” mural in Lendrick Street.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X12655 X12657 [X12656] [X12658] X12659
The Vault artists have cleared out of the old Met building in Tower Street and have been preparing their two new digs, in the Shankill Mission (Vault ig | FGB ig) and Marlbourough House in Victoria Street. The vestiges of their time in east Belfast linger on.
For the final image in better days, see Do You Own A Giant Building?
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X12660 X12662 X12661
During the second World War, six basic designs for pillboxes, numbered from ‘Type 22’ to ‘Type 27’ were promulgated by the division of Fortifications And Works as part of anti-invasion planning (WP). This Type 24 is still standing in a corner of the Oval grounds in east Belfast. This image – showing the door – is of the rear of the pillbox; the anticipated line of attack was along Belfast Lough.
“The Oval’s Type-24. In the early hours of the 5th of may the German Luftwaffe (air force) attacked a number of targets in the heart of Belfast. This ‘Type 24’ military pillbox was one of the defence positions around the city which was manned on that morning by a platoon of soldiers of the Gloucestershire Regiment who were based at nearby Victoria Park. … The Oval, the home of Glentoran Football Club was reduced to smouldering rubble as bombs and incendiary mines landed on an area perceived by German intelligence to be an oil storage facility adjacent to both Harland and Wolff shipyard and Short Brothers aircraft factory.”
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X12637 X12636 belfast blitz
Here is a gallery of images from last week’s project to repaint a long wall at the Oval in east Belfast – about 14 young people took part, assisted by sprayers from 5th Element (ig), with sponsorship from the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Glentoran FC, and Choice Housing (Belfast Live).
For more 5th Element, see A Brighter Day.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X12643
X12638 X12639 X12640 X12641 X12642 X12644 X12645
“… in a safe community.” “Young people at work” in east Belfast on the Dee Street bridge onto “The Island”.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X12652 X12651
“Honi soit qui mal y pense” is the motto of the Order Of The Garter. It appears together with “Dieu et mon droit” (“God and my right”) in the UK’s royal coat of arms (see e.g. United Kingdom). The former means, roughly, “Shame to he who thinks bad of it”, the “it” in this case being the English royals’ designs on France (in the 1300s) and in general the monarchy and its God-given right to rule.
The latest divinely-anointed monarch is Charles III, crowned on May 6th. He was preceded by Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years: “East Belfast would like to thank her majesty Queen Elizabeth II on devoting 70 years of service to our great nation. God save the Queen.”
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X12648 [X12649] X12647 X12646 Dee St
Here is a gallery of images from the new, multi-panel, floral mural in the middle of the New Lodge.
The mural was painted by emic (ig) with young people from the New Lodge Youth Centre, sponsored by Communities In Transition (a programme of the Executive Office) and organised by Community Restorative Justice Ireland (web).
For the POW mural, see Unbowed, Unbroken; for the JFTC2 mural, see JFTC2; for the Noah Donohoe mural, see 14 4 Ever.
Click and click again to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
[X12599] X12604
X12590
X12594 X12595 X12596
X12593
X12591 X14982
X12592 [X12589]
X12599
X12605 X12609 X12606
[X12597]
Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 