Newtownabbey

On Her Their Lives Depend

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-05-19 OnHerTheirLives+

Women Munition Workers during the First World War are celebrated in this 2011 mural on Inniscarn/Iniscarn Drive in Rathcoole. A ‘Canary Girl’ readies for work as a TNT shell maker. The term stems from the fact that TNT can turn the skin a yellow-orange colour.

The recruitment poster on which the mural is based is shown below. British Pathé has some footage of women working in a munitions factory, presumably in England somewhere. BBC has a page on a massive explosion at the Chilwell (Nottingham) factory. An image of workers amongst shells in 1915 can be seen at http://smnmcshannon.hubpages.com/.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01100

Our Flag Was Still There

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-02-05 HightownRdFlag+

A tattered Union Flag on the Hightown Road/Bóthar Bhaile na hAirde in Glengormley/Gleann Gormliath (just north of Belfast). The title comes from the U.S. anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner”: “the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there” (WP).

Previously on Extramural Activity: Shankill Rd flag and barbed wire.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00931

South East Antrim UFF

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The four landmark high-rise buildings in Rathcoole – seen in the background of this nearby UDA mural – are called Abbotscoole, Carncoole, Glencoole and Monkscoole. Listed on the left-hand side are various areas in the South East Antrim brigade – Rathcoole, Rathfern, Monkstown, Glengormley, Whitewell, C’Fergus, Greenisland, Ballymena, Whitehead, Antrim, Larne – plus Shore Road.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05157 X00510

For Our People

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The “Commando Memorial” stands 17 feet high near Lochaber in the Scottish highlands, in memory of the British Commando Forces created in WWII. It is depicted in this Red Hand Commando (B Company 1st Battalion) mural in Derrycoole Way, Rathcoole. Below the three commandos is one of the RHC mottos “It is not for glory or riches we fought but for our people.”

The RHC memorial is cut off on the left of the image.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00509

Colin Caldwell

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Memorial mural and plaque to the UVF’s Colin Caldwell. “In memory of a fallen comrade, Colin Ralph Caldwell, murdered, Crumlin Road jail, 28th November 1991. 3rd Belfast battalion, Ulster Volunteer Force. Lest we forget.” The bomb had been planted by the IRA, killing the UDA’s Robert Skey immediately (November 24th) and Caldwell, from his wounds, a few days later on the 28th. A flute band was named in Caldwell’s memory and had a board across the street: Colin Caldwell Memorial FB.

Derry Hill, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00512