The Noel Fitzpatrick/Alec Reid mural in Springfield Drive is vandalised with “RiP Rebeca – one of our own – CRF [Catholic Reaction Force]” graffiti.
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Copyright © 2021 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
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One Of Our Own
community
Godfather Of Legal Betting
“Clark Groves was born on the 14th May 1889. A naval officer, in WW1, he fought at the Battle of Jutland. After the war he worked as a fitter in Harland & Wolff before using his de-mob money to establish a bookmaking business here in 14 Manderson Street (since demolished), at the back of the Old Clock Bar. The bookie’s ‘Pitch’ was very like the ones seen in the TV series ‘Peaky Blinders!’ At this time, running a betting business was illegal. Clark, and a number of other bookmakers, founded the Turf Guardians Association and led a successful campaign to have their businesses legalised. Years later, a local bookie told Clark’s grandson that he and his colleagues owed their livelihoods to ‘Old Godfathers’ like Clark. Clark was a generous, popular man. He helped out many local people over the years, lending money for funerals, weddings and education costs. It’s said that he ‘married and buried them on the Newtownards Road!’ He died on 28th May 1957, just two weeks after his 68th birthday. His funeral was the biggest seen before or since in the area. The trolley buses to Dundonald Cemetery were full of people and those who couldn’t get on walked the length of Newtownards Road to be there. A measure of the man for sure. Clark Groves was the annual summer football tournament that was played at ‘The Hen Run,’ the home of Dundela FC. It was known as the Clark Groves Cup. – Stephen Beggs”
Connswater Street, east Belfast
Part of the “East Side Lives Heritage Trail” which “celebrates the unsung people who built community in east Belfast. Other entries include Miss McMinn’s Girls’ Club | No Ordinary Woman | Two Smart Alecs | Desano’s. For a list of all fourteen, see the Trail’s pamphlet (pdf).
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Maybe This One’s For Me
Here are images from Sailortown of the Rotterdam and Pat’s, back to back in Pilot Street and Princes Dock Street, both boarded up well before pandemic closures.
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Step Back In Time
The old Ballymacarrett station was the last stop before Belfast when travelling from points east such as Holywood and Bangor. On the morning of January 10th, 1945, a faulty signal caused the 7:10 from Bangor to be halted at Ballymacarrett, only for it to be hit from behind by the oncoming 7:40 from Holywood. The steel lead-car of the Holywood train ploughed through the whole of the last carriage’s wooden coachwork and on into the penultimate carriage, causing the death of 22 people and injury to another 27 (WP).
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Welcome To Carrick Hill
“Fáılte go Cnoc Na Carraıge” in the arch over the entrance to Carrick Hill, with a simplified United Irishmen symbol at the centre.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Don’t Let Anything Stop You From Coming To Carrickfergus
This is the second half of the Carrickfergus Timeline in Market Place, covering the history of the town from arrival of King William and General Schomberg to the modern day, including the last witch trial in Ireland and the construction of a railway allowing tourists sailing into Larne to reach the town easily: “Don’t let anything stop you from coming to Carrickfergus – if you cannot get on a train, hire a donkey cart”. The panels were written by Seth Linder.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Craft Centre
Father Des Wilson and Frank Cahill sit together in a Springhill flat overlooking Tara Stores and the Craft Centre, two of the enterprises they helped to establish (along with the Whiterock Industrial Estate) in an attempt to bring employment to the area. Around 1982, they were part of a group that bought Conway Mill for use as a community and business centre; the image above was taken in the contemporary Conway Mill.
On the right, the accomplishments and accolades of Seán MacBride are listed (shown below). During the course of his life, MacBride was an IRA member and imprisoned by the Free State, founder of Clann Na Poblachta and TD, and international politician including a spell as chair of Amnesty International. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1974 (WP). The MacBride Principles of 1984 set out nine conditions of fair employment.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Lagan Village
In the 1860s, Ballymacarrett, Mount Pottinger, and Lagan Village, all on the east side of the Lagan, were not a part of Belfast (Lennon-Wylie). Lagan Village stretched from where Hutchinsons car dealership now is down to the modern Park Parade, just above Ormeau Park. In the 1880s Belfast expanded and Lagan Village Road became Ravenhill Road (NVTv). Ormeau Park opened in 1871 (WartimeNI). It did not then include the BMX track celebrated in this mural.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Fact And Myth Riveted Together
“Overlooked by the iconic Harland and Wolff cranes, Samson and Goliath, The Yardmen is a bronze sculpture depicting three shipyard workers returning home to East Belfast.” “At its peak 30,000 people were employed in the shipbuilding industry in Belfast. A high proportion of them lived in the terraced streets off the Newtownards Road. Not far away is one of the best preserved terraces of workers’ houses in Belfast – McMaster Street, begun in 1898. Most of the workforce was drawn from the countryside around Belfast, though many skilled workers were recruited in Britain. While shipbuilding was harsh and often dangerous work, the standard of living for workers was generally higher than that of shipyard employees in other British cities.”
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Copyright © Seosamh Mac Coılle
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John harper baptist pastor glasgow mottpottinger tabernacle gave his life jacket to another man westbourne presbyterian ship of dreams mural dee street titanic mural discover ulster-scots belfast maritime trail 1700 large ships most famous being titanic a great ship now locked into worldwide history and romantic myth, fact and myth riveted together
Girls’ Club
“Miss McMinn (BEM) created a haven for “Her Girls” in Thorndyke Street Club. It was a home from home where you were encouraged to be yourself. ‘Her girls’ were here life: Her 27 years of service brought joy to the lives of young girls in an area of Belfast that had been devastated by the Blitz. Miss Margaret (Greta) McMinn (we never used Christian names) never married but devoted her life to ‘her girls’. So great was her dedication that during ‘The Troubles’, unable to get to her home in north Belfast, she slept on the premises. With her guidance we learned many arts and crafts which we shared with our family and friends on ‘display night’. We also entered many sports competitively in our own area and the Shankill Road. Many outings to the pantomime, circus, etc. and the annual holidays to Shimna House, Newcastle, County Down, were a real treat for children who had little or nothing in the way of luxury. Wonderful memories of a beautiful lady. – Peggy Bowden”.
Part of the “East Side Lives Heritage Trail” which “celebrates the unsung people who built community in east Belfast. Other entries include The Godfather Of Legal Betting | No Ordinary Woman | Two Smart Alecs | Desano’s. For a list of all fourteen, see the Trail’s pamphlet (pdf).
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 