cultural

One In Design And Intention

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03246 2016-01-08 Cross Of Suffering 2+

Religion and military might are one in this giant (see the wide shot, below) cross in Belfast’s City Cemetery, which commemorates the dead of World War I. The base (shown below) reads: The cross of sacrifice is one in design and intention with those which have been set up in France and Belgium and other places throughout the world where our dead of this great war are laid to rest. Their name liveth for ever more.” There is a similar memorial in Dundonald Cemetery. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, “There are now 296 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war and 274 of the 1939-1945 war commemorated here.”

Previously from the City Cemetery: The Depths Of Sectarianism

Previously on the same theme: And The Sword In The Other

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Blood Of Heroes Never Dies

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03236 2015-12-30 We Cherish Too mid+

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

Over A Barrel

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03228 2015-12-20 Orange Barrel+

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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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Slí Na Gaeltachta

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03225 2015-12-18 Slí na Gaeltachta+

Slí Na Gaeltachta (The Gaeltacht Way) is a 2.5-mile trail of twenty-six “art and heritage” stops from the city centre to the Whiterock Road in west Belfast. A gaeltacht is an Irish-speaking region.

See previously: Onwards – memorial mural to Clive Dutton, author of the Dutton Report calling for the regeneration of west Belfast by (in part) developing its Irish-language identity.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03225 X02752 brighton st www.forbaırtfeırste.com fáılte go welcome to Ag fíorú ghaeltacht bheo Bhéal Feırste – Driving forward Belfast’s vibrant Gaeltacht.

HMS Caroline

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2014-12-17 HMSCarolineDetail+

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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The Blood Of Our Membership

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03178 2015-11-12 Pitt Cross Red Hand+

The red hand of Ulster is not just a symbol of the province from the time of the earls (see An Ancient And Powerful Symbol), it is also an emblem of the Ulster Volunteers (and also the modern-day Ulster Volunteer Force/UVF) who were formed in anticipation of Home Rule in Ireland and fought in WWI. “This cross”, which is on the railings outside Pitt Park in east Belfast, “is marked with the blood of our membership in recognition of the sacrifice made for freedom and democracy in the modern world. When you go home tell them of us and say ‘For your tomorrow we gave our today'” – Ballymacarrett Somme And Cultural Society

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Broadway United FC

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Information on-line is scarce concerning Broadway United FC. They might have been an intermediate team but are said to have won the junior Irish Cup in 1912 — the date of the image above in which the team poses with its trophies — beating Black Watch FC 1–0.

Liverpool’s longest serving player, goalkeeper Elisha Scott (WP), began his career at Broadway United, playing there for two years before making 402 appearances at Anfield and then going to Belfast Celtic as player and manager. The Irish Times has a profile of Elisha and his brother Billy, goalkeeper at Everton. (Thanks to John Duffin for these links.)

Donegall Road, Village, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ronnie Adams

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Ronnie Adams was born in Belfast in 1916. He began driving at age 11 and rallying at age 18. He is shown above in a Jaguar Mk. VII, en route to winning the Monte Carlo Rally in 1956, which was also around the time that he took over the family textile business from his deceased father — Adams remained an amateur driver his whole life.

For more on Adams, see Adams’s Telegraph obituary and this article by Steve McKelvie. For information on the Jaguars of the 1950s (and an image of Adams with the five trophies he received for winning the Monte Carlo), see the Irish Jaguar & Daimler club.

Donegall Road, Village, south Belfast

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X03183 adelaide street prince rainier cup

Nearer My God To Thee

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03171 2015-11-12 Titanic Refurb+

Thomas Andrews was head of the drafting department at Harland & Wolff shipbuilders during the construction of RMS Titanic and was one of the 1,523 people who died when it hit an iceberg in the Atlantic ocean (WP). His portrait has been added to the recently repainted Titanic mural at the corner of Dee Street and Newtownards Road. According to this Telegraph article, the ‘Our Wee Country’ mural in Carnforth Street might be next for refurbishment.

“This mural is respectfully dedicated to the men, women and children who lost their lives in the waters of the north atlantic on the night of April 14th 1912: to those who survived whose lives from that night on were forever altered and to those who built the Titanic.” “The Titanic mural has been renovated by the original artist, John Stewart 2015.”

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03171 white star line built in belfast 1912 april 14 disaster great loss of life evening news H&W est. 1861 her name is publicly announced in april 1980 designation begins on march 1909 the titanic was launched here in belfast april 10 1912 she left southampton for new york disaster struck in the north atlantic ocean 1523 people died lost their lives in the disaster 705 passengers and crew survived 1873-1912 Thomas Andrews

RIC At Celtic Park

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03185 2015-11-12 RIC At Celtic Park+

The image above shows three members of the Royal Irish Constabulary outside Belfast’s Celtic Park in 1912. The event is perhaps a visit by Lord Pirrie, Winston Churchill, and John Redmond to speak in favour of the Home Rule bill at a meeting of the Ulster Liberal Association on February 8th. (You can see at ticket for the event at Decade Of Centenaries.) The meeting was originally to be held in the Ulster Hall, but this was blockaded by Unionist protesters (Irish History). According to one site, Churchill was “nearly lynched” by angry Protestants outside the grounds.

Donegall Road, Village, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03185 donegall rd