“Ballybeen Youth C. Company” Red Hand Commando, with the names of the six counties and the slogan “Lamh Dearg Abu” (a corruption of “Lámh Dhearg Abú”, “red hand to victory”).
Next to another mural mentioning RHC Youth in Morven Park.
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“Where so ever, how so ever or whenever we are called upon to make our exit, we shall do so as proud men.” (Another UVF mural in east Belfast has “as free men”.) A hooded gunman from the Red Hand Commando stands at the ready. The first of the four crests is the (rare, possibly restricted to the Morven Park murals) “RHC Youth”; then PAF, UVF, and YCV. Morven Park, Ballybeen.
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The emblem of the UFF is flanked by Ulster Banner and Union Flag.
Strone Park, Ballybeen
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YCV volunteer Spike the bulldog has a word (backed up by a pistol on his right hip) with Celtic-supporter Tom cat.
Glenfarne Place, Craigyhill, Larne
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“To the men in the CDF – the war’s over, lads …” It’s not clear precisely what “CDF” stands for [Craigyhill ?Defence Force?] or if a specific incident is referenced.
Location unknown, Craigyhill, Larne
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This trio of emblems dates back to at least 2008. So, there has been plenty of time to finish off the two of them that are incomplete – the YCV on the end is complete; the UVF and RHC ones are not.
Off Greenland Drive, Larne
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Here are the main parts of the YCV mural in Walnut Street, off Donegall Pass, from left to right. The earliest image of this mural is 2001’s M01522.
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South Belfast MP Robert Bradford was assassinated by the Provisional IRA in Finaghy at a meeting with constituents; the caretaker of the community centre, Ken Campbell, was also killed by the fleeing attackers. In late 1981, with the hunger strikes having ended only a month before, the killing was noted around the world and raised fears of broad civil unrest (BBC | NYTimes).
“Vita, veritas, victoria” [life, truth, victory] is the motto of Londonderry. Here we have “vita, veritas, victa” [life, truth, conquered; perhaps the intended meaning was “conquering” rather than the passive]. The crest is also not quite the crest of the Apprentice Boys, with a ship in the bottom right rather than a skeleton. Get in touch if you can resolve either discrepancy.
Oak Street, Donegall Pass, south Belfast
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Harris Boyle and Wesley Somerville were UDR soldiers and UVF volunteers. They were “killed in action” when the bomb they were planting on the minibus of the Miami Showband went off prematurely. Of the pair, only Somerville’s arm, with its “UVF Portadown” tattoo remained identifiable (WP). The plaque is in Princess Way/Gloucester Avenue, Portadown.
Since 2014, the poster erected each year in Moygashel to honour Somerville has drawn criticism: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
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South Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force 2nd Battalion “A” Company Donegall Pass, with the flag of England (St. George’s Cross) in one corner and in the other an orange star with “1912” written below, the year the Ulster Volunteers were founded. The colour-scheme is the reverse of the Orange Order’s: its flag has the purple star of the Williamites on an orange field.
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 