“In proud and loving memory of Stevie ‘Top Gun’ McKeag, born 1970, died 2000, military commander, C coy, 2nd Batt, UFF. Sleeping where no shadows fall.” “Ulster Freedom Fighters – This mural is dedicated to memory of Stevie ‘Top Gun’ McKeag (WP).”
Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill estate, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00068
This lower Shankill UDA/UFF C company mural is a survivor from the days of Johnny Adair. There is a separate Visual History page on the Adair-Era Murals.
Shankill Parade, lower Shankill estate, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00075 lower shankill uff, uym, uda, terrae filius, quis separabit, ulster defence association, ulster freedom fighters, ferrens, tego, simply the best, 2nd batt, c. coy
This is a lower Shankill mural of Oliver Cromwell, Lieutenant General, Lord Protector of the Protestant faith, born 1599, died 1658. “Catholicism is more than a religion, it is a political power. Therefore I’m led to believe there will be no peace in Ireland until the Catholic church is crushed.” “Our clergy persecuted and our Protestant churches desecrated. Also our Protestant people slaughtered in their thousands.”
Close-up of the middle portion behind the railing:
Shankill Parade, lower Shankill estate, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00056 X00057 lieutenant general lord protector defender of the protestant faith, oliver cromwell, born 1599 died 1658
King Billy crossing the Boyne, with Schomberg dying in the foreground, making this a crude reproduction of Benjamin West’s 1780 painting ‘Battle Of The Boyne’. Second-in-command Schomberg had crossed the Boyne first and met his fate at the hands of Jacobite cavalry. Schomberg’s helper is perhaps George Walker, governor of Derry during the siege, who was shot and killed (reportedly) while attending to Schomberg – see George Walker in the Paddy Duffy collection.
Shankill Parade, in the lower Shankill estate, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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Here are two images of women defending Protestant territory in Ireland. On the left, the date is “1914”, that is, Ulster during the Home Rule Crisis and WWI. The words “Deserted! Well – I can stand alone” can refer both to Britain’s proposed desertion or the absence of menfolk who joined Kitchener’s army.
On the right, the date is the early days of Northern Ireland: “A Protestant farmer’s wife guards her husband against sectarian attack from across the border.”
This is the third of three murals in the courtyard of the Rex Bar at Moscow Street on the Shankill Road. Betting Office | Ready For War. The first also has a wide shot of all three and surrounding area.
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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00066 ycv moscow street
Carson inspects the Ulster Volunteers at Glencairn (the grounds are also mentioned in this mural). The date is June 14th, 1914: guns have been smuggled in, but Britain has not yet declared war (August 4th).
The is the middle of three murals concerning unionism at the time of the (third) Home Rule bill and First World War. The first depicts the signing of the Covenant; the third depicts women farmers protecting their lands.
The first also contains a wide shot of all three and the surrounding area.
The photograph on which the mural is based in the Mary Evans collection. See e.g. this copy at the Express.
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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00074 1st belfast battalion moscow street
“Preparing to bear arms 1914 – Prepared to bear arms 2004.” The Ulster Volunteers and the modern UVF are put in parallel.
A wider shot, including the stone memorial to the right of this mural and a banner above, is shown in Fasting For Human Rights And Justice.
Spier’s Place, Shankill, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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“The Peoples Army 1912-2002” showing landmarks in the history of the Ulster Volunteers and UVF:
“1912 – newly formed Shankill Volunteers train at Fernhill Estate, Glencairn”;
“1916 – RIR (West Belfast UVF) go over the top at the Somme”;
“1969 – Volunteers defend Shankill community from republican attack”;
“2002 – At the crossroads?” with PUP leader David Ervine pictured holding a copy of the Good Friday Agreement.
Canmore Street, Shankill, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00045 eire united kingdom war peace
“30 years of indiscriminate slaughter by so-called non-sectarian Irish freedom fighters. No military targets! No economic targets! No legitimate targets! Where are our inquiries? Where is our truth? Where is our justice?”
?2003? mural of bombings on the Shankill. The central panel reproduces a BelTel photograph of the Balmoral furniture showroom bombing, 11 December 1971. The others are the Mountainview Tavern, Frizzell’s fishmongers (shown in the detail, above), the Bayardo Bar, and the Four Step Inn.
Bellevue Street, Shankill, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00090 X00076 Fourstep Inn bombed Sept 29th 1971 2 innocents killed, Balmoral Showrooms bombed Dec 11th 1971 2 adults and 2 babies killed, Mountainview Tavern bombed April 5th 1975 5 innocents killed, Bayardo Bar bombed Aug 13th 1975 5 innocents killed, Frizzell’s fish shop bombed Oct 23rd 1993 9 innocents killed
The large board on the left commemorates the 10 dead hunger strikers (WP) and two blanketmen. “No greater love” echoes John 15:13.
There are also two smaller boards on the right: first, “Same old mural, same old force” with the three-in-one figure of RUC, Orange Order, and loyalist paramilitary under a traffic “No” symbol; second, an interesting board alleging collusion between the RUC and the UDA and UVF in north and east Belfast.
Oldpark Road, north Belfast
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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00063 h-block martyrs 1981
Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 