This panel (one of three) of a new mural on the Shankill celebrates the Stirling Protestant Boys Flute Band and its association with the Shankill Road: “Stirling Protestant Boys Flute Band [Fb] were formed in February 2003 and to this day take part in parades across Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. The band has a great connection with our friends from Belfast, especially those from the Greater Shankill area. In November 2012 Stirling Protestant Boys were presented with the battle honours of the Young Citizen Volunteers and the 36th (Ulster) Division. The band would like to thank the people of the Shankill Road for their continued support.”
Here are two images related (perhaps indirectly) to the prosecution of members of the Young Conway flute band for playing The Famine Song/The John B. Sails (WP) outside St. Patrick’s church in Donegall Street during the parade season in the summer of 2012. On Tuesday (December 1st), the thirteen band members had their April convictions quashed. (Telegraph) Above is graffiti on Lanark Way — Stop political policing on band’s men — and below a flyer for a fundraiser in support of the legal appeal.
Brian “Herbie” McCallum was a 29 year-old attending a contentious loyalist parade to Whiterock Orange Hall, being re-routed by the RUC, when the grenade he was carrying exploded prematurely, killing him instantly. The mural and memorial shown above is at the top of Ainsworth Avenue, close to the spot of the incident. He died in hospital three days later. (CAIN | Border & Border Politics | Irish News article at Nuzhound | Independent)
When John Stewart painted a new Titanic mural in Cuba Walk last November (2014), he painted over a UFF crest-and-flags (for which see M07651). The lower part of the mural, however, was left untouched. It is obscured by a 6′ high wall around the house. As can been seen in these three images, it included Northern Irish and Scottish flags, “Ulster 1690. “Ulster Volunteer Force” is probably a later addition, given that the original mural was for the UFF.
Two visions of brotherhood: The Lady Boys Of Bangkok compete for poster space with the Irish Republican Brotherhood’s proclamation of an Irish Republic.
This is the middle wall on the site of the former Andersonstown RUC station, which has undergone three changes in recent months. The longstanding Fıanna sunburst (see X00350) was painted over with IRPWA stencils (Stop strip searches, End Internment, Justice For The Craigavon 2) which in turn were largely covered with writing by DAZE (see the image below). Most recently, a large Fıanna banner, shown above, has been placed over the wall.
Back in July (2015) “Taigs will be crucified” graffiti appeared on an box next to the Broadway roundabout but was removed after a few days. “Taigs will be dealt with” then appeared — see the image below.
The graffiti above is not far away on the Donegall Road, when it appeared in July it was joined by a wooden crucifix (for which see this BelTel article); the crucifix has gone but the graffiti was still in place in November. “VTOT” stands for “Village Team On Tour” – referring to the loyalist “Village” area of south Belfast.
Three F-bombs today in a concentrated package. Above we have the PSNI and the IRA combined into one (and next to a swastika, not shown) in Maladon Street, south Belfast. Below, we have “Fuck the TV man, part 3” in Roulston Street in Londonderry’s Waterside. And finally, there is is “Fuck DAAD fags” on the New Lodge Road in north Belfast. “DAAD” stands for “direct action against drugs”, a group which counted Kevin McGuigan and Jock Davison as members (both of whom were killed in a feud this summer) and now goes by “AAD”. (For AAD and the murders of Davison and McGuigan see Irish News | Belfast Telegraph | Guardian.)
In this modified ‘School’ safety sign in the lower Shankill estate, a mother and child with collarettes go to school, under the watchful eye of UFF, UYM, and UDA boards on the gable wall behind it. (In 2000, a board reading “Drumcree” was placed over “School”. See J0585)
The South Belfast UDA this week issued a statement that they “won’t be leaving any stage whilst republicans of any faction still exist”. As the Newsletter article notes, the South Belfast branch of the UDA does not speak for the whole organization. Until confirmed, then, the new mural above – “Welcome to the loyalist Lower Shankill – UDA 2nd Batt. C. Coy” – provides only circumstantial evidence …