For God, Ulster & Scotland

03216 2015-12-04 Protestant Boys Stirling+

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.”

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03216 Sir David Stirling Memorial Vol. Brian Robinson Parade

Big Blues Club

03212 2015-12-04 Political Policing Bands+

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.

03215 2015-12-04 Fundraiser+

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03212 X03215 Our members suffered last year at the hands of the corrupt judicial system that’s now being played out in our courts, the entire membership of our band seen themselves being convicted for doing NOTHING only playing a tune! We had SF/IRA scum giving evidence at our trial that wouldn’t stand up in any normal society. After being convicted all of our members instantly lodged an appeal to fight what we see as a very just cause, we would be most grateful of your support in attending our fundraiser to help pay for this appeal, we hope you can appreciate that the outcome will have very BIG implications for the whole band scene and it’s a fight we ALL need to win, as stated above its a fundraising event therefore a 5 pound entry fee must be applied to all, there will be ballots on the night and a DJ of 80s, 90s, 00s to present day & some of the finest marching bands on show! Many thanks for taking the time to read this and we look forward to your support on the 13th November.  legal challenge friday DJ Rab Proctor beach boys

Some Day Soon We’ll March Proudly On Parade

03213 2015-12-04 McCallum+

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)

lyrics

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03213 29-6-93 YCV young citizen volunteers PAF protestant action force we will remember him. The officers and members of Sweeney’s ‘A’ Company 1st Belfast Battalion Ulster Volunteer Force.

Below The Waterline

02887 2015-09-01 Cuba Walk Below+

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.

02885 2015-09-01 Cuba Walk Below mid+

02886 2015-09-01 Cuba Walk Below right+

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02887 X02885 X02886

Brotherhoods

03197 2015-12-01 Lady Boys+

Two visions of brotherhood: The Lady Boys Of Bangkok compete for poster space with the Irish Republican Brotherhood’s proclamation of an Irish Republic.

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X03197 beauties and beats custom house november belfast an bhreataın amach as éırınn saoırse anoıs http://www.eirigi.org poblacht na heıreann the provisional government of the irish republic to the people of ireland Irishmen and Irishwomen: In the name of God and of the dead generations from which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland, through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom. Having organised and trained her manhood through her secret revolutionary organisation, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and through her open military organisations, the Irish Volunteers, and the Irish Citizen Army, having patiently perfected her discipline, having resolutely waited for the right moment to reveal itself, she now seizes that moment, and, supported by her exiled children in America and by gallant allies in Europe, but relying in the first on her own strength, she strikes in full confidence of victory. We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible. The long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and government has not extinguished the right, nor can it ever be extinguished except by the destruction of the Irish people. In every generation the Irish people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty; six times during the past three hundred years they have asserted it in arms. Standing on that fundamental right and again asserting it in arms in the face of the world, we hereby proclaim the Irish republic as a sovereign independent state, and we pledge our lives and the lives of our comrades-in-arms to the cause of its freedom, of its welfare, and of its exaltation among the nations. The Irish republic is entitled to, and hereby claims, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman. The republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past. Until our arms have brought the opportune moment for the establishment of a permanent national government, representative of the whole people of Ireland, and elected by the suffrages of all her men and women, the Provisional Government, hereby constituted, will administer the civil and military affairs of the republic in trust for the people. We place the cause of the Irish republic under the protection of the Most High God, whose blessing we invoke upon our arms, and we pray that no one who serves that cause will dishonour it by cowardice, inhumanity, or rapine. In this supreme hour the Irish nation must, by its valour and discipline, and by the readiness of its children to sacrifice themselves for the common good, prove itself worthy of the august destiny to which it is called. Signed on behalf of the provisional government, Thomas J Clarke, Sean MacDiarmada, Thomas MacDonagh, P H Pearse, Eamonn Ceannt, James Connolly, Joseph Plunkett

Another Sunrise, Another New Beginning

03188 2015-11-12 Fianna banner+

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.

03014 2015-09-17 JFTC2 Daze+

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X03188 X03014 Falls Rd Sınn Féın republican youth óıge phoblachtach ógra shınn féın  glaıne ınár gcroí neart ınár ngéaga beart de réır ar mbrıath purity in our hearts strength in our arms truth on our lips irish republican prisoners welfare association

Taigs Will Be Dealt With

03180 2015-11-12 Taigs VTOT+

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.

03187 2015-11-12 Taigs Dealt With+

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X03180 X03187 KAT

The F-Bomb

03158 2015-11-06 FTPSNIRA+

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.)

02858 2015-08-26 FuckTheTvMan+

03152 2015-10-19 Fuck DAAD Fags+

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X03158 X02858 X03152

Orange Crossing

03120 2015-10-11 School+

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)

03119 2015-10-11 UFF UDA UYM+

03118 2015-10-11 UYM School+

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X03120 X03119 X03118 terrae filius quis separabit UFF 73 ulster defence force young militants freedom fighters

Have They Gone Away?

03089 2015-10-04 Welcome To Loyalist Lower Shankill+

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 …

Elsewhere: Join the South East Antrim UDA: Glenfield Community Association.

Update (2015-10-16): Similar statement from “IRA commanders” BelfastLive | Irish Mirror

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quis separabit UFF UYM X03089