Daffodil Days

2013-07-29 SEA UDU+

Shamrock, thistle, and rose are shown in this South East Antrim Ulster Defence Union mural but the daffodil is not, even though the Welsh “Red Dragon” is included alongside the Scottish Saltire, the flag of Northern Ireland, and Queen Elizabeth II’s royal standard.

The Ulster Defence Union was a loyalist organization founded to fight against Home Rule, launched on 17 March 1893. The name is now used by the post-ceasefire UDA (beginning in 2007: Newsletter | Remembrance Day Statement at CAIN).

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X01208 banner of arms quis separabit st andrew’s cross carrickfergus ireland irish scotland england enlgish

Orange & Green

2013-05-29 TullPoppies1+

A three-piece stone in the same Tullycarnet garden as the war memorial and peace mural featured previously. “Orange and green it doesn’t matter, United now, Don’t shatter our dream, Scatter the seeds of peace over our land, So we can travel, Hand in hand across the bridge of hope.” by Sean McLaughlin, a twelve-year-old who was killed in the Omagh bombing of 1998 (WP). The garden was unveiled June 2010 (IFI).

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2013-05-29 TullPoppies3+

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End Political Censorship

2013-06-28 CarrickfPanels2+

Three panels adjacent to the new UVF ‘Inclusion’ mural in Carrickfergus, two of which protest perceived discrimination against Protestants. The panels at left (“End political cencorship [sic] of Ulsters [sic] Protestants”) and right (“Stop PSNI violence & brutality against Ulsters [sic] Protestants”) mention the PSNI, while in the left one the BBC and UTV and the judiciary and courts are mentioned in addition. The sponsoring group – Carrickfergus United Loyalists – have a Facebook page.

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X01175 davys street  loyal carrickfergus then, now and always united loyalists

The Courage And Sacrifice Of The Hunger Strikers

The Clowney Street phoenix, which dates back to 1981 (see The Oldest Murals), has been repainted, and above, the blanketmen painting (see 1981-2011) has been replaced with a montage of photographs from the period, including prisoners on the blanket and dirty protest, the funeral of Sands and of McDonnell, and three pieces of graffiti: “Thirty thousands can’t be wrong” (Sands’s election to Westminster), “Bobby Sands murdered 1.17 am 5th May 1981”, and “My position is in total contrast to that of an ordinary prisoner. I am a political prisoner.”

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Thatcher Graffiti

2013-05-15 ThatcherNappy+

This graffiti at the junction of Hawthorn Street/Sráıd na Sceıthe and Cavendish Road exulting in the death of Margaret Thatcher is just below a board memorialising the three IRA members killed in Gibraltar (one of whom, Dan McCann, lived in the street). (Previously: Ding Dong | Thatcherism | The Real Criminal | Rot In Hell | Rust In Peace)

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01096 gibraltar, vol: mairead farrell sean savage dan mccann executed by the british s.a.s. 6th march 1988; oh! cold march winds that pierce the dark you cry in aged tones for souls of folk you’ve brought to god but still you bear the moans oh! weeping winds this lonely night my mother’s heart is sore lord of all breathe freedom’s breath that she may weep no more! bobby sands

White Line, Black Flag

2013-05-05 HungerstrikersAbu+

The anti-Thatcher slogan on Black Mountain above Ballymurphy was replaced with “Hunger Strikers Abú”. May 5th was the anniversary of Bobby Sands’ death in 1981 and a “white line” protest took place – marchers walk down the white line in the middle of road – with participants bearing Sands’ image and carrying a black flag.

2013-05-05 WhiteLineBlackFlag+

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For What??

2013-05-05 RememberLaMon+

Graffiti on Carrington Street, in east Belfast: “Remember The La Mon bombing. 13 Protestants killed. For what?? Sinn Fein vote!” The La Mon hotel and restaurant, outside Belfast, was filled with civilians enjoying dinner-dances at the time it was bombed by the IRA in February 1978 (WP).

The same graffiti appeared in Ravenhill Avenue and Clara Street.

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