painted wall

For Our People

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The “Commando Memorial” stands 17 feet high near Lochaber in the Scottish highlands, in memory of the British Commando Forces created in WWII. It is depicted in this Red Hand Commando (B Company 1st Battalion) mural in Derrycoole Way, Rathcoole. Below the three commandos is one of the RHC mottos “It is not for glory or riches we fought but for our people.”

The RHC memorial is cut off on the left of the image.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Colin Caldwell

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Memorial mural and plaque to the UVF’s Colin Caldwell. “In memory of a fallen comrade, Colin Ralph Caldwell, murdered, Crumlin Road jail, 28th November 1991. 3rd Belfast battalion, Ulster Volunteer Force. Lest we forget.” The bomb had been planted by the IRA, killing the UDA’s Robert Skey immediately (November 24th) and Caldwell, from his wounds, a few days later on the 28th. A flute band was named in Caldwell’s memory and had a board across the street: Colin Caldwell Memorial FB.

Derry Hill, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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HM Queen Elizabeth II

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“HM Queen Elizabeth II 1952-2012”. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor acceded to the throne of the United Kingdom in 1952 (she was crowned in 1953). 2002 was her golden jubilee year. She is surrounded by the flags of the four constituents of the UK: Northern Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland.

There was previously a “scroll” below the portrait reading “This mural was commissioned by 1st batt A coy South East Antrim UDA UFF UYM.” This has been painted over in black but the UFF and UDA emblems remain.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Loyalist Randalstown

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“This plaque was presented by the officers and members of the Randalstown Sons Of Ulster flute band on Saturday 17th April 1999 in memory of all the loyalist people of Ulster who have suffered at the hands of the enemies of our land.” All of the plaque, the arch, the ground painting, and the 36th Division board are sponsored by the Randalstown Sons Of Ulster flute band (tw). Neilsbrook Road, Neilsbrook Park, and Blackthorn Way, Randalstown. For more images from the estate, see Loyalist Neilsbrook.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Mussen Cortège

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“Richard Mussen joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (27th foot) at the age of 15. At the outbreak of the Zulu wars he volunteered for active service and was transferred to the Second Battalion The South Wales Borderers (24th foot). At the outbreak of the Great War he joined the 9th Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles and with him went his 4 sons and 2 sons-in-law. His son Richard (junior) was killed at the Somme on Thursday 21st March, 1918 and is remembered at Pozieres Memorial. Richard Mussen was buried from 22 Dundee Street [which was just above Agnes Street] on 29/12/1936 and was accorded full Military Honours. He was laid to rest in Belfast City Cemetery.” (From the accompanying plaque.)

Here is a short NVTv documentary about Mussen, including (at 12m25s) the image on which the mural shown here is based. The mural was done with spray paint by artist Sam Bates a.k.a. SMUG. It was unveiled on June 24th, 2011.

For some close-ups and the plaque, see the 2016 post.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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New Mural Loading

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Muraling gets meta, just off the Cliftonville Road. A mural is such a familiar mode of expression in Belfast that one is expected on every wall, and even more so in the post-Agreement years when the state enters as a third source of murals. The pixelated hourglass and font of the text hearken back to computers of the 1990s.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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