“No war but the class war – smash Stormont, oppose Tory cuts – support the day of actin, March 13th – IRSP.ie“.
Public-sector workers in many occupations conducted a one-day strike on the 13th (BBC | BBC).
Northumberland Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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In February (2015) the SDLP changed its position on the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Assembly voted to allow it to operate (beyond ‘customs and borders’ functions) in Northern Ireland – it has been operating in Britain since 2013 (BBC | Irish Times). Sınn Féın continues to oppose the NCA (BBC).
Falls Road, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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“On May 7th vótáıl Gearóıd Ó hEára. Leading positive change” – Sınn Féın electoral billboard for the 2015 UK elections, on the back of Free Derry Corner.
Ó hEára would go on to take second place, behind the SDLP’s Mark Durkan (WP).
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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A Christian cross was added (in early 2015?) to the dove and oak leaf on Rossville Street, Derry. For a 2013 image of the previous version, see Dove Of Peace.
The official title of the work is The Peace Mural. For more, see the Visual History page on the Bogside Artists.
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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This Castlemara (Carrickfergus) has been criticized by both DUP and Alliance councillors (Newsletter). The final words – “Join the UDA” – have drawn particular ire, as in other respects it is similar to other murals in featuring hooded gunmen, such as these two other Carrickfergus murals: Inclusion | Eternal Vigilance. (Nolan Show discussion of the mural on 2015-02-11: Part 1 | Part 2)
The mural sports a hooded gunman facing the viewer with a slogan borrowed from Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata: “Better to die on your feet than live on your knees in an Irish republic. Join the UDA.”
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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“South East Antrim Ulster Defence Association” with shamrock, thistle, and rose, but not the daffodil – though the Welsh “Red Dragon” is included alongside the Scottish Saltire, the flag of Northern Ireland, and Queen Elizabeth II’s royal standard.
The mural originally read “Ulster Defence Union” rather than “Ulster Defense Association” – see X01208.
Oakfield Drive, Carrickfergus
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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A statement from the UDA/UFF in Castlemara (Carrickfergus): “Glenfield UDA will not tolerate anti-social behaviour”.
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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This is a vintage cut-out in the Sunnylands estate (visible in 2008 Google Street View). The central board – a RHC emblem – had a plastic or paper layer between the star/wings and the circular back-board with red-white-and-blue colours and the words “Red Hand Commando” in a circle. The hooded gunmen on either side each appear to be a single, painted, carving.
Salia Avenue, Sunnylands, Carrickfergus
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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This is a very aggressive set of boards, in Hampton Crescent behind the Antiville (Larne) community centre: two of them show silhouetted UDA (3rd battalion, D company) gunmen in active poses, and another deploys the fearsome figure of Eddie The Head. Rather than the Union flag that he carries in other murals and on the original Iron Maiden album cover (see Eddie’s Visual History page), in this version “The Trooper” carries a UDA flag (with the UFF symbol also shown). “AYM” is presumably “Antiville Young Militants”.
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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“Remember those not here today, And those unwell or far away, And those who never lived to see the end of the War & Victory, And every friend who’ve lost [or: passed] our way, Remember as of yesterday, It’s absent friends we miss the most, To ALL, Let’s drink a loving toast.”
William Walker’s poem Absent Friends is used as a part of UDA/UFF commemoration of various Larne men: “Ewan ‘Shug’ McPherson, Raymond ‘Toby’ Sloan, Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Nicholl (who is featured in a separate board; BBC-NI report of his killing), Ian ‘Big Ian’ Hamilton. Walker was a pilot during WWII who wrote poetry and returned to the brewing trade after the war; he died at age 99 in 2012 (Guardian).
Linn Road, Antiville, Larne
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 