Culture Threatens No One

Three bandsmen – the first two of which, at least, are members of the UVF Regimental Flute Band, one in a vintage and another in a modern uniform – parade together in a new mural in Pitt Park. The UVF Regimental will be going to France for the centenary commemorations of the Battle of the Somme.

For images of the boards being painted see the Ballymac Friendship Centre Facebook page.

Pitt Square, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Achieve!

Shepard Fairey used Mannie Garcia’s AP photo of Barack Obama for his ‘Hope’ poster of the 2008 US Presidential election (WP). The three-quarter profile, faraway look and four-tone shading have been repurposed for the board, shown above, in east Belfast: a boy gazes beyond Samson and Goliath, the Harland & Wolff cranes, backgrounded by a sunburst: “Dream, Seek, Educate, Achieve!”

Painted by Dee Craig in Susan Street, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Dream Another Dream

The saying “You’re never too old to set another goal or dream another dream” is attributed to east-Belfast-bred C.S. Lewis — shown here on the right — though we are unable to find any record of him saying or writing these words; instead it might be be a motivational speaker called Les Brown. In the rest of the piece, young people play in the grounds of Queen’s University and Belfast City Hall.

Newtownards Road, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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To Retain Our Britishness

Here is a new mural of the “Rathcoole Elite” unit (1st Batt., B. Coy) of the Red Hand Commando, complete with four masked men each bearing weapons. Founded in 1970, “To this day our principles remain the same: to protect the loyalist community, to retain our Britishness. It is not for glory or riches we fight but for our people. Lamh Dearg Abu.”

The small plaque reads, “This mural is dedicated to the memory of Volunteer Norman Williamson, born 7-7-1955, died 2-7-1991. Gone but not forgotten.”

Donardview Close, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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At Home And On The Mainland

“We salute all volunteers at home and on the mainland who served with dignity and pride.”

The mural shows two hooded volunteers — from the UVF’s 3rd [north] Belfast battalion and 1st east Antrim battalion – aiming rifles.

The central plaque to Colin Caldwell has been retained from the previous mural and both Caldwell and Marky Quail are named on the ribbons painted around the building’s columns.

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Locals From The Greater Shankill Area

“This poppy cross stands as a memorial to those locals from the Greater Shankill area who lost their lives at the hands of merciless Irish republican murder gangs. Erected by vanguardbears.co.uk” For a mural commemorating bombings on the Shankill, see Shankill Atrocities.

This cross has been mounted on the corner of Sugarfield Street and the Shankill Road, adjacent to the Vanguard Bears board.

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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The Lion Wears The Crown

This Ballee Flute Band mural (formerly for the Ballee Blues And Royals) shows the ‘lion and the unicorn’ from the UK coat of arms. The lion (England) wears a crown but the unicorn (Scotland) does not, since, as the nursery rhyme has it, “the lion beat the unicorn all around the town” (WP).

However, in place of the Royal Standard’s crest and “honi soit qui mal y pense” and “Dieu et mon droit” inscriptions, we find the Bible, “Drumtara”, and “In God we trust”.

Behind are the Union Flag and the flags of the Apprentice Boys and the Orange Order.

Ballee Way, Ballymena

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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