PUL

The Great Sacrifice

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Here are three boards in Lindsay Street, south Belfast, chronicling the 1912 Covenant and the lives lost (by the 36th Division) in the Great War 1914-1918.

“It is needful that we knit together as one man, each strengthening the other, and not holding back of counting the cost” – Ulster [Unionist] Council Resolution 1912.” “Ulster’s solemn league and covenant. Ulster Day 28th September 1912.” The Council met on September 23rd and 471,000 people signed the covenant (figures here) on or around the 28th – Ulster Day – led by Sir Edward Carson.

“Donegall Pass remembers 1914-1918 – the great sacrifice. Lest we forget. Here are commemorated the many local men who during the Great War of 1914-1918 gave the most that man can give: life itself for God for King and Country.” With a map of the northern end of the Western Front and images of soldiers marching, on horseback, and in the trenches.

“The war is over. Armistice Day 1918. 11th month, 11th day, 11th, hour.” “But in their eyes shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes … Their flower the tenderness of patient minds, and each slow dusk a drawing down of blinds.” Lines from Wilfred Owens’ (1893-1918) ‘Anthem For Doomed Youth‘.

At the bottom: “The last three months of WWI became known as the hundred days. Realising they were defeated an armistice was signed by the Germans. Germany finally surrendered and WWI ended on November 11th 1918. The terms of the agreement called for the end of fighting along the entire Western Front to begin a precisely 11 am that morning. Records show that the last British soldier killed in WWI was Private George Edwin Allison of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers. He was killed at Mons at 09:30 am, just 90 minutes before the ceasefire.”

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Lincoln Court

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These are end-of-life images of the murals in Lincoln Court. The right-hand member of the pair, now covered by ivy, depicts scenes from the Ulster Workers’ Strike of 1974; of the four boards that made up the Community Spirit piece only the ‘1980s’ one remains.

The wildlife scene on the wall below is called “I’m a local celebrity, get me out of here“.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Eddie Rides

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Zombie-skeleton Eddie The Trooper rides a black steed in Londonderry’s Fountain area. There’s no explicit reference to loyalist paramilitarism here, though he will readily be understood to be hunting Catholics rather than charging Russians at Balaclava. For background, including the connection to Iron Maiden, see the Visual History page on Eddie.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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UFF Carrickfergus

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The upper flag on the right-hand side of this mural – purple saltire on a blue background with star and red hand – is the proposed flag of Ulster nationalists. The position was espoused by the UDA of the 1970s, under the guise of the political parties the Ulster Loyalist Democratic Party (WP) and the Ulster Democratic Party (WP), and for a time by the Red Hand Commandos under the Ulster Loyalist Central Coordinating Committee (WP).

This is a repaint; for the previous (identical) version, see UFF Carrickfergus.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Progression Requires Inclusion

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“Progression requires inclusion” of UVF paramilitary gangs.

The painting of King Billy is by John Darren Sutton and was produced on a grand scale in Tavanagh Street, Village, south Belfast – see Hang Out Our Banners.

“It’s dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.” “Loyal Carrickfergus – then, now and always!”

Davy’s Street, Carrickfergus

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Loyalist Westwinds

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Here is a gallery of images from Westwinds estate in Newtownards, featuring (East Belfast) UVF murals and memorial gardens.

The newest one shows Carson signing the 1912 Covenant beneath a UVF emblem reading “Armed and ready”.

The one with some damage reads, “Our only crime was to serve you, the community and protect ‘our country’. Now times have changed. As a force, our belief is not only ‘for God and Ulster’ but to you, the community, ‘help us to help you’.”

The central stone in the memorial garden is dedicated to “all our fallen comrades both in the Battle Of The Somme and fight against republicanism”.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Years Of Sacrifice

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This mural was originally intended to have two hooded gunmen firing a funeral volley (see X01436 for the draft), but because of protest by locals (see, e.g. NewsLetter) this was changed to two unmasked men, one of whom is clearly of the WWI era. Most of the mural refers to the modern UVF: the Nissen huts and towers are from Long Kesh, UVF members Robert Seymour, James Cordner, Joe Long, and Robert Bennett are listed on the left-hand side.

Carlingford Street, east Belfast. The “UVF 1st batt B. coy” graffiti is in Omeath Street.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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East Belfast Volunteers

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This is a repainted version of the mural of ‘insignia’ of units of the eighth battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles. This new mural includes a background of silhouetted soldiers and additional poppies on the right of the main gable and along the bottom of the side wall; the units included remain the same as before.

The plaques on the side wall have changed slightly: the information plaque remains from before but the plaque of VC winners now includes photographs, and the words of Moina Michael’s ‘We Shall Keep The Faith’ are now included in addition to McCrae’s ‘In Flanders Fields’.

Canada Street, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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The Untold Story

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This is a repainted version of the Canada Street mural about Protestant refugees to Liverpool in 1971. The text on the right of the previous version began “In August 1971 many Protestants fled their homes as the IRA launched a bitter sectarian attack on Protestant communities throughout Belfast” but now does not mention the IRA.

To the mural has been added a laminated letter of thanks to Elsie (Allen) Doyle, one of the organisers in Liverpool

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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in august 1971 many protestants fled their homes as the scale of violence erupted throughout belfast the loyal people of liverpool held out the hand of friendship in our hour of need up to 2000 terrified women and children escaped from burning homes to live in the safety of liverpool that act of friendship by the people of liverpool will never be forgotten a bond never broken no surrender telegraph the big flight of fear is on refugee problem is still growing number of homeless running into several thousand moving out of riot areas echo city gets ready northern ireland steamship ulster queen princes dock just after 6.30 am tired and strained hastily packed suitcases told of there anguish elsie allen doyle the debt of gratitude owed to this lady cannot be measured sitting in liverpool she seen the plight of the protestant families having to flee their home some of them burning as a member of lily of north ladies l.o.l. 79 she decided something had to be done her husband & father-in-law traveled to belfast in august 1971 what she saw motivated her to think that people could come and stay these needed a break away from mayhem that was going on in the name of the republican cause started to make plans and phoned friends including the orange order the hand of friendship was being extended across the irish sea they would not be found wanting took over 900 no mean feat seen they were all housed and cared for god bless you grandchildren loyalist stretched out to us