Political commentary on the Cupar Way “peace” line (near Lanark Way): “Stick Haass up your ass” — a reference to the negotiations which were taking place around Christmas and New Year’s, led by Richard Haass, into the “legacy issues” of flags and emblems (including murals) and parades. No agreement was reached. (BBC | pdf | BBC)
December update: the Stormont House Agreement covered many of the same areas (WP).
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
M10870
This piece of aspirational graffiti is on the Cupar Way “peace” line. “Free us all .. from the prison .. of mistrust .. misunderstanding .. and misdeeds.” It goes back to the the very first wild-style writing jam on the wall, in April 2009.
See also: Fuck You And Your Patronising Slogans.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
M10869
“… fight for a better future. It is your choice.” On the darker left-hand side of the board are rioters throwing Molotov cocktails at RUC/PSNI vehicles and the very “peace” wall upon which this board is mounted; on the more colourful right-hand side of the board houses are being built, a student is graduating, children are happy, and workers are taking sledge-hammers to the wall.
With sponsorship from PCSP (Policing & Community Safety Partnership) (web) and Alternatives (web).
Painted by Daniela Balmaverde (web). Cupar Way, west Belfast.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
M10868
These are two painted metal-worked pieces bolted to the “peace” line on Cupar Way, celebrating “Shankill Ingenuity” and “Identity, Heritage”, while commemorating the lives lost on Titanic.
“1140” p.m. local time, April 14th, 1912, was when the ship hit an iceberg and began sinking. At about 2:20 a.m., in the early hours of the 15th, it went under.
See also: Belfast Inventiveness and Industrial Legacy.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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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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M10830 [M10830] [M10832]
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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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
M10784
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” 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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This vintage UFF fist is on Sydney Street West at Ghent Place, in the Mill area of the Shankill.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
M10738
