PUL

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

RUC George Cross

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“This window on the theme PEACE was given to mark the sacrifices and honour the achievements of the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross [foundation website] 1922-2001. Dedicated by The Most Reverend Lord Eames of Armagh 12th October, 2008. Houston McKelvey, dean [dedication text], Kenneth Patterson, warden, Phyllis Foster, warden.”

St Anne’s Cathedral, Donegall Street, Belfast city centre. Designed by Ann Smyth (web).

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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No 4 Platoon

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“This memorial is dedicated to the memory of the fallen Officers, NCOs and Volunteers of Number 4 Platoon, A Company, 1st Belfast Battalion, Ulster Volunteer Force. It serves as a tribute to those who fell while actively engaging the enemy from service having fulfilled their duties to the end. Their names and deeds are eternally venerated by their comrades in arms who continue to serve humbly in their honour. ‘They went with songs to battle, they were young,/Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow,/They remained staunch to the end against odds uncounted,/They fell with their faces to the foe.’ [Binyon’s ‘For The Fallen’]”

In the top left Carson is shown reviewing the Ulster Volunteers (and on top of the weapons beneath it, a cloth cap and WWI helmet) and in the top right are an old show of strength photograph and the former mural in this spot (with paramilitary cap and balaclava beneath).

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Civil Rights For All Protestants

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“Glencairn demands civil rights for all Protestants now!” and “RIP Maggie Thatcher, the Iron Lady – true legend.” Thatcher died on April 8th, 2013. The specific reason for the tarp, if any, is unknown; it might be the ban on marching past the Ardoyne shops (CSMonitor).

Forthriver Road, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori

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The Ballybeen memorial garden contains stones/plaques to 36th (Ulster) Division (WWI), Ballybeen Red Hand Commando, Dundonald UVF, East Belfast UVF, East Belfast Red Hand Commando.

UVF: “This memorial is dedicated to all the brave men who lost their lives fighting militant republicanism. Their courage and sacrifice will be remembered for evermore. ‘At the going down of the sun/And in the morning/We will remember them’ For God and Ulster.”

RHC: “This memorial is dedicated to the memory of the brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We will remember them. ‘Glorious on the graves of heroes/Kindly upon all those who have suffered for the cause/Thus will shine the dawn.’ [Winston Churchill, radio broadcast on October 21, 1940, entitled Dieu Protège La France.] ‘They gave their tomorrow for our today.’ [John Maxwell Edmonds’s memorial epitaph] Lahm [sic] derg [sic] abu [sic]. Lest we forget. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” (Wilfred Owen)

Davarr Avenue, Ballybeen.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Peace Bridge

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In this Caw mural the Peace Bridge is shown spanning the Foyle between (the former) Ebrington barracks and the Guildhall, with a film-strip of images, many depicting naval and military scenes, above and below. Second from left in the upper ribbon, a poster encourages people to “Join the Wrens [and free a man for the fleet]” (the Women’s Royal Naval Service; see the poster at IWM); there are also soldiers playing ping-pong in their barracks, and the ship’s bell of the HMS Londonderry (which served as a training ship during the Falkland War — WP).

Sperrin Park, Caw, Londonderry

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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The Derrys

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“In proud memory of our fallen comrades from the Nelson Drive flute band. Glorious on the graves of heroes, kindly upon all those who have suffered for the cause. Thus will shine the dawn. They gave their tomorrow for our today.” The words in italics are from a Winston Churchill radio broadcast on October 21, 1940, entitled Dieu Protège La France. The final, more familiar, phrase is John Maxwell Edmonds’s memorial epitaph. The 10th battalion of the Inniskilling Fusiliers, in the 109th brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division, was called “The Derrys” (web).

Kinsale Park, Caw, Londonderry

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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For Me There Will Be No More War

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Here are three of twenty new panels on the Donegall Road bridge over the railway.

The post on the mural to James Magennis in Tullycarnet provides background information on him.

A letter home from the Somme: “How I love you all. I wonder what you are doing at home. I must not do that. It is hard enough sitting waiting. We may move at any minute. When this reaches you for me there will be no more war, only eternal peace and waiting for you.” July 1st, 1916 saw the start of the Battle Of The Somme. The 36th (Ulster) division lost over 5,000 men in an initial successful attack near Thiepval Wood, but were driven back that evening.

Ulster suffragettes: “Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over.” (Bella Abzug). The board shows a picture of women drumming up an audience for a suffragette meeting in the Ulster Hall in November 1912. The image in the bottom right is of Emmeline Pankhurst being arrested in London in 1914; the top image is of Pankhurst on tour in the US in 1913 (LoC; see Pieces Of History for a description of the tour; she gave a speech entitled ‘Freedom Or Death’). Pankhurst spoke in Belfast at the 1912 meeting, though the speakers advertised on the placards are “Mrs Charlotte Despard, Miss Irene Miller, Mrs Edith How-Martyn, Miss Alison Neilans“. The first suffrage group in Ireland was the North Of Ireland Women’s Suffrage Society, founded in Belfast in 1872 by Isabella Tod. See also Belfast’s Infamous Prison for information about suffragettes held in Crumlin Road Gaol.

For a complete set of panels, see north side and south side.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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