PUL

Rex Bar

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This is the scene in the outdoor seating to the Rex Bar on the Shankill Road. The arch is dedicated to the 36th (Ulster) Division at the Battle Of The Somme. On the side of the betting office, Carson signs the Ulster Covenant (Mo2454), Carson reviews the Ulster Volunteers (M02453), and a farmer’s wife protects the farm, both during WWI and from “sectarian attack from across the border” (M02452). The Union Flag to the left is in progress.

Shankill Road at (formerly) Moscow Street

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04283

Ulster Volunteers

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The Ulster Volunteers were formed in response to the Home Rule bill of April 1912 and the Covenant signed in September 1912, first by Edward Carson and then by almost half a million others. Guns were smuggled into Larne on the Clyde Valley in April 1914 but the advent of the World War saw the volunteers instead joining the British Army.

Previously seen, in better shape, in 2005.

Shankill Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04282

A Forgotten Atrocity

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“In memory of five innocent Protestants slaughtered here by a republican murder gang on 13th August 1975. William John Gracey Aged 63, Samuel Gunning, aged 55, Joanne McDowell aged 29, Hugh Alexander Harris aged 21, Linda Boyle aged 17. Erected by the Bayardo Somme Association. “A forgotten atrocity””

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04277 M04276

Victoria Crosses Of The 36th (Ulster) Division

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Nine Victoria Cross recipients from the 36th (Ulster) Division in World War I are honoured in this board on the Shankill at the Co-Op (which was previously across the road in Crimea Street). The nine are (from 1917 and 1918) E[dmund] De Wind, E[rnest] Seaman, C[ecil] L[eonard] Knox, N[orman] Harvey, (from 1916) G[eoffrey] St. G[eorge] S[hillington] Cather, W[illiam] F[rederick] MacFadzean, E[ric] N[orman] F[rankland] Bell, R[obert] Quigg, and J[ames] S[amuel] Emerson. “Only by remembering these men, and others like them, can we ever repay their memory.” The poem In Flanders’ Fields is by Canadian John McCrea.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04281 [M04278] [M04279] [M04280]

Shankill Atrocities

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“30 years of indiscriminate slaughter by so-called non-sectarian Irish freedom fighters. No military targets! No economic targets! No legitimate targets! Where are our inquiries? Where is our truth? Where is our justice?” The bombings listed are: Fourstep Inn, bombed 29th Sept. 1971, 2 innocents killed; Bayardo Bar, bombed 13th August 1975, 5 innocents killed; Balmoral Showroom, bombed 11th December 1971, 2 adults and 2 babies killed; Mountainview Tavern, bombed 5th April 1975, 5 innocents killed; Frizzell’s Fish Shop, bombed 23rd October 1993, 9 innocents killed. The plaque to the right (“donated by the Kinner family”) gives the names of those killed. It was previously beside the painted version of this mural in Bellevue Street.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04275 [M04274] [M04269] [M04268] [M04270] [M04272] [M04271] M04273

Sleeping Where No Shadows Fall

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“In loving memory of military commander Stevie ‘Top Gun’ McKeag, born 1970, died 2000. Sleeping where no shadows fall.” The plaques and the photograph in the centre are new (see previously 2007). The upper plaque [M04257] reads “This mural is dedicated to the memory of Stevie (Top Gun) McKeag from the officers & members of C Company 2nd Battalion UFF. Gone but not forgotten. Quis separabit.” The lower plaque [M04256] reads “In loving memory of our big brother Steven McKeag from jackie, Mary & Melissa. Simply the best.”

Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, Belfast

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04259 [M04258]

Portadown Graffiti

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Graffiti on the loyalist side of the “peace” wall between (nationalist) Obins Street and loyalist Edgarstown, from right to left along Corcrain Road into Charles Street. “KAT” [Kill all Taigs] “REM 96” [Drumcree?], “UFF”, “Free Mad Dog” [Johnny Adair], “ATAT” [All Taigs are targets], “REM the rat pack – we’re back” [LVF], “UFF C Coy UYM”, “LVF”, “FTP” [Fuck the pope], “No pope”.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04144 M04145 M04146 M04147 M04148 M04149 M04150 M04151 M04152 M04153