The Ibrox Bar

Ibrox Stadium is the home ground of Scottish club Glasgow Rangers, which has a large following among Protestants in Northern Ireland. The bar was formerly the Bunch Of Grapes (owned by the UDA’s Jim Gray). It’s initial attempt to rebrand itself using Rangers’ logo and the name “Ibrox” drew threat from the club (Irish Independent), and it changed its livery to the Eye-brox bar shown above.

Beersbridge Road, east Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03367

A Few Of The Many

“Lest we forget. This memorial is dedicated to the men of the Willowfield Battalion, East Belfast regiment, Ulster Volunteer Force, who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War 1914-1918. It stands on the site of the old Willowfield unionist hall, opened by Sir Edward Carson on May 16th 1913, as a drill hall and rifle range for Willowfield UVF. It was from this hall volunteers marched to Balmoral, from there to the green fields of France, some never to return. Sleep on, dear sons of Ulster, ’til the trumpet sounds again.”

“In memory of our fallen comrades Ulster Volunteer Force East Belfast.”

“In solemn remembrance we salute the brave men of Ulster. Without favour or reward they fought militant republicanism on its own terms. Their courage, dedication and sacrifice we will remember for evermore. Joe Long, Robert (Squeak) Seymour, Charlie Logan, Trevor King, Billy Miller, Tommy McDowell, Joe Shaw, Colin Caldwell, Harris Boyle, Wesley Somerville, Geoffrey Freeman, David Swanson, Sinclair Jonhston, Robin Jackson. This is a few of the many. For God and Ulster.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
[M03364] [M03365] M03366

Dan Winter’s Cottage

“Dan Winter’s ancestral home – the focal point of the Battle Of The Diamond on 21st September 1795, which led to the formation of the Orange Order in Sloan’s house, Loughgall.”

Dan Winter’s cottage at “the Diamond” (the crossroad of Grange Road and Derryloughan Road) was occupied by (Catholic) Defenders as they marched towards the (Protestant) Peep-O-Day Boys on a nearby hill. 30 out of 300 Defenders would be killed while the Peep-O-Day Boys went unscathed. After the battle, the Protestant combatants met in Loughgall and formed the Orange Society. 10,000 Catholics would subsequently migrate from Armagh.

This is one of two buildings on Derryloughan Road with “Dan Winter’s Cottage” plaques.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
[M03232] [M03233] M03234 M03235

Orange Order Bicentenary

“This monument is erected by the County Grand Orange Lodge of Armagh to commemorate the bicentenary of the formation of the Orange Order after the Battle Of The Diamond on 21st September 1795.” The monument is near “the diamond” itself – the cross-roads of Grange Road and Derryloughan Road.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
[M03129] [M03130] M03231

Armagh Orange Arch

King Billy takes centre stage in the Orange arch in Armagh, flanked a variety of Orange symbols such as crossed keys, compass and set square, cross and crown, an anchor, and a coffin. “FCH” (reading from the bottom up, as the ladder would be ascended) stands for “Faith, hope, charity” – I Corinthians 13:13 is read during initiation.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03208 [M03209 ] [M03210] M03211 [M03212] [M03213] [M03236] [M03237]