“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).
“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’]”
“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).
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)
“Important/Tábhachtach – Faıgh do vóta/Get your vote. Is everyone in your house on the electoral register? Gach vóta luachmhar…/Every single vote counts …” This is a generic electoral board encouraging voter registration (for Sınn Féın voters, at least) as there are elections scheduled until the local and European votes in May, 2014.
The poppy (with a skull at its centre and dripping blood) is “symbol of British imperialism around the world: Palestine, Libya, Malvinas, Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan. Britain out of Ireland.”
Reaction to the death (on Monday, April 8th) of Margaret Thatcher, U.K. Prime Minister 1979-1990 (WP), in an alley below Divis tower, between Divis Street and Clonfaddan Crescent.
Also in Clonfadden Crescent can be seen a plaque commemorating the opening of “Divis Development Phase 1” by “Gerry Adams M.P” on May 16th, 1991. “Bua an phobıal” [“Bua an phobaıl”, “The community’s victory”] It took thirteen years of campaigning before the Executive agreed to knock down the old flats in 1986 (Alfaro & Roulston 2021).
“Mol an óıge agus tıocfaıdh sí” – “youth responds to praise”, such as when playing in the annual Easter Gaelic games tournament, now in its eighth year. Joe Cahill (WP) holds the cup aloft.
The group in the bottom left corner are Pat O’Hare, Frank Cahill, Tom Cahill, (the three Cahills were featured in the previous mural) Ned Maguire, Jr., Ned Maguire, Sr., Alec Crowe, Paddy Meenan, Tommy Crowe, Dal Delaney, and Hugh Elliot.
In the crook of Cahill’s arm are Rita McParland, Sean Wallace, Paddy Corrigan, John Pettigrew, and John Stone. None of these adults is still alive; all were from the local area.
The chalet bungalows in the background on the left are gone, but you can see images of them on the Belfast Forum.
The plaque on the left names others in addition “who assisted, resourced and gave selflessly to the republican cause”: Billy Kelly, Alice Cush, Kate Campbell, John Mulligan, Mary Mulligan, David Mulhern, Margaret Mulhern, John Clarke, Margaret Farrelly, Marie Williams, Kevin Sullivan, Michael Rock, John McColgan, Bridget Maguire, Martin Maguire, Sally Corrigan, Sonny O’Reilly, Maggie McArdle, Jimmy McArdle, Kathleen Wallace, Maragret McGuinness, John Flanagan, Maisie McGuckian, Charlie McGuckian, Anthony Muldoon, Jim Logue, Ellen Weir, Liam Mackie, Oliver McParland, Sadie McMahon, Tommy Crowe, Maddie Holden, Sarah Doyle, Jimmy Doyle, Kathleen Pettigrew, Mary Cushnihan, Bell Cosgrove, Gerry Campbell.
“In proud and loving memory of Vol. Robert McCrudden, Belfast Brigade, murdered by British Crown Forces, 3rd August 1972, aged 19 years. Ní dhéanfaıdh muıd dearmad [gur] fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann. Remember Our Volunteers Committee 19th August 2012”
“I don’t mind being called a dissenter, I’ve been a dissenter all my life.” An anti-Agreement tribute to “The Dark” (Brendan Hughes), IRA commander, blanketman, and 1980 hunger striker, on the Springfield Road.