“There are many legends telling the origins of the Red Hand Of Ulster. This mural depicts only one of those.” In this case, the myth is that Ulster was offered as a prize to whoever could reach it first and was won by throwing a severed hand onto the shore.
Replaces the Lower Shankill UFF mural (M02478).
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03814 [M03816] [M03815]
The red Stevie McKeag mural (X00068 | M02479) is replaced by an (almost complete) image of Cuchulainn (Cú Chulaınn) under the shield of Northern Ireland.
Painted by Blaze FX. For the completed mural, see X00273.
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03813
The Siege Of Derry began in December 1688 when 13 apprentice boys shut the gates against the approaching army of Jacobite soldiers.
Shankill Parade, lower Shankill, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03808
“Anyone caught defacing loyalist murals will be severely dealt with.”
Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03804
Red Hand Commando volunteer Stevie McCrea was sentenced to 16 years for the murder of James Kerr in 1972 (Behind The Mask) and was subsequently “murdered by the enemies of Ulster” on February 18th, 1989 in an IPLO attack on the Orange Cross (see M00560 | WP). “For he shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary him nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember him.”
This is a repaint of the original mural to McCrea – see T00152.
McCrea is included on murals in south Belfast’s Frenchpark Street and Broadway (dating back to at least 1993).
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03807 [M03805] [M03806]
“In loving memory of military commander Stevie ‘Top Gun’ McKeag. Born 1970, died 2000. Sleeping where no shadows fall.” McKeag was the top assassin in the UDA during the 1990s, claiming at least 12 victims. Both his WP page and this Guardian article describe his career and his – sometimes contentious – preeminent standing within the UDA.
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03803 [M03802]
On the side wall: “This mural portrays Protestant men defending their community which was subjected to constant attempts of ethnic cleansing with petrol bombing attacks of their homes on a day to day basis. Eventually vigillanty [sic] groups were formed to secure these areas.”
From the Belfast Telegraph: “Several hundred familys [sic] were forced to flee their homes last night as homes came under attack from republicans. The number homeless is running into several thousand, more people were moving out of riot areas today. The women and children have been offered shelter in cities across the sea. Security forces moved in to bring calm into riot areas.”
The event referred to is the rioting in Bombay Street in 1969.
Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03801 [M03800] [M03799] [M03798]
The Ulster Banner – the flag of the Northern Ireland government from 1924 to 1973 – is taken from the arms, shown here. The supporters are a lion – for the Ulster-Scots – and an elk – for the Irish (WP).
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03794
These three are all from Carlow Street. In the first image, the “UFF” lettering has been over-painted with “UVF”. This is a vintage “bare background” (the wall is not completely painted) mural, dating back perhaps to 1994.
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03792 M03793 M03791
“Not as Catholics or Protestants, not as nationalists or unionists, but as Belfast workers standing together.” For the 100th anniversary of the strike by dockers and carters in Belfast, this large board was painted by Fra Maher and Rısteard Ó Murchú. It was launched on August 11th without the title across the top (youtube). See X00166 and X00167 for the finished product.
Leaders Boyd and Larkin are portrayed in the middle. The second panel shows speakers (including Larkin) on a platform (O’Hare); the third shows an RIC guard of blackleg workers – about 70% of the force mutinied and the fifth panel shows dismissed RIC constable William Barrett being carried through Belfast; the sixth shows the Cameron Highlanders being stoned by picketers (History Ireland). Margaret Lennon and Charles McMullan, two Catholic victims of British soldiers, shot during protests, are portrayed in the bottom right.
Northumberland Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
[M03778] [M03779] [M03780] [M03781] [M03782] [M03783] [M03784] [M03785] M03786
Peter Moloney Collection 