“Nor meekly serve my time” (in red on the right) is from Francie Brolly’s ‘The H-Block Song’ (youtube) and the “H” at the centre of “Maghaberry” has been painted in red.
At the end of the footbridge from Divis to the city centre, off Durham Street, Belfast.
A tribute to Father Alec Reid, who died on November 22nd, 2013, and buried on the 27th, has been added to the international wall on Divis Street. Reid was a priest in the nearby Clonard monastery and helped negotiate between Sinn Féin and the SDLP and between nationalists and the government of the Republic. He is perhaps best known for attempting to save Corporals Wood and Howe and administering the last rites to them, in 1988 (WP).
This piece takes the place of a ‘Free Marian Price” mural on the International Wall (Divis St); Price was freed on May 30th, 2013.
“History is ours, and history is made by the people — La historia es nuestra y la hacon los pueblos”
This Northumberland Street board celebrates the socialist movement in 1970’s Chile. The Unidad Popular, whose emblem can be seen centre-left and in the close-up below, was a coalition of left-wing parties who supported the Marxist Salvador Allende (seen in the middle) for president in the election of 1970. Allende served as president from 1970-1973 until committing suicide during the coup.
This mural was originally intended to have two hooded gunmen firing a funeral volley (see X01436 for the draft), but because of protest by locals (see, e.g. NewsLetter) this was changed to two unmasked men, one of whom is clearly of the WWI era. Most of the mural refers to the modern UVF: the Nissen huts and towers are from Long Kesh, UVF members Robert Seymour, James Cordner, Joe Long, and Robert Bennett are listed on the left-hand side.
Carlingford Street, east Belfast. The “UVF 1st batt B. coy” graffiti is in Omeath Street.
This is a repainted version of the mural of ‘insignia’ of units of the eighth battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles. This new mural includes a background of silhouetted soldiers and additional poppies on the right of the main gable and along the bottom of the side wall; the units included remain the same as before.
The plaques on the side wall have changed slightly: the information plaque remains from before but the plaque of VC winners now includes photographs, and the words of Moina Michael’s ‘We Shall Keep The Faith’ are now included in addition to McCrae’s ‘In Flanders Fields’.
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
“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)