Belfast south

Battle Of The Somme

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here are two new murals in the Village: On the left, soldiers go over the top at the Battle Of Albert on the first day of the Somme. To the right, the Ulster Special Service Forces (USSF) was an elite unit of the Ulster Volunteers. Its flag includes the UVF emblem with a garland of thistle, shamrock, and rose. For an earlier (1988) example and more info, see USSF in Belfast; also another in Londonderry (1998).

Kilburn Street, Village, south Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2010 Peter Moloney
M05831 [M05832] M05833
2011 [M06706] [M06707]

Common Sense

Extramural Activity1 Comment

UDA commander John McMichael was also secretary of the New Ulster Political Research Group (NUPRG), a think tank of the UDA/UFF. The group argued for an independent Northern Ireland (based in part on beliefs about a separate Ulster ethnic identity) in two documents, 1979’s Beyond the Religious Divide and 1987’s Common Sense (available at CAIN), promoting the philosophy of ‘Ulster nationalism’, depicted here by the free-floating Northern Ireland. McMichael ran unsuccessfully for the Belfast South seat after the murder of Robert Bradford (see To Bathe The Sharp Sword Of My Word In Heaven).

“As John McMichael stated before his untimely death, we must share the responsibility for finding a settlement and share the responsibility of maintaining good government. He left us hope.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2010 Peter Moloney
M05931 [M05932] [M05933]

UDA South Belfast Brigade

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This UDA memorial garden is in Lemberg Street, at the top of (south Belfast) Roden Streeet. The plaque to John McMichael and eleven others would later be moved to Sandy Row. The stone on the right reads “In memory of fallen comrades south Belfast brigade”.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2010 Peter Moloney
M05935 M05934 [M05900]
[M11967] [M11968]

Give Sectarianism The Boot

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is just one of the nine kids and local community boards (five from the Charter Youth Club, four from the Sandy Row Womans Group [sic]) at the blind end of Blythe Street, Belfast. The panel in the middle right of this one is of kids taking part in “Give Sectarianism The Boot” an initiative of the IFA and Community Relations Council.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2010 Peter Moloney
M05897 [M05898] [M05899]

UVF South Belfast 2nd Battalion

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“In proud memory of our fallen comrades from the officers and members of South Belafst 2nd Battalion [‘A’ Company Donegall Pass] ‘Glorious on the graves of heroes, kindly upon all those who have suffered for the cause. Thus will shine the dawn. They gave their tomorrow for our today.'” UVF memorial garden in Walnut Street.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2010 Peter Moloney
[M05657] [M05658] [M05659] [M05660] [M05661] M05662 [M07556]