As its title suggests, this lower Shankill mural was originally painted in 2000, highlighting UDA prisoners specifically, before being repainted in 2008 in orange. But it has been sitting with damaged plaster in the bottom-left corner for two years or more.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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The house bedecked with bunting, UFF flags, and a circular UFF board is on Shankill Terrace (on Peter’s Hill); the UDA board is on a gable around the corner, next to California Close; the three individual UFF/UDA/UYM boards are on gables along Hopewell Avenue.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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A new (photographic) portrait and large “UFF” and “UDA” side-walls have been added to the 2011 version (which contains links to prior versions) of the Stevie McKeag mural in the lower Shankill estate.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Here are two new boards in the courtyard of the Rex Bar on the Shankill Road, describing the formation of the Ulster Volunteers (‘A Force For Ulster’) and commemorating the losses suffered by the 36th (Ulster) Division of the British Army, which the Volunteers became, at the Somme and in other battles, mowed down by “the Hun machine guns” (‘The Great War’).
‘A Force For Ulster’ includes photographs of the recent centenary re-enactments of the Balmoral Review, the Ulster Covenant, the formation of the Volunteers (“east” and “west”) and “Operation Lion” – more commonly known as the Larne Gun-Running.
According to the ‘The Great War’ board, 32,186 men from west Belfast were killed, wounded, or missing in the effort to “restore peace in Europe”. “To them bravery was without limit, to us memory is without end”. The board shows the Thiepval Memorial To The Missing Of The Somme against a background of portraits.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Hugh Smyth OBE was born in the Woodvale area and represented the upper Shankill as an Independent Unionist and then a Progressive Unionist in Belfast City Council for forty-one years, until the year before his death in May 2014, including a term as Lord mayor in 1994-1995 – he is pictured in the main image (above) in his mayoral robes.
The portrait on the right (shown solo below) was taken by Bobbie Hanvey and is kept in a Boston College archive; more from the archive can be seen at BC.edu.
As the quote (shown in the second image) indicates, his politics were oriented towards the working class: “Historically, Unionist politicians fed their electorate the myth that they were first class citizens … and without question people believed them. Historically, Republican/Nationalist politicians fed their electorate the myth that they were second class citizens… and without question the people believed them. In reality, the truth of the matter was that we all, Protestant and Catholic, were third class citizen, and none of us realised it!” The board was officially launched on June 19th.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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This Caırde Sınn Féın (Fb) mural joins others in Conway Street sponsored by Australian groups. From left to right, the four are: Australian Aid For Ireland & Saoırse Melbourne | this Caırde Sınn Féın mural | AMWU mural | ETU (the Electrical Trades Union).
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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A new mural on the International Wall combines two current events. One is the furore surrounding the recent description of Islam as “satanic” by Belfast pastor James McConnell (Tele) (and a ‘Rally Against Racism’ to take place today (Saturday, May 31st) – Tele). The middle of the mural reads “Respect and defend our Muslim brothers + sisters – kardeslik azadi”.
The other is the death of Maya Angelou (WP), who died this past Wednesday (May 28th). Angelou is pictured in the top half of the mural, with Muhammad Ali, along with an Angelou quote: “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the past inaccessible.”
In the bottom half appear Padraig Pearse and James Connolly and a line from the Proclamation of the Irish Republic: “Cherish all the children of the nation equally.”
Takes the place of the Miami Five.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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“This woman wants the truth – this woman wants to hide it.” NI Secretary Theresa Villiers (depicted on the right) refused to order further investigation of the shooting deaths of 11 Ballymurphy residents – one for each cross shown – in 1971 (BelTel) and also the La Mon restaurant fire-bombing in which 12 people died (BelTel).
See also: #Time4Truth.
This mural replaces the short-lived mural to Gerry Adams as he was detained while being questioned about the Jean McConville case – see Get The Real Story.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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“After we are gone what will you say you were doing? Will you say you were with us in our struggle, or were you with the very system that drove us to our deaths?”
“In proud memory of the ten H-Block martyrs who died on hunger strike in Long Kesh during the struggle for political status.”
Patsy O’Hara of the INLA (the IRSP is its political wing) died on hunger strike on May 21st, 1981.
This is a new (2013) smaller replacement of the 2006 mural on the same Shaws Road wall.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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“Cuımhnímıs [we remember].” The mural to the “patriot dead” of Lenadoon who died for the freedom (“saoırse”) of Ireland has been repainted.
The design and central figure remain as before, but the tricoloured border is new, as are the photographic portraits of nine local IRA volunteers in the apex. On the scrolls to each side, their names are given as (left) Tony Henderson, John Finucane, Tony Jordan, Brendan O’Callaghan, Joe McDonnell, (right) Laura Crawford, Maıréad Farrell, Patricia Black, Bridie Quinn.
The dedication plaque is from the launch of the 2009 version of the mural; it was originally painted in 1996 (seen here in 2002 with all of the (painted) portraits missing and c. 1999 with three of the nine portraits).
See also the Cú Chulaınn Visual History page.
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 