“2012 Centenary year” – a history of Michael Davitt’s GAA (Belfast) can be found at its web site. Davitt was a central figure in the IRB, argued for land reform, and was an MP (WP | VP); he was one of the three original patrons of the GAA, along with Archbishop Croke and Charles Stewart Parnell (Cork GAA). The mural is at the club’s premises in Clonard Street; home games are played at St Mary’s Gardens.
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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This is a repainted version of the mural seen previously in 2006 – the main elements remain the same but a few Ulster Volunteers/36th (Ulster) Brigade elements have been added (as distinct from the UVF), the quote on the right has changed, and there is a dedication.
The quote is from “Sir Edward Carson, 1912” (probably 1920, 12th of July – Treason Felony | RTÉ): “We in Ulster will tolerate no Sinn Féin but we tell you this – that if, having offered you our help, you are yourselves unable to protect us from the machinations of Sinn Féin, and you won’t take our help, we will take the matter into our own hands.”
The Gareth Keys commemorated here is perhaps the same Gareth Keys who painted the yellow UVF mural in Donegall Pass, and whose death is described in this BelTel article.
Castlereagh Road, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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“In proud memory of fallen comrades Capt Joe Long, Vol James (Milky) Cordner, Vol Robert (Squeak) Seymour, Vol Robert Bennett – lest we forget”. Seymour was shot dead by the (P)IRA (Sutton); James Cordner and Joseph Long were killed in a premature explosion (Balaclava St), and Robert Bennett was killed by the British Army during a riot (Sutton).
The plaque was previously on a brickwork column in front of the previous mural – see M02953.
Ballymacarrett Road, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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It’s not clear how long this mural has been in place (possibly 1994 or earlier), but this is a design (four wings of the UDA in the quadrants of an Ulster Banner shield) with a long heritage – see 1988 in the Fountain, Londonderry, 1990 in the Waterside, Londonderry, 1988 variation in Belfast.
For a view of the “Ulster 1690” behind the wall, see Extramural Activity.
Cuba Walk, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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East Belfast remembers both the Great War and the victims of various attacks during the troubles: in pictures: Kingsmill – Shankill – Enniskillen; in garlands of poppies: La Mon 12 dead 17th Feb 1978, Bloody Friday 21st July 1972 9 dead 130 injured, Omagh 15th Aug 1998 29 dead 300 injured, Darkley 20th Nov 1983 3 dead 7 injured, Teebane 17th Jan 1992 8 dead, Ballygawley 20th Aug 1988 8 dead 28 injured, Tullyvallen 1st Sept 1975 5 dead 6 injured.
Derwent Street, east Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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In 2008 and 2009 artist Raymond Henshaw completed a series of cultural murals about the Markets area of Belfast. This one showcases the people of the Markets. Two of the images – bottom right and two spots above it – show a street party to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of Robert Emmet in 1953. For a mural from that occasion (in Ardoyne) see Visual History 02.
Lower Stanfield Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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The shamrock and the poppy. The Young Citizen Volunteers formed a battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles and so part of the 36th (Ulster) Division during the first world war.
Benburb Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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“Families Against Supergrass Trials demand human rights and justice!” The trials of fourteen (alleged) UVF members began in September, using supergrass witnesses (BBC | Guardian). A FAST banner is here seen in Spier’s Place. Extramural has images of the banners in Donegall Pass, Mount Vernon, and Newtownards Road. [The trial would largely collapse in February, 2012 (Guardian)]
For the mural on the left, see UVF Roadblock At Donaghadee; for the memorial on the right, see They Paid The Ultimate Sacrifice.
Spier’s Place, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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“This tablet marks the site of Frizzel[l]’s Fish shop, where at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday 23rd October 1993 a terrorist bomb exploded. 9 innocent souls lost their lives and many more were injured.”
The Shankill UDA and LPA had their headquarters October 23rd above Frizzell’s (here “Frizzel’s”) fishmongers on the Shankill Road. The meeting whose attendees were the intended target had ended early and the bomb exploded prematurely, killing nine people, including the owner and three members of his family, and one of the IRA bombers (elsewhere memorialized by a plaque in Ardoyne), and injuring 57 others.
See also: Shankill Atrocities which (in one of its panels) reproduces the scene after the bombing.
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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“Welcome to west Belfast”. West Belfast is portrayed as a place of music, sport, and dancing, whose landmark buildings and streets are under the watchful eye (and sword) of the goddess Érıu.
The image of the little boy with the “I [heart] Belfast” stickers and a bag of sweets, standing in the waste ground of Divis flats, is a photograph from the early days of Féıle An Phobaıl/West Belfast Festival.
On the Divis Street side, characters in the style of cartoonist Cormac (see e.g. Notes) are “Promoting west Belfast tourism” for “Fáılte Feırste Thıar”, “www.visitwestbelfast.com“. The attractions touted are: “Bop at the August “fleadh”. “Craıc agus ceol” (for Robert Ballagh’s dove coming out of the concrete block, see Féile An Phobail 2008), “The only thing you have here is “choice”. Tar ısteach agus (lıg do scíth)”. “Baın sult as. Tá mé ag éısteacht le Raıdıó Fáilte 107.1 FM”, “For more ideas on things to do, visit Oıfıg Fáılte at An Chultúrlann. There’s really nice food there too! at Caıfe Feırste”, “If it’s history you want go on a cemetery tour “City or Milltown””, “Enjoy a walk on ‘Slıabh Dubh’ (The black … … mountain)”, “Make sure you visit the “Irish republican history museum” at Conway Mill” (with ‘Long Kesh University Of Freedom’ sweater; “Sinn Féin touts” is not a sweater but graffiti.)
Some in-progress shots from May and July can be seen in the Seosamh Mac Coılle collection.
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 