“The blood our comrades shared/will not have been in vain//Their honour we remember/and staunch we shall remain.” UDA/UFF walls at the entrance to Rathfern. The second image, of the upper wall, shows to small portraits of Eddie The Trooper.
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Posing in front of the Cloughfern Arms: on the left, masked men with assault rifles from UDA [South East Antrim] 1st batt, B coy; on the right, standard bearers for the CYC (Cloughfern Young Conquerors).
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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The version of Eddie The Trooper in Cloughfern carries an assault rifle and a Cloughfern Young Conquerors (flute band) flag, founded in 1973 – the same year as the UFF – and “still undefeated”. He wears plaid/tartan trousers – perhaps a reference to Rathcoole Kill All Irish or other tartan gang. (Eddie has his own Visual History page.)
On the crosses are written the names of bands from the Rathcoole area (that no longer exist) “G. Blair Mem” [George Blair Memorial Flute Band – a UVF band], “WPB” [Whiteabbey Protestant Boys], “Sons Of KAI“, “Dam Busters” [Dam Busters Flute Band Newtownabbey], and “EAV” [East Antrim Volunteers – a UVF band]. (Thanks to Joe K for the information about the bands.)
“RUC?” might refer to the shifting attitudes towards the police service (PSNI).
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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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“HM Queen Elizabeth II 1952-2012”. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor acceded to the throne of the United Kingdom in 1952 (she was crowned in 1953). 2002 was her golden jubilee year. See also Long To Reign Over Us. The ‘sponsorship’ box reads “This mural was commissioned by 1st batt A coy South East Antrim UDA UFF UYM.” It would later be completely whited out and later painted over in black. It is undamaged in J1444.
Owenreagh Dr, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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“In memory of a fallen comrade, Colin Ralph Caldwell, murdered, Crumlin Road jail, 28th November 1991. 3rd Belfast battalion, Ulster Volunteer Force. Lest we forget.” The bomb had been planted by the IRA, killing the UDA’s Robert Skey immediately (November 24th) and Caldwell, from his wounds, a few days later on the 28th. A flute band was named in Caldwell’s memory and had a board across the street: Colin Caldwell Memorial FB.
Derry Hill, Rathcoole
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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UVF volunteer Colin Caldwell died of injuries sustained in an IRA bombing inside the Crumlin Road jail in November 1991. A Rathcoole flute band was named in his honour (later merging with Sons Of KAI?).
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03044
The “Commando Memorial” stands 17 feet high near Lochaber in the Scottish highlands, in memory of the British Commando Forces created in WWII. It is depicted in this Red Hand Commando (B Company 1st Battalion) mural in Derrycoole Way, Rathcoole. Below the three commandos is one of the RHC mottos “It is not for glory or riches we fought but for our people.” (See also Lamh Dearg Abu and Our Grip Is Tight).
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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The four landmark high-rise buildings in Rathcoole – seen in the background of this nearby UDA mural – are called Abbotscoole, Carncoole, Glencoole and Monkscoole. Listed on the left-hand side are various areas in the South East Antrim brigade (plus Shore Road).
Bencrom Park, Rathcoole
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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2011 [M06786] [M06785]
UDA insignia and an assault rifle next to Green End in Rathcoole.
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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UDA/UFF mural in Rathcoole, with barbed wire for the Loyalist Prisoners Association.
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Copyright © 1991 Alan Gallery. All rights reserved. alangallery.com
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Peter Moloney Collection 