Newtownards

Loyalist Westwinds

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Here is a gallery of images from Westwinds estate in Newtownards, featuring (East Belfast) UVF murals and memorial gardens.

The newest one shows Carson signing the 1912 Covenant beneath a UVF emblem reading “Armed and ready”.

The one with some damage reads, “Our only crime was to serve you, the community and protect ‘our country’. Now times have changed. As a force, our belief is not only ‘for God and Ulster’ but to you, the community, ‘help us to help you’.”

The central stone in the memorial garden is dedicated to “all our fallen comrades both in the Battle Of The Somme and fight against republicanism”.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Our Heritage In Your Hands

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The Ulster Tower at Thiepval, France, is a replica of Helen’s Tower in Clandeboye, around which the 36th (Ulster) Brigade, which formed in August 1914 from the Ulster Volunteers and Young Citizen Volunteers, began their training (see this gallery of images from North Down Museum at BBC-NI). After a year of training in Ireland and England, the Division was deployed to France in September 1915.

In the top corners are two views of the local Scrabo Tower. Produced by muraltec.

Ilex Avenue, Newtownards

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Ulster Covenant

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“Sir Edward Carson (later Lord Duncairn) signing the Ulster Covenant in the Belfast City Hall, September 28, 1912. Left to right, 1st row: Mr. R.J. McMordie, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Lord Charles Beresford, Marquess of Londonderry, Sir Edward Carson, Captain James Craig (later Lord Craigavon), Mr. J.H. Campbell, K.C. (later Lord Glenavy), and Dr. W. Gibson. 2nd row: present Lord Londonderry, and Col. R.H. Wallace, C.B., D.L. Behind the latter, Ronald McNeill, M.P. (later Lord Cushendun).”

“NVF” in the left-hand insignia stands for “Newtownards Volunteer Flute [Band]” (Fb). On the right is the insignia of another flute band, the North Down Defenders (Fb).

Outside the Bowtown Youth Club in Abbot Gardens, Newtownards

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Comber Loyalists

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“Comber loyalists support Union Flag at city hall.” – that is, the permanent flying of the Union Flag at Belfast city hall. High Street.

Old UVF nail-up in De Wind Drive.

“Comber Orange and Protestant hall. Erected A.D. 1875” and “Comber Orange Hall 2010” in Railway Street.

“To the glory of God and in memory of those members of Ulster’s security forces from Comber and district who gave their lives in defence of their country. Fidelis atque fortis [faithful and also strong]. Erected in 1998.” With the names of one UDR soldier and four RUC policemen. Killinchy Street.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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What Do We Forget When We Remember

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Two poems are featured prominently and another two alluded to in this Newtownards mural and memorial garden to WWI soldiers. The central panel features part of an anti-war work by by Owen Griffiths, Lest We Forget. Robert Laurence Binyon’s For The Fallen is featured on the stone, above a line of Latin from Horace’s Odes (III.2) – On Virtue (which most famously re-appears in Owen’s Dulce Et Decorum Est). On the left and right there appear the mottos of the Royal Irish Rifles – ‘Quis separabit’, which comes from Romans 8:35 – and the Royal Artillery – ‘Ubique – Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt’, which comes from Kipling’s Ubique.

For the (WWI) 13th battalion RIR, see Regimental List and similarly for the 16th (rather than the 17th) “Pioneers”. For the (WWII) 5th Anti-Aircraft battery, see Newtownards History.

Tower Court, Newtownards

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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UVF North Down Brigade

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This mural mixes the Ulster Volunteers who fought at the Somme, Ypres, Arras, Thiepval, St Quentin, Grandcourt, Messines, Fricourt with local volunteers from the modern-day UVF: William Hannagan, William Lightbody, Stephen Campbell, Stuart Allan, Keith McKinstry, Eddie Moreland, Michael McKeague, Thomas O’Brien, Jim Moore, David Stirling.

Across the street from a UDA mural.

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Copyright © 2010 Peter Moloney
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