Edward Carson

Ulster Volunteers

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From left to right: a Union Flag, the emblem of the USSF [Ulster Special Service Force, elite units within the Ulster Volunteers], Carson and the Covenant, the gunrunning ship Clyde Valley, a red hand in a garland, crossed “1914” rifles, the memorial to the gunrunning near Chaine Memorial, soldiers going over the top, Ulster Tower, and a cross marking a grave.

Drumahoe Gardens, Larne

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04084 [M04083] [M04082] [M04081] [M04080] [M04079] [M04078] [M04077]

Rex Bar

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This is the scene in the outdoor seating to the Rex Bar on the Shankill Road. The arch is dedicated to the 36th (Ulster) Division at the Battle Of The Somme. On the side of the betting office, Carson signs the Ulster Covenant (Mo2454), Carson reviews the Ulster Volunteers (M02453), and a farmer’s wife protects the farm, both during WWI and from “sectarian attack from across the border” (M02452). The Union Flag to the left is in progress.

Shankill Road at (formerly) Moscow Street

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04283

Ulster Volunteers

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The Ulster Volunteers were formed in response to the Home Rule bill of April 1912 and the Covenant signed in September 1912, first by Edward Carson and then by almost half a million others. Guns were smuggled into Larne on the Clyde Valley in April 1914 but the advent of the World War saw the volunteers instead joining the British Army.

Previously seen, in better shape, in 2005.

Shankill Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04282

The People’s Army

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The title of the post comes from the previous location of this Ulster Volunteers/UVF board. The image above is from Seymour Gardens, Londonderry, but previously the board was on the main road (Sperrin Park) in the Caw with a black background and title-board above, and side-fence of insignia. From the period of the Ulster Volunteers, the board features the Carson, the Clyde Valley, the Covenant, and the UDU (Ulster Defence Union) manifesto of 1893.

Previously in this location: McFadzean.

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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03584

UVF Liverpool No 4 Battalion

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A paramilitary mural in Monkstown (see J1042) is replaced by one of the statue to Sir Edward Carson at the entrance to Stormont. The names from the previous mural (John Webber/Webster and Lee Irwin) are retained and Steven Cook’s added, though this name was not on the original version of this mural (X05396).

Here is a memorial video to John Webster/Webber who died in 2000. Lee Irwin, who died from cancer at age 16, was the son of Liverpool UVF leader John Irwin (BelTel). Steven Cook is unknown except for a Young Carson’s Volunteers memorial parade in 2014.

The plaque reads “In memory of volunteers John Webster, Lee Irwin & Steven Cook. Lest we forget.” Tynan Drive, Monkstown. In 2014 the bronze plaque on the fence was replaced with a black one:

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03069 [M03070]
Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
M11547

The People’s Army

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This Ulster Volunteers/UVF board in Sperrin Park, Caw, Londonderry, includes familiar imagery from the Covenant to Long Kesh. The most unusual element is the inclusion of the Ulster Defence Union manifesto from St Patrick’s Day 1893 behind the hooded gunmen in the top right (for more on the UDU, see Bygone Days).

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02619

Ulster 1912-1914

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These three murals are at the Rex Bar (Moscow Street, Belfast), celebrating resistance to Home Rule – Covenant Day September 28th 1912; the formation of the Ulster Volunteers, being reviewed at Fernhill House in Glencairn Park by Edward Carson; “Deserted! Well I can stand alone”; and (in post-partition Northern Ireland) “a [masked!] Protestant farmer’s wife guards her husband against sectarian attack from across the border”.

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02454 M02453 M02452 [M02451] [M02450]
Copyright © 2010 Peter Moloney
[M05722] [M05723] [M05748] [M05749]
(close-ups of the small boards along the top)

Broken Covenant

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The second panel of the four shown here in Donegall Pass, Belfast, is the most interesting. The upper circle is labelled “Ulster 2001” and shows a modern volunteer between the UVF and YCV symbols. In the lower circle, which is labelled “Ulster 1916”, is a portrait of Carson and the text of the 1912 Ulster Covenant and a headstone which is broken and bloodied. The other panels contain the UVF emblem, the YCV emblem, and the emblem of the 36th (Ulster) Division.

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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M01530

Their Name Liveth For Evermore

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The apocryphal book of the Bible Ecclesiasticus reads “their bodies are buried in peace, but their name liveth for evermore” (44:14), which is here applied to 910,000 “British empire casualties” from the Great War, including the Ulster Volunteers and Young Citizen Volunteers raised by “Sir Edward Carson” which became the 36th (Ulster) Division and particularly the Royal Irish Rifles and fought at the Somme 1916.

Apsley Street, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
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