UDA/UFF/UYM

Freedom Corner

Extramural Activity1 Comment

Here is a set of 2009 images of the left half of “Freedom Corner” on Newtownards Road.

Compared to the 2005 images:
the background of the UFF mural has been repainted;
“Loyalist East Belfast” replaces the letters “UFF”;
the Red Hand Of Ulster replaces “Feriens Tego” (From Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, 1953: “The strangest victory in all history: Heremon [Érımón] O’Neill racing a rival chieftain for possession of Ireland became the first man to touch its soil by cutting off his own hand and hurling it ashore! His sacrifice made Heremon the first king of Ulster, 1015 B.C. The red hand of Ulster is still the provinces coat of arms thousands of years later.” Most people believe it not.) Notice that outline is of the six-county Northern Ireland rather than of the historical Ulster;
and the “Ulsters Past Defenders” mural has been completely repainted with the emblems of the UDR and B-Specials at the centre (“This is dedicated to those who served in our conflict – we forget not”, “Formed in 1970, the Ulster Defence Reg. was an infrantry [sic] regiment of the British army intended to carry out security duties in NI. It was later disbanded in 1992. A total of 197 members were killed through the troubles”, “Formed in 1920, the Ulster Special Constabulary had been set up taking action against the IRA. It was divided into three categories A, B, and C specials. Later in 1970 they were disbanded. Then the UDR replaced them.”)

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Young Newton Fallen Comrades

Extramural Activity2 Comments

Young Newton was an east Belfast “tartan” gang (History Ireland) and then part of the UYM (WP).

From left to right the plaques read:

“In memory of R McCreery 7-10-1984, V Dougherty 17-07-2003, J Moore 28-01-2007. Gone but not forgotten.”

“Young Newton. In memory of our fallen comrades Volunteers R Warnock 13-9-72, W Warnock 16-10-72, A Petherbridge 7-2-73, K Watters 17-2-74, G Reid 26-2-74. Lest we forget. Quis separabit.”

“In memory of R Algie Snr 15-09-1989, TW Black Snr 5-10-2002. Gone but not forgotten.”

With Young Newton and UFF wreaths along the bottom.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Ulster’s Present Day Defenders

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“The UDA was formed in 1971 as an umbrella for loyalist vigilante groups which claimed to defend the Protestant community from IRA violence. They remain today. The UFF was formed in 1973 as the mil[i]tary group for the UDA to defend Protestants from acts of Irish republican violence over 30 years of conflict.” It’s not clear what was “formed 1972”.

Previous versions of this mural put the UDA in parallel with an ancient “defender of Ulster from Irish attacks”, Cuchulainn.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Young Newton

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The refreshed Young Newton mural at the end of “Freedom Corner” switches from mention of the UYM (UDA youth) to the 1893 UDU. “Our civil and religious liberties we will maintain” is a slogan from the anti-Home Rule protests. Inclusion of Northern Ireland nationalism is retained (the crest in the bottom right) alongside the crests of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the Union. “Who will separate us.” There are three flowers around the Union flag – the Welsh daffodil is absent.

Newtownards Road, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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