funeral volley/graveside mourner

Moygashel Neighbourhood Watch

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This is an interesting set of images from Main Road, Moygashel.

The first three employ familiar imagery of the UVF and the 36th Division (the Home-Rule era “Deserted! Well – I Can Stand Alone” is less familiar but goes back to at least 1988; the UVF flag also references the anti-Home Rule movement in the “1912” date of the founding of the Ulster Volunteers).

The stencil (“It is not racist to protect your own community”) and hand-painted board (“Don’t be DUPed”) indicate a recent change in attitudes.

In the May elections for the European Parliament, UKIP received the most votes and the most seats (24), campaigning on an anti-immigrant and Euro-skeptical message; this is its best electoral performance to date (WP). Perhaps in response to UKIP’s increasing popularity, Conservative leader David Cameron last year (2013) promised (gov.uk) a referendum on EU membership, should the Conservatives be elected in next year’s (2015) general election.

The source of dissatisfaction with the DUP is less clear. The party won the largest number of seats in the local elections in May (WP).

These are perhaps the first appearance in the Peter Moloney Collection of both sentiments.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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A Force For Ulster

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Here are two new boards in the courtyard of the Rex Bar on the Shankill Road, describing the formation of the Ulster Volunteers (‘A Force For Ulster’) and commemorating the losses suffered by the 36th (Ulster) Division of the British Army, which the Volunteers became, at the Somme and in other battles, mowed down by “the Hun machine guns” (‘The Great War’).

‘A Force For Ulster’ includes photographs of the recent centenary re-enactments of the Balmoral Review, the Ulster Covenant, the formation of the Volunteers (“east” and “west”) and “Operation Lion” – more commonly known as the Larne Gun-Running.

According to the ‘The Great War’ board, 32,186 men from west Belfast were killed, wounded, or missing in the effort to “restore peace in Europe”. “To them bravery was without limit, to us memory is without end”. The board shows the Thiepval Memorial To The Missing Of The Somme against a background of portraits.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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1ú Caṫlán Oırṫear Tıreoın Óglaıġ Na hÉıreann

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1ú Caṫlán Oırṫear Tıreoın Óglaıġ Na hÉıreann [more typically “Tír Eoghaın”; 1st battalion east Tyrone IRA]

“Beannaımıs spıorad do-ċlaoıte na laoċra atá ına luı ıns na huıgheanna seo.” [We bless the indomitable spirit of the heroes who are buried in these graves.] “do-ċlaoıte” appears to be a Connacht form of “do-ċloíte”, meaning “indomitable”, “indefatigable” (Focaıl Fholaıthe).

The volunteers named on the various stones are Patrick Kelly, Patrick Vincent, Kevin Murray, Patrick Quinn, Patrick Carty, Seán Loughan, Patrick McDonald.

Kelly was killed in the Loughgall ambush – see the Loch gCál/Loughgall tribute mural in west Belfast (also a smaller mural in north Belfast).

Vincent was the driver of the lorry in the Clonoe Ambush.

Murray and McDonald were “killed in action” in 1974 (Fb).

Quinn was “killed in action” in 1973, along with Daniel McAnallen (Fb).

Loughan and Carty were “killed in action”, along with Dermot Crowley, in June 1973 (An Phoblacht).

The flat stone with the phoenix reads: “Romantic Ireland never dies!/O’Leary lies in fertile ground./And songs and spears throughout the years/Rise up where patriot graves are found.”

St Malachy’s churchyard, Coalisland Road, Edendork.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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The Lurgan Ambush

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On the evening of November 21, 1982, the car in which IRA volunteers Eugene Toman, Sean Burns, and Gervaise [also spelled “Gervase” and “Gervais”] McKerr were travelling was hit by 109 bullets and all three were killed. They were perhaps the first victims of the “shoot to kill” policy. The first of the five panels in this Kilwilkie mural shows the bullet-holes in the driver’s side of the car, pointing out an inconsistency with the RUC’s statement that the car had run an RUC checkpoint and was fired at only from behind. (An Phoblacht)

“Lurgan town was rocked with sorrow/On that bleak November day/Hushed tones and tears were mingled/When great numbers stopped to pray” – these are the opening lines of Ida Green’s poem ‘The Lurgan Ambush’ (sung by Bo Loughran on youtube)

“Cumann Thomáıs Uí Chléırıgh, An Lorgaın” – Clarke was raised in Dungannon, where is a cumann and GAA club in his name.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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To The People Of Ireland

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Bobby Sands has been replaced at the centre of this Enniskillen board by a copy of the 1916 Proclamation flanked by Easter lilies. (See the previous version.) The rest of the board remains the same: graveside mourners surrounded by the four provinces and Celtic knotwork. The sunburst and starry plough have been painted in the corners of the out-building.

Corban Avenue sports facility, Loughview Road, Enniskillen

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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William Campbell

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This is a new William Campbell board in Ballycastle Road/Tullyarton Road, Harpur’s Hill, Coleraine, replacing the white one seen in 2007.

“A true Ulsterman who paid the supreme price for the love of his country. In memory of William Campbell who lost his life on active service 3rd January 2002. Quis separabit. 2nd Batt. Coleraine.”

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Our Friends And Comrades

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“In memory of our friends and comrades. This Memorial is dedicated to all those Irish Republicans who fought in the Struggle for Irish Freedom, and in the defence of this community in our Time of Need. This Memorial honours their Courage and Dedication to the cause of Irish Freedom. Ar dheıs Dé go raıbh a n-anam.” Hugo Wilkinson, Terry Murphy, Paul Watson, Jim McLaughlin, Richard McIlkenny, Jake McGowan, Patsy Quinn, Liam Mulholland, Francis O’Neill, Sean Delaney, Carmel Cahoon, Christine Beattie, Geraldine Rice, Anthony McIlkenny, Joey Saunders, Danny Mullan, Tony Molloy, Seamus Rice, Eamon McAllister, Gerry McAllister, John Bateson, John Barnes, Jim Floyd. With images of the prisons Armagh, Long Kesh H-Blocks, Magilligan, Long Kesh cages, HMS Maidstone, Portlaoise, Wormwood Scubs, Crumlin Road.

“We would like to thank all our friends from Wexford, Limerick & Fermanagh who kindly donated to this memorial. Go raıbh maıth agaıbh.”

Ardilea Close, Belfast

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Volunteer Denver Smith

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“In memory of Vol. Denver Smith, murdered by cowards 1st January 2000. Here lies a soldier. He gave his life whilst serving his community. Lest we forget.” Smith was killed by a gang of six men with machetes and pikes; the incident was perhaps drugs-related (Guardian | BBC-NI. For the wider picture An Phoblacht | Irish Times).

The mural originally appeared with seven plaques, then with three plaques, and now with graveside mourners on either side of a single stone, and a bench and three flag-poles to the right.

The UVF flag is between the the Denver Smith and All Gave Some gables.

Parkhall Road, Antrim

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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All Gave Some, Some Gave All

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This trio of boards in memory of WWI dead from the Ulster Volunteers replaces the single black board first seen in 2003 in Steeple Defenders.

On the left: “Pass not this spot in sorrow but in pride/That you may live as nobly as they died.” These lines are also used in a WWI memorial mural in Carlingford Street, Belfast.

On the right: “They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old./Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn./At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.” from Binyon’s For The Fallen.

Parkhall Road, Antrim

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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