The People’s Army

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
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UDA Memorial

“In memory of Ben Redfern, Lindsay Mooney, Cecil McKnight, Gary Lynch, Ray Smallwoods, William Campbell. Lest we forget.” For Redfern and Lynch, see It’s Still Only Thursday; Smallwoods has a WP page; Campbell died in 2002 in a premature pipe-bomb explosion (Guardian).

Lincoln Court, Londonderry

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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Ulster Defence Union

2000 mural placing Ulster Freedom Fighters/Ulster Defence Association (UFF/UDA) in historical context of the Ulster Defence Union. The motto of the organisation was “Quis separabit” (which is the same as the UDA’s). The Union faded away in the 1910s, but the name was revived by the UDA in 2007 (NewsLetter). The manifesto was launched on St Patrick’s day 1893, in response to the 2nd Home Rule bill. Membership was closed on June 1st, by which time 170,000 people had signed up (Bygone Days).

A side wall would later be added along with other small changes made during a repaint: “UFF member” would be moved below the gunman and “Est.” on both sides would become “Formed” – see X00284.

Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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A Company 1st Battalion No 4 Platoon

“This mural is dedicated to the fallen volunteers of No 4 Pltn A Coy, 1st Belfast Battn, Ulster Volunteer Force who dutifully served this community in the years of conflict. It pays tribute to those who died in active engagement and to the many who passed peacefully from service having fulfilled their duties. Their names and deeds are eternally venerated by their comrades in arms who humbly serve in their honour. They remained staunch to the end against odds uncounted, they fell with their faces to the foe, their name liveth forevermore.

Glenwood Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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2013-04-07 GlenwoodOld+

A close-up from Seosamh Mac Coılle (2013 X01044).

We Are The Pilgrims, Master

“We are the pilgrims, master – we shall go always a little further” is a line from James Elroy Flecker’s verse poem Hassan and is inscribed on the clock tower of the the Hereford barracks of the SAS (WP). It is used here by “East Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force – The People’s Army”.

Tamar Street, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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