A permanent ‘show of strength’ on the Newtownards Road, depicting hooded gunmen firing into the air at Dee Street. Purple and orange are the colours of the UVF (and the Orange Order).
“We seek nothing but the elementary right implanted in every man: the right if you are attacked, to defend yourself.” The mural shows two East Belfast UVF volunteers on manoeuvres.
Together with the We Are The Pilgrims mural that was painted at the same time across the street (both by Dee Craig), this mural can be taken as a good marker of the beginning of re-re-imaging, (that is, of new PUL ‘hooded gunmen’ murals) – see Visual History 11. In particular, this mural, unlike its counterpart, replaced a non-paramilitary mural – the Glentoran Community Trust mural.
At the old Bright Street on the Newtownards Road, Belfast.
“We are the pilgrims, master; we shall go always a little further.” Three hooded gunmen from East Belfast UVF . The line comes from a 1913 poem by James Flecker. This mural was painted at the same time as the ‘self-defense’ mural across the street, and together they can be taken as a good marker of the beginning of re-re-imaging, (that is, of new PUL ‘hooded gunmen’ murals) – see Visual History 11. The design is a popular one: it was used for murals in Mersey Street, in Tamar Street and on the Newtownards Road prior to re-imaging. Painted by Dee Craig.
“30th anniversary of the hunger strike. 5th May 1981. IRA final salute. IRA Vol. Bobby Sands, MP Fermanagh South Tyrone.” Gerry Adams watches on as a funeral volley is fired over Sands’s coffin. Whiterock Road, Belfast by Lucas Quigley. Also new is the plaque naming the wall as “Dorothy Maguire Corner”, after the 19-y-o shot in 1971, a member of Cumann Na mBan.
Wide shot of two Castlemara murals – one UDA, one UVF – previously seen in 2008. The fourth flag in the UFF mural is the flag of Ulster Nationalism (WP). Similarly, on the lamp-post fly both the UDA emblem and a flag commemorating the Ulster Volunteers in the 36th Division.
UVF/YCV mural in Carrington Street, Belfast, with two masked gunmen. The mural dates back to before the peace agreement. The flag on the left is an Ulster Special Service Force flag.
“In memory of [LVF] Brigadier Billy Wright murdered 27th December 1997 by the NIO aided by republican scum. Remembered proudly by your comrades in Ulster – Scotland – England. Lead the way.” Wright was killed in the Maze by three INLA inmates.