hood/mask/balaclava

The Young, The Brave, The Fearless

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2009 images of the YCV mural on Broadway in the Village, Belfast, seen previously in 2008. The plaque on the side wall reads: “In loving memory of Volunteer Colin Castle, died 17th February 2006. Lest we forget.” The additional wide shot includes the John Hanna mural and (barely visible) the small Gary Hamilton mural (see C05190).

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Freedom Corner

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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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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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The Young, The Brave, The Fearless

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Young Citizen Volunteers of both the Home Rule (1912) and Troubles periods are shown shouldering rifles. On the side wall: “In loving memory of Volunteer Colin Castle, died 17th February 2006. Lest we forget.”

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Ulster Freedom Fighters

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The orange lily makes a rare appearance in a paramilitary mural. The hooded gunmen are from the UFF/UDA. Volunteer Stephen “Benson” Kingsberry is remembered in the panel towards the back of the house. He died from consuming tainted ecstasy (perhaps distributed by the UVF). He was included in the roll of honour in Lemberg Street. Kilburn Street, Belfast. Seen previously in 2005.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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