Covenants Without Swords Are Only Words

“Covenants without swords are only words” is a slight emendation of a line from Chapter 17 of Thomas Hobbes’s The Leviathan: “And covenants, without the sword, are but words and of no strength to secure a man at all.” 

It is applied here to the 1912 Ulster Covenant being backed up by the 1914 gun-running. Edward Carson is shown acknowledging the cheers of the Ulster Volunteers, who have been drilling at Glencairn (as seen in this Shankill mural).

Above the Unionist souvenir shop on the Newtownards Road, east Belfast. Seen previously in 2012: Where Ulstermen Shop.

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Ár Tae Will Come

Sınn Féın representatives Paul Maskey (above), Gerry Adams, Alex Maskey, and Martin McGuinness are photoshopped into these coffee-themed, Irish-language puns outside the ‘Falls Rolls’ bakery: Ár tae will come, Tıocfaıgh [sic] ár látte, Al cappuchino, and Mocha-ra.

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Eileen Hickey Irish Republican History Museum

“Iarsmalann Na Staire Poblachtach Éireannach – Eileen Hickey Irish Republican History Museum” is across the street (behind the Conway Mill) from this mural. Eileen Hickey was a Provisional IRA member who served time in Armagh prison; she died in 2006, one year before the opening of the museum (obituary at An Phoblacht).

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Local History From Local People

“Get the real story – local history from local people – take a black taxi tour – West Belfast Taxi Association – 40 years unbroken service”. The tours of “local” history are of course aimed at non-locals as part of the ‘dark tourism’ or ‘Troubles tourism’ boom.

Here is the Getty Images photo of British Army soldiers on the Falls Road in 1969, on which the mural is based.

Divis Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Irish Republican History Museum

After a long time ‘in progress’, the cell below the republican history museum board is completed. Previously there was a portrait of Wolfe Tone.

Eileen Hickey Irish Republican History Museum … Conway Mill … Tá fáılte roımh chách/Everyone is welcome”

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Arising From The Troubles

Tommy Sands records under his own name, as “the Sands Family” (with his siblings | web | Fb) and, as shown here, “with Moya & Fionán” (his children). This Northumberland Street mural was up towards the security gates just below Sean Garland.

See also: Colum Sands Whatever You Say, Say Nothing

Northumberland Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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