This is a second repainting of the King Billy mural in Donegall Pass. The note in the corner says that this and the 2002 repainting (which added the painting of the Lindsay Street arch) were by “MW”, and the original mural painted in 1989 by “H. Gibson”.
Oak Street, Donegall Pass, south Belfast
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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“Jimmy McCurrie & Bobby Neill, murdered 27/28th June 1970. Still no truth – still no justice.”
The two civilians died in the course of rioting and a gun battle around St. Matthew’s that was “the first major confrontation to occur in east Belfast during the troubles” (McKittrick et al., Lost Lives, p. 50). It is not clear at what time each died. McKittrick gives the death of both as the 27th, but puts Neill’s death at 2 a.m. (and so strictly speaking on the 28th?).
Newtownards Road, east Belfast
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11921
“This Poppy Cross is in memory of the two men and two babies murdered at this spot by a no-warning sectarian IRA bomb attack on the Balmoral Furniture shop on 11th December 1971”
The previous (circular) plaque reads, “Balmoral Furniture Showrooms, bombed 12.25 pm Saturday 11th December 1971, 2 adults & 2 babies killed”
Also augmented with poppy crosses: Frizzell’s Fish Shop 1993 | Mountainview Tavern 1975
Shankill Road, west Belfast – the plaque and cross are on the corner of the Shankill Leisure Centre
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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“Fıann [sic] Robert Allsopp lived at this address. Died on active service March 3rd 1975. Fuaır sé bás ar son na hÉıreann. 1959-1975” Allsopp died at the family home (on the New Lodge Road) from the accidental discharge of a gun. The O’Neill-Allsopp flute band is named in his honour (and in honour of Jim O’Neill) and the band has a mural in Donore Court.
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12557
“Don’t shout IRA, join IRA” – anti-Agreement graffiti on Divis Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12556
This Castlemara (Carrickfergus) has been criticized by both DUP and Alliance councillors (Newsletter). The final words – “Join the UDA” – have drawn particular ire, as in other respects it is similar to other murals in featuring hooded gunmen, such as these two other Carrickfergus murals: Inclusion | Eternal Vigilance. (Nolan Show discussion of the mural on 2015-02-11: Part 1 | Part 2)
The mural sports a hooded gunman facing the viewer with a slogan borrowed from Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata: “Better to die on your feet than live on your knees in an Irish republic. Join the UDA.”
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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“South East Antrim Ulster Defence Association” with shamrock, thistle, and rose, but not the daffodil – though the Welsh “Red Dragon” is included alongside the Scottish Saltire, the flag of Northern Ireland, and Queen Elizabeth II’s royal standard.
The mural originally read “Ulster Defence Union” rather than “Ulster Defense Association” – see X01208.
Oakfield Drive, Carrickfergus
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11831
This is a vintage cut-out in the Sunnylands estate (visible in 2008 Google Street View). The central board – a RHC emblem – had a plastic or paper layer between the star/wings and the circular back-board with red-white-and-blue colours and the words “Red Hand Commando” in a circle. The hooded gunmen on either side each appear to be a single, painted, carving.
Salia Avenue, Sunnylands, Carrickfergus
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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This is a very aggressive set of boards, in Hampton Crescent behind the Antiville (Larne) community centre: two of them show silhouetted UDA (3rd battalion, D company) gunmen in active poses, and another deploys the fearsome figure of Eddie The Head. Rather than the Union flag that he carries in other murals and on the original Iron Maiden album cover (see Eddie’s Visual History page), in this version “The Trooper” carries a UDA flag (with the UFF symbol also shown). “AYM” is presumably “Antiville Young Militants”.
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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“Remember those not here today, And those unwell or far away, And those who never lived to see the end of the War & Victory, And every friend who’ve lost [or: passed] our way, Remember as of yesterday, It’s absent friends we miss the most, To ALL, Let’s drink a loving toast.”
William Walker’s poem Absent Friends is used as a part of UDA/UFF commemoration of various Larne men: “Ewan ‘Shug’ McPherson, Raymond ‘Toby’ Sloan, Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Nicholl (who is featured in a separate board; BBC-NI report of his killing), Ian ‘Big Ian’ Hamilton. Walker was a pilot during WWII who wrote poetry and returned to the brewing trade after the war; he died at age 99 in 2012 (Guardian).
Linn Road, Antiville, Larne
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 