political

Hugh Smyth

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Hugh Smyth OBE was born in the Woodvale area and represented the upper Shankill as an Independent Unionist and then a Progressive Unionist in Belfast City Council for forty-one years, until the year before his death in May 2014, including a term as Lord mayor in 1994-1995 – he is pictured in the main image (above) in his mayoral robes.

The portrait on the right (shown solo below) was taken by Bobbie Hanvey and is kept in a Boston College archive; more from the archive can be seen at BC.edu.

As the quote (shown in the second image) indicates, his politics were oriented towards the working class: “Historically, Unionist politicians fed their electorate the myth that they were first class citizens … and without question people believed them. Historically, Republican/Nationalist politicians fed their electorate the myth that they were second class citizens… and without question the people believed them. In reality, the truth of the matter was that we all, Protestant and Catholic, were third class citizen, and none of us realised it!” The board was officially launched on June 19th.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Stormont Facilitates Internment

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“Died before surrender – 5th May – 20th August 1981. 30th anniversary. Erected by Newry Independent Republican 1981 Committee.”

“Stormont facilitates internment” replaces “End Israeli terror in Palestine” on top of the hunger striker commemoration board (erected in 2011) at the junction of Camlough and Carnagat roads at Derrybeg.

Camlough Road, Newry

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Up Your Haass

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Political commentary on the Cupar Way “peace” line (near Lanark Way): “Stick Haass up your ass” — a reference to the negotiations which were taking place around Christmas and New Year’s, led by Richard Haass, into the “legacy issues” of flags and emblems (including murals) and parades. No agreement was reached. (BBC | pdf | BBC)

December update: the Stormont House Agreement covered many of the same areas (WP).

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Cuts

Extramural Activity1 Comment

“Cuts: made in Britain [by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition led by Cameron and Clegg government], sold by Stormont!” éırígí (web) stencil on Northumberland Street.

The words “Rise up!” were later added to the banner being carried by the protesters on the right – see X02681.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Lincoln Court

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These are end-of-life images of the murals in Lincoln Court. The right-hand member of the pair, now covered by ivy, depicts scenes from the Ulster Workers’ Strike of 1974; of the four boards that made up the Community Spirit piece only the ‘1980s’ one remains.

The wildlife scene on the wall below is called “I’m a local celebrity, get me out of here“.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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100 Years Of The Covenant

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The mural above uses the text of the Ulster Covenant, signed in September, 1912, as a backdrop to a composite of Edward Carson speaking and a row of Ulster Volunteers, formed in January 1913. (See Extramural Activity for the source photos.)

Alain Miossec has an image of the previous printed version, which is almost identical, apart from Stormont as a backdrop rather than the text of the Covenant.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Loyalist Westwinds

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Here is a gallery of images from Westwinds estate in Newtownards, featuring (East Belfast) UVF murals and memorial gardens.

The newest one shows Carson signing the 1912 Covenant beneath a UVF emblem reading “Armed and ready”.

The one with some damage reads, “Our only crime was to serve you, the community and protect ‘our country’. Now times have changed. As a force, our belief is not only ‘for God and Ulster’ but to you, the community, ‘help us to help you’.”

The central stone in the memorial garden is dedicated to “all our fallen comrades both in the Battle Of The Somme and fight against republicanism”.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Beware Of The Thing That Is Coming

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Here is a gallery of (post-Agreement) republican graffiti in the Brandywell, including “$inn £einn”, “Remember the 14” victims of Bloody Sunday, and a quote from Patrick Pearse: “Beware of the thing that is coming”, from the poem ‘The Rebel’, which ends “And I say to my people’s masters: Beware,/Beware of the thing that is coming, beware of the risen people,/Who shall take what ye would not give.”

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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