Derry City is the largest and most famous soccer club in Derry, but this mural mentions four other minor teams: senior league (first division) team Ballymoor, Northwest premier division team Brandywell Celtic, senior league (premier division) teams Brandywell Harps and Bluebell Celtic.
This two-part mural is on the shops in St James’s Place. On the left, a welcome to international visitors and a call for tolerance; on the right, Mary McAleese, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie and Maıréad Farrell serve as “women of inspiration”.
“If you know your history …” – a mural sponsored by the Belfast Celtic Society in St. James’s Crescent celebrates some star players – Charlie Tully (WP), Paddy Bonnar, and Jimmy Jones (WP) – and the old playing ground, Celtic Park or ‘Paradise’, on Donegall Road. Wide shot and close-ups below. (Belfast Telegraph write-up.)
Video from the Belfast Celtic Society of the work in progress and of the unveiling – Jimmy Jones was there in person.
“United Hope – Artist Joanna Vance. Workshops were held in partnership with community representatives, ethnic minorities and members of staff. The project theme was project diversity, allowing women to explore issues such as similarity and difference, ethnicity and race and belonging. After discussions it was decided that the mural should include users of the centre from the community and staff also that it would be completed in black & white with empowering words running through it, as these represent what the centre means to women on a daily basis.”
UDA commander John McMichael was also secretary of the New Ulster Political Research Group (NUPRG), a think tank of the UDA/UFF. The group argued for an independent Northern Ireland (based in part on beliefs about a separate Ulster ethnic identity) in two documents, 1979’s Beyond the Religious Divide and 1987’s Common Sense (available at CAIN), promoting the philosophy of ‘Ulster nationalism’, depicted here by the free-floating Northern Ireland. McMichael ran unsuccessfully for the Belfast South seat after the murder of Robert Bradford (see To Bathe The Sharp Sword Of My Word In Heaven).
“As John McMichael stated before his untimely death, we must share the responsibility for finding a settlement and share the responsibility of maintaining good government. He left us hope.”
William Frederick McFadzean of the 14th (Young Citizens) battalion Royal Irish Rifles was awarded the Victoria Cross for throwing himself on a box of grenades that had fallen into the trench during the Battle Of The Somme, July 1st, 1916. The figure on the left is Edward Carson. The plaque reads “Sydenham roll of honour to those who gave their lives in the Great War and to those who haven’t been traced but are known unto God.”
This UDA memorial garden is in Lemberg Street, at the top of (south Belfast) Roden Streeet. The plaque to John McMichael and eleven others would later be moved to Sandy Row. The stone on the right reads “In memory of fallen comrades south Belfast brigade”.
The Irish Football Association is the organising body of the Northern Ireland soccer team. Belfast-born players Warren Feeney and Grant McCann are featured (please e-mail with corrections).