painted wall

The Red Hand Of Ulster

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“There are many legends telling the origins of the Red Hand Of Ulster. This mural depicts only one of those.” In this case, the myth is that Ulster was offered as a prize to whoever could reach it first and was won by throwing a severed hand onto the shore.

Replaces the Lower Shankill UFF mural (M02478).

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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03814 [M03816] [M03815]

Stevie McCrea

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Red Hand Commando volunteer Stevie McCrea was sentenced to 16 years for the murder of James Kerr in 1972 (Behind The Mask) and was subsequently “murdered by the enemies of Ulster” on February 18th, 1989 in an IPLO attack on the Orange Cross (see M00560 | WP). “For he shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary him nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember him.”

This is a repaint of the original mural to McCrea – see T00152.

McCrea is included on murals in south Belfast’s Frenchpark Street and Broadway (dating back to at least 1993).

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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03807 [M03805] [M03806]

Stevie ‘Top Gun’ McKeag

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“In loving memory of military commander Stevie ‘Top Gun’ McKeag. Born 1970, died 2000. Sleeping where no shadows fall.” McKeag was the top assassin in the UDA during the 1990s, claiming at least 12 victims. Both his WP page and this Guardian article describe his career and his – sometimes contentious – preeminent standing within the UDA.

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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03803 [M03802]

Can It Change?

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On the side wall: “This mural portrays Protestant men defending their community which was subjected to constant attempts of ethnic cleansing with petrol bombing attacks of their homes on a day to day basis. Eventually vigillanty [sic] groups were formed to secure these areas.”

From the Belfast Telegraph: “Several hundred familys [sic] were forced to flee their homes last night as homes came under attack from republicans. The number homeless is running into several thousand, more people were moving out of riot areas today. The women and children have been offered shelter in cities across the sea. Security forces moved in to bring calm into riot areas.”

The event referred to is the rioting in Bombay Street in 1969.

Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03801 [M03800] [M03799] [M03798]

REM 1690

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These three are all from Carlow Street. In the first image, the “UFF” lettering has been over-painted with “UVF”. This is a vintage “bare background” (the wall is not completely painted) mural, dating back perhaps to 1994.

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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03792 M03793 M03791

Guernica

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The information board for this reproduction of Guernica is in Basque, Irish, and (lastly) English: “This mural of Picasso masterpiece Guernica was created by Danny Devenny and Mark Ervine, muralists from the two main communities in Belfast, in August 2007. Picasso painted Guernica over a period of three weeks in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War to protest the Nazi bombing of the Basque capital of Gernika (at the request of Franco’s forces) on April 26 that year which resulted in hundreds of deaths. Gernika was viewed as (and remains today) the town symbolising the Basque desire for freedom. Viewed as one of the 20th century’s greatest anti-war works of art. This work was sponsored by gasta.com and the newspaper publishers in Ireland and the Basque Country Belfast Media Group and Berria. 12 Lúnasa 2007.”

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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03788 M03757