My Ulster Blood Is My Most Priceless Heritage

“250,000 Ulster Scots emigrated to America in the 1700s and were the driving force behind the American Revolution.” James Buchanan (senior) emigrated to the United States from Donegal (WP) or Tyrone (Ulster Scots). Junior was born in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania in 1791. He was elected president in 1856, the 15th president of the United States, immediately prior to Abraham Lincoln. A version of this mural was also painted in Londonderry in the same year (1999).

“Shankill Ulster-Scots Cultural Society. The Buchanan Mural. This mural was dedicated to the memory of those early Ulster-Scots emigrants by Ms Jane Benton Fort, US Consul General, on Thursday November 4th, 1999. Sae monie hairts gaed far frae hame – bot ilka yin oor ain fowk. This project was funded by Belfast City Council and Making Belfast Work.”

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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Duke Elliott

Ernie “Duke” Elliott came from the Woodvale area and was a founder member of the Woodvale Defence Association in 1971, which was later folded into the UDA. He was also a Marxist. He was killed in a pub brawl in December 1972 in a dispute over weapons (WP | Tele | Watching The Door)

Ohio Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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A Company 1st Battalion No 4 Platoon

“This mural is dedicated to the fallen volunteers of No 4 Pltn A Coy, 1st Belfast Battn, Ulster Volunteer Force who dutifully served this community in the years of conflict. It pays tribute to those who died in active engagement and to the many who passed peacefully from service having fulfilled their duties. Their names and deeds are eternally venerated by their comrades in arms who humbly serve in their honour. They remained staunch to the end against odds uncounted, they fell with their faces to the foe, their name liveth forevermore.

Glenwood Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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2013-04-07 GlenwoodOld+

A close-up from Seosamh Mac Coılle (2013 X01044).

Ardoyne, The Bone, And Ligoniel

“This mural is dedicated to the memory of those local republican activists [34 portraits of volunteers from “A, D, F foıreannacha, cathlann 3rú, Brıogáıd mBéal Feırste”] who devoted their lives to the cause of Irish freedom. Ar son na c[ú]ıse. Óglaıgh na hÉıreann. Unveiled by Sınn Féın councillors Martin Meehan and Margaret McClenaghan.”

“Many suffer so that some day future generations may live in justice and peace – Bobby Sands MP.”

The plaque on the stone is “Dedicated to those friends and neighbours from Ardoyne, the Bone and Ligoniel whose contribution and support to our struggle was and remains invaluable. Aıthníonn muıd a gcrógacht. Óglaıgh na hÉıreann. Meán Fómhaır 2003.” 

Ardoyne Avenue, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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Collusion Is Not An Illusion

“Collusion is not an illusion, it is state murder.” “10 people from Ardoyne were murdered with weapons imported by the British government from South Africa by their agent Brian Nelson in January 1988 until 1994. The consignment of weapons smuggled in by Nelson: 200 AK47 rifles, 90 Browning 9mm pistols, 500 grenades, 30,000 rounds of ammunition, 1 dozen RPG7 rocket launchers and warheads.” The police cap on the left is from the PSNI (rather than the RUC), the one on the right is from the UDA.

Ardoyne Avenue, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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Young Guns

Sixteen year-old Glen “Spacer” Branagh was killed by a premature blast bomb during a riot on Remembrance Sunday, 2001. His portrait is on a board at the centre of UDA flags and guns (and the tigers of Tigers Bay).

“If the Provos and the pan nationalist front and the British and Irish governments keep trying to succeed in a united Ireland then they may prepare themselves for another 30 bloody years for the battle will have just begun.”

The term “Pan Nationalist Front” was used (first by nationalists) to describe the co-operation between John Hume (SDLP) and Gerry Adams (Sinn Féin) in 1994 that led to the IRA ceasefire and the Downing Street Declaration.

Edlingham Street, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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Brig J McMichael

This mural of UDA A Battalion volunteers, led by John McMichael, is a repainted version of a previous one at the same site (see 1995 M01183 and 2001 M01518). The name of Samuel Curry has been added on the right-most column. The wall in front has been painted with steps (obscured by the cars) with the words “In proud memory of our fallen comrades who lost their lives in the conflict – we forget them not.”

Rowland Way, Sandy Row, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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