“Release east Belfast’s loyalist prisoners”. This mural of Maze/Long Kesh watchtowers and barbed wire dates back to at least 1997, during the peace process.
Harvey Court, east Belfast
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02381 [M05383] [M05384] [M05385]
These two murals face one another in the mouth of Martin Street at Templemore Avenue, in east Belfast. Gertrude Star flute band (Fb) was formed in 1961. The southern mural features Spike (from Tom And Jerry) dressed as a band member above an Ulster Banner in the shape of Northern Ireland. The mural on the northern side shows a coat of arms with six-pointed star and red hand, below a crown.
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02379
This is a complete set of images of the UDA’s “Freedom Corner” along Newtownards Road, Belfast. The use of Cuchulainn as a loyalist icon (the mural is in its second incarnation – for the first, see Defender Of Ulster From Irish Attacks) rests on the theory that the people of mythical Ulster are different from those in the rest of Ireland and are related to ancient Scots: Dalaradia was “was a kingdom of the Cruthin in the north-east of Ireland and parts of Scotland in the first millennium.” The “Ulster Nation” flag/shield (which also appears in the final image) is a St Patrick’s cross on a blue background with six-pointed star and red hand, the flag of the Ulster (Northern Ireland) independence movement.
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02370 M02371 M02372 M02373 M02374 M02376 M02377 M02378 M02387
Were it not for the Red Hand Commando emblem to the right (second image) this could be a strictly WWI mural, with the crest of the 36th (Ulster) Division and flags of the Ulster Volunteers and battle honours of the YCV/Royal Irish Rifles 14th battalion. The RHC were formed in 1972. Newtownards Road, Belfast.
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02367 M02369
UVF and YCV insignia in Pitt Place, east Belfast, in the shadow of one of the H&W cranes, with the community centre (Ballymac) on the right.
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02362
“It’s not for glory or riches that we fight but for our people. Ulster’s destiny is in our hands; our grip is tight; we’ll never let go.” A Red Hand Commando volunteer kneels in a garland of poppies.
Tower Street, east Belfast
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02368
“Tabhaır onóır doıgh suíd a fuaır bás ar son na hÉıreann” [corrupted Irish with the general meaning “Honor … who died for Ireland”]. “Never will they label our liberation struggle as criminal! – Bobby Sands Fri. 6th March 1981”. Another Éıre mural was previously further down the wall on Mountpottinger Road, Belfast.
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02359
“Women of substance – plúr na mban. The changing role of women the in Market area.” A century of women’s work, from cooking, child-care, and hand-wringing the washing in 1904 to using computers, reading books, and graduating from university in 2004. The pink symbol in the corner is the emblem of the New Belfast Community Arts Initiative.
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02356 M02388
UVF memorial mural in Lendrick Street, Belfast, with crest over the hoarding.
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02352 [M02354] M02353
Blair Mayne (1916-1955) was a WWII commando and one of the first members of the SAS (Special Air Service), participating in raids behind enemy lines in Egypt and Libya, and later, as SAS commander, in France, Belgium and other countries. His many decorations include the DSO (four times) and French Croix De Guerre and Legion D’Honneur. There is a mural (and a statue) to Mayne in his home town of Newtownards.
The UVF emblem and verse on the right are from the previous (Red Hand Commando/UVF) mural (see D00982). The verse is from Sassoon’s Suicide In The Trenches. “You smug-faced crowd[s] with kindling eye/Who cheer when soldier lads march by,/Sneak home and pray you’ll never know/The hell where youth and laughter go.”
Newtownards Road, east Belfast
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02350 M02349
Peter Moloney Collection 