Titanic Town 1912

The mural presents a montage of images of “North Belfast dockers, millworkers, shipyard workers” working in “Titanic town 1912”. Along the bottom are the names of various Belfast pubs and other businesses: The Waterloo, The Terminus, The Sportsman’s Arms, The White Hart, The Bowling Green, The City Arms, The Orpheus – York Street, Railway Bar – Canning Street [image from 1970], The Edinburgh Castle [the boat of the Union-Castle line, launched 1910, built at H&W?], York Street Mill, The Gibralter [sic] Bar [whose then-owner was killed in 1972], Ye Old Castle [a bar (and restaurant?) bombed in 1971], The White Lion.

The plaque on the right-hand side reads: “This mural was developed under Belfast City Council’s Titanic community engagement project, with support from Titanic Foundation. Thanks go to Jim Crothers and The Hubb Community Resource Centre.”

St. Vincent Street, north Belfast. For a wide shot without vehicles, see X01139.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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HMS Caroline

HMS Caroline’s connection to Belfast is that she served as the headquarters for the Royal Naval Reserve in Alexandra Dock. Originally built in 1914, she served in the Grand Fleet and took part in the battle of Jutland on May 31st, 1916, as shown in the image above. She was decommissioned in 2011; it is hoped to open her as a museum and visitor attraction by the time of the centenary of the battle (WP). The Daily Mail has a gallery of images of the ship in its current state. Also present at the battle of Jutland, as captain of HMS Nestor, was Commander (later Sir) Edward Bingham.

By Jim Russell in St. Aubyn’s Street, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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We Like Them Must Never Yield

This large electrical sub-station, painted on all four sides, is in Ballyduff, Newtownabbey.

First: David Lee was a founder, in 1985, of Pride Of The Hill Flute Band in Carnmoney/Ballyduff. Kris Muckle – now deceased – was a long-time member. (Fb)

Second: Translations of Psalm 60.4 vary, but it is something like “You (the Lord) have given those who fear you a banner so that they will not flee before your arrows”, which might work quite well alongside a Union jack. But in fact, the lines on the side of the sub-station come do not come from Psalm 60.4; they are rather the first stanza of a 1902 poem (earliest found mention)The Union Jack, by Edward Shirley, in Little Poems For Little People: 

‘Tis thy flag and my flag, the best of flags on earth;
Oh, cherish it my children, for ’tis yours by right of birth.
Your fathers fought, your fathers died, to rear it to the skies;
And we like them will never yield, but keep it flying high.

Third and fourth: “They paid the ultimate sacrifice”. WWI soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) Division in relief against an orange sky (perhaps “at the going down of the sun”), picking their way across the battlefields of Flanders. The Ulster Memorial at Thiepval, which commemorates the 5,000 lost lives and more specifically the role of Orange Order members, is shown in the top left corner of the smaller wall. The plaque commemorates members of the modern UVF “1st East Antrim Battalion, Ballyduff & Glengormley”.

Fairview Road, Newtownabbey

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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1st East Antrim Battalion

This UVF mural shows the flags and insignia of the UVF and YCV (Young Citizen Volunteers), Ballyduff/Glengormley 1st East Antrim Battalion, alongside the flags of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The plaque shows only a verse from Binyon’s For The Fallen.

Bonus images of the bonfire and the flags flying around the green.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Caırde Sınn Féın

This Caırde Sınn Féın (Fb) mural joins others in Conway Street sponsored by Australian groups. From left to right, the four are: Australian Aid For Ireland & Saoırse Melbourne | this Caırde Sınn Féın mural | AMWU mural | ETU (the Electrical Trades Union).

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Say “No” To Racism

A new mural on the International Wall combines two current events. One is the furore surrounding the recent description of Islam as “satanic” by Belfast pastor James McConnell (Tele) (and a ‘Rally Against Racism’ to take place today (Saturday, May 31st) – Tele). The middle of the mural reads “Respect and defend our Muslim brothers + sisters – kardeslik azadi”.

The other is the death of Maya Angelou (WP), who died this past Wednesday (May 28th). Angelou is pictured in the top half of the mural, with Muhammad Ali, along with an Angelou quote: “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the past inaccessible.”

In the bottom half appear Padraig Pearse and James Connolly and a line from the Proclamation of the Irish Republic: “Cherish all the children of the nation equally.”

Takes the place of the Miami Five.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Time For Our Truth

“This woman wants the truth – this woman wants to hide it.” NI Secretary Theresa Villiers (depicted on the right) refused to order further investigation of the shooting deaths of 11 Ballymurphy residents – one for each cross shown – in 1971 (BelTel) and also the La Mon restaurant fire-bombing in which 12 people died (BelTel).

See also: #Time4Truth.

This mural replaces the short-lived mural to Gerry Adams as he was detained while being questioned about the Jean McConville case – see Get The Real Story.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Léana An Dúın Unbowed Unbroken

“Cuımhnímıs [we remember].” The mural to the “patriot dead” of Lenadoon who died for the freedom (“saoırse”) of Ireland has been repainted.

The design and central figure remain as before, but the tricoloured border is new, as are the photographic portraits of nine local IRA volunteers in the apex. On the scrolls to each side, their names are given as (left) Tony Henderson, John Finucane, Tony Jordan, Brendan O’Callaghan, Joe McDonnell, (right) Laura Crawford, Maıréad Farrell, Patricia Black, Bridie Quinn.

The dedication plaque is from the launch of the 2009 version of the mural; it was originally painted in 1996 (seen here in 2002 with all of the (painted) portraits missing and c. 1999 with three of the nine portraits).

See also the Cú Chulaınn Visual History page.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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