The Blood And Lives Of Those Now Dead

INLA plaque in Friendly Street, Belfast. In proud memory of our fallen comrades: brothers James ‘Jim’ and Thomas ‘Ta’ Power – the former killed by a premature explosion in Friendly Street, site of this plaque, the latter killed alongside John O’Reilly in Dublin by the IPLO, and Emanuel Gargan, who was also killed in the feud. “When the freedom of our country and class has been won let us guard it well remembering it was paid for by the blood and lives of those now dead. Erected by the Irish Republican Socialist Ex-Prisoners Memorial Committee.”

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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The Celtic Football Club

Glasgow Celtic football club (in Scotland/Albain) celebrated its centenary in 1988 and to celebrate the occasion it switched its badge for a season from the familiar four-leaf clover (shown in the second image) to a celtic cross, based on the club’s original badge, which was a cross against a red background (which can be seen at Re-brand Celtic).

Friendly Street, the Markets, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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Tomorrow Belongs To Us

Michael Stone is removed from the central circle (see T00637) and replaced by an UYM fist. Jonathan “JJ” Gray – son of Jim Gray – died on holiday in Thailand in 2002. Jim Gray, who once owned the pub at the top of the street (Avenue One), himself would be shot in October 2005 after being expelled from the UDA in March. Rab Brown is perhaps the UVF commander – it’s not clear why he’s on a UDA mural. The flag of the ‘Ulster nation’/independent Northern Ireland is retained alongside the Ulster Banner.

Templemore Avenue, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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Gertrude Star Flute Band

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
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Freedom Corner

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
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Ulsters Peoples Soldiers

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
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