The Battle Of Britain

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Love demands sacrifice”. “‘From this day to the ending of the world … we in it shall be remembered, we few, we happy few, we band of brothers’ for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother’ – Henry V, William Shakespeare”

2015 marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle Of Britain, which was waged from July to October in 1940. This large board is part of an anti-racism project, celebrating the contributions to the Battle made by roughly 145 Polish aviators (WP) and especially the 303 squadron, which was stationed in Northern Ireland for a time (BBC-NI). “The Polish nation – part of us then, part of us now”.

The artist is Ross Wilson. Belfast Live has a report on the launch.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12180 M12178 [M12179] M12177

How Nobly They Fight And Die

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) division in the trenches of WWI prepare to go ‘over the top’. One waits for the precise moment according to his watch, ready to fire a shot, while the other prepares to blow a whistle and launch a flare. “Throughout the long years of struggle, the men of Ulster have proved how nobly they fight and die.” King George V on November 16, 1918. The quote also appears on the Ulster Tower in Clandeboye.

Queen’s Parade, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12141 [M12140] [M12139] [M12142] [M12143]

The Great War

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The memorial garden in Mount Vernon, which previously had and Ulster Volunteers mural and UVF stone, has undergone a major redevelopment this year (2015) with a new “cut-out” mural to the 36th (Ulster) Division and stand-alone memorial plaques to six UVF (3rd Belfast Battalion) members who were listed the plaque on the outside wall of the garden. “Murdered in the service of Ulster: Joe Shaw 18-5-1974, Samuel Frame 13-3-1976, Jackie Irvine 16-3-1989. Colin Caldwell 28-11-1991, Bertie Rice 31-10-2000, Mark Quail 1-11-2000.”

“We salute also all volunteers at home and on the mainland who served with dignity and pride.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12161 [M12162] [M12163] [M12164] [M12165] [M12166]
M12167 M12168
M12169 M12170 M12171 M12172 M12173 M12174
M12159 M12160 [M12175]

Covenants Without Swords Are Only Words

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Covenants without swords are only words” is a slight emendation of a line from Chapter 17 of Thomas Hobbes’s The Leviathan: “And covenants, without the sword, are but words and of no strength to secure a man at all.” 

It is applied here to the 1912 Ulster Covenant being backed up by the 1914 gun-running. Edward Carson is shown acknowledging the cheers of the Ulster Volunteers, who have been drilling at Glencairn (as seen in this Shankill mural).

Above the Unionist souvenir shop on the Newtownards Road, east Belfast. Seen previously in 2012: Where Ulstermen Shop.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12158

Smash Fortress Europe

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Smash fortress Europe – no one is illegal.” Two-year-old Alan (or Aylan) Kurdi and his brother Galib both died during an attempted crossing from Turkey to the Greek island of Kos. Alan’s body was pulled from the water and placed on the shore, where it was photographed lying face-down. The image stunned and shocked people around the world.

“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones, who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fast[en]ed round your neck and you were drowned in the Depths of the Sea. RIP Aylan”

The flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine flies above Free Derry Corner (Visual History). For the board at the back of the wall, see End British Internment.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney (dated August 30th, but Kurdi did not die until September 2nd)
M12831 [M12832] M12833
M12829 [M12830]

Queer Icons

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Free Derry Corner (Visual History) is transformed for Foyle Gay Pride 2015, (August 22nd-30th (programme at issuu)) with paste-ups of four “queer icons”. The four are (l-r) Stormé DeLarverie (WP), Mark Ashton (WP), Sylvia Rivera (WP), and Marsha P Johnson (WP). Ashton grew up in Portadown before moving to London; the other three are from the USA.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12820 M12821

Supporting Republican POWs

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Three flyers on Free Derry Corner (Visual History) in the Bogside: “End the brutality in Maghaberry”, “End the brutality of republican prisoners”, and “End forced isolation”.

“Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association [web]. No change from H-Block to MagHaberry. Supporting republican POWs.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12814 M12815 M12816 M12817

Aidan McAnespie

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“In loving memory of Aidan McAnespie, murdered at this spot by crown forces, on 21st February 1988, aged 23 years. RIP”

In November 2022, Grenadier Guardsman David Holden was found guilty of McAnespie’s manslaughter (BBC), having been previously charged with manslaughter at the time of the incident, but not convicted (Lost Lives 2907).

Monaghan Road, Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, near the grounds of Aghaloo O’Neill’s GAC.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12813 M12812