The image above shows the centre of a mural in Canada Street depicting Protestant women and children on-board a steamer, the Ulster Queen, leaving Belfast because of rioting and headed for Liverpool, where they were hosted by local Orange families. A shot of the whole is below, as well as a close-up of the laminated letter of thanks to Elsie (Allen) Doyle, one of the organisers in Liverpool.
A very similar mural was in this spot several years ago (though not immediately prior to this one – the wall was blank), featuring three youngsters on the boat, rather than a mother and children. The panel to the right began “In August 1971 many Protestants fled their homes as the IRA launched a bitter sectarian attack on Protestant communities throughout Belfast.” (See M04069.)
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01394 X01392 X01393 in august 1971 many protestants fled their homes as the scale of violence erupted throughout belfast the loyal people of liverpool held out the hand of friendship in our hour of need up to 2000 terrified women and children escaped from burning homes to live in the safety of liverpool that act of friendship by the people of liverpool will never be forgotten a bond never broken no surrender telegraph the big flight of fear is on refugee problem is still growing number of homeless running into several thousand moving out of riot areas echo city gets ready northern ireland steamship ulster queen princes dock just after 6.30 am tired and strained hastily packed suitcases told of there anguish elsie allen doyle the debt of gratitude owed to this lady cannot be measured sitting in liverpool she seen the plight of the protestant families having to flee their home some of them burning as a member of lily of north ladies l.o.l. 79 she decided something had to be done her husband & father-in-law traveled to belfast in august 1971 what she saw motivated her to think that people could come and stay these needed a break away from mayhem that was going on in the name of the republican cause started to make plans and phoned friends including the orange order the hand of friendship was being extended across the irish sea they would not be found wanting took over 900 no mean feat seen they were all housed and cared for god bless you grandchildren loyalist stretched out to us
Extramural Activity 
My sister an i were part this fefugee.also our good close friend joany scott who wer with wen she was shot.liverpool opened thier homes to us and hundreds of familys .i would just live to thank every one invoved.esp.lee family whom we stayed with.and the people who took us to saftey once again thank u from my heart i speak for my sister too god bless.
Hi Betty,
I know that you left this comment a good eight years ago now but I’m hoping you’ll see this reply. I’m a history graduate student researching refugee families from Northern Ireland in the 1970s and I would love to hear about your experiences. If you’re at all interested in speaking with me, please feel free to reach me at tiffanythompson64@gmail.com. I would so love to hear from you!
Kindest regards, Tiffany
Hi Betty,
I know that you left this comment a good eight years ago now but I hope that you see this reply. I’m a history graduate student researching refugee families from Northern Ireland in the 1970s and I would love to hear about your experiences for my project. If you’re at all interested in speaking with me, please feel free to contact me at tiffanythompson64@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!
Kindest regards, Tiffany
Just talking to my neighbour and he was telling us he and his family were one off the very fortunate family’s to be sent to Liverpool well done ELSIE DOYLE
Is this still there?