Extramural Activity

Gone But Not Forgotten

2022-04-212025-01-07Extramural Activity1 Comment

Robert Dougan was commander of the UDA South Belfast Brigade and lived Oranmore Drive (BelTel). He was killed by the IRA on February 10th, 1998 while sitting in a car outside Balmoral Textiles in Dunmurry, which led to a month-long expulsion of Sinn Féin from the peace talks taking place at the time (L.A. Times); two months later the Good Friday Agreement was signed. There had been attempts on his life in 1993 and 1994 (Irish Times).

The plaques, from left to right, are to Rodney McBride (1996), Alec Legge (2007), Jim Bradshaw (2008), Robert Dougan (1998), Greg Bradshaw (2014), David Pollock (2015). Harry Haggan (2010), William Stevenson (2008).

Tildarg Avenue. There is a mural to Dougan on Sandy Row – see Everyone’s Friend.

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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09986 [X09984] X09985 [X09987] [X09988]
X09983

Is Your Home Worth Fighting For?

2022-04-202025-01-07Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“… It will be too late to fight when the enemy is at your door.” In 1914, at the time of the Larne gun-running – see the mural in the second image and (previously) Amazing Night At Larne – the enemy was the threat of Home Rule and its enforcement by British Army forces and RIC that would remain under British control for at least three years after the commencement of home rule (Home Rule And Ulster’s Resistance p. 9). A bill to amend home rule by excluding some or all of the Ulster counties was introduced in July, 1914 (WP), but both Home Rule and the amendment were put aside when the Great War began; the enemy of Unionists then became the Central Powers. The contemporary enemy is the NI Protocol and Brexit, with the powers in Westminster again suggesting a separation of Britain and (Northern) Ireland.

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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09336 X09335 X09337 Greenland Drive Larne

SNP Out

2022-04-192025-01-07Extramural Activity1 Comment

The SNP [Scottish National Party] became the largest party in the Scottish parliament in 2007 and went from 6 Westminster seats in 2010 to a completely dominant 56 (of 59) in 2015. It spearheaded a referendum in 2014, which was defeated 55% to 47% (WP). Scottish independence is again included in the manifesto of the SNP – though it has not committed to a specific date on account of the Covid pandemic – and as such the SNP remains a threat to the integrity of the UK that Northern Ireland unionists espouse. Hence this sticker on the Shankill Road, even though the SNP does not stand any candidates in NI elections.

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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09955 Shankill Road

Ireland Supports The People Of Donetsk

2022-04-182025-01-07Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Ireland supporrs [sic] the people of Donetsk”. “Donetsk” is the name of both the oblast and its captial city, as is “Luhansk”. In 2014, pro-Russian separatists in both capitals stormed government buildings, and each held a referendum (not recognised by any regime, including Russia) and declared independence from Ukraine (WP). As a prelude to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Vladimir Putin recognised the two independent republics and sent Russian troops into the two regions on a so-called “peace-keeping mission” (CNN), which subsequently became an invasion of Ukraine generally, with the Russians “demilitarising” various Ukrainian cities and suburbs – including towns in Donetsk and Lunhansk (e.g. in Donestsk | in Luhansk) by destroying them (Battle Of Bến Tre). Russian forces were forced to retreat from around Kyiv (roughly March 25th onward) and some have been put in place around Izyum and along the eastern Russia-Ukraine border in preparation for a battle for Donetsk and Luhansk; however, it is not clear that it will take place on the Russian’s terms (ISW), and instead that Ukrainian forces will eventually attempt to regain the separatist-controlled areas.

This graffiti is next to Victory To The Workers/Victory To The NHS.

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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09948

And There’s More

2022-04-172025-01-07Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Three Jimmys by Glen Molloy (ig): comedian James Young (WP), actor James Nesbitt (IMDb), and comedian Jimmy Cricket (web | tw) with “sadly no room for Jimmy ‘Rock’n’roll’ Symmington”.

This is the second “3 Jimmy’s” mural; the first was in Exchange Place in 2017.

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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09935 [X09738] [X09739] Hill St

Fryday

2022-04-152025-01-07Extramural Activity1 Comment

It’s been a long time since workers walked en masse from east Belfast to the shipyard, but fish and chips remain popular, though the number of chippies has fallen from about 35,000 in 1920 to 10,500 today (BBC | Dockside). This mural is on the side of the ‘Chipyard’ in Strandtown.

What Did You Do In The Election?

2022-04-142025-01-07Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Today is the last day to register to vote in the May 5th Assembly election. You can register on-line at gov.uk. Currently, 1.4 million people are registered in Northern Ireland (BBC). As today’s images make clear, the poles of Belfast are already cluttered with placards for the various candidates, as well as the salient issues, such as the “sea border” and the death of Noah Donohoe.