Graffiti in Gardiner Place in the wake of Brexit and the NI Protocol: above, “all taigs [Catholics] are targets” with crosshairs; below, “Brexit needs us to exit the EU”.
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“Handily packed, delicious to eat, Spangles are the fruitiest sweet! Only 3d a packet. Made by Mars.” A 1952 magazine advertisement for Spangles in the window of a vintage shop in Carrickfergus, showing a street party, perhaps in anticipation of the coronation of Elizabeth II, 16 months after she became queen in February 1952. The boiled sweets were a staple of life until 1984 (WP).
Other early ads for Spangles, which were introduced in 1950, note the price is 3d “and only one point”, meaning that customers would have to use one of the 16 points for non-essential goods from their ration books; control of sweets did not end until February, 1953 (WP).
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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Celebrations of the centenary of the creation of Northern Ireland have been dampened by the fall-out from Brexit and the NI Protocol, the on-going coronavirus restrictions (and the leadership races in both the DUP and UUP). This Rathcoole house a flag to mark the centenary (the coat of arms of NI on a St Patrick’s Saltire) and stickers decrying the Protocol (“Northern Ireland unionists against NI Protocol”) and thanking the NHS.
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“By order of R. Coole.” Two of the Rathcoole towers have been scheduled for demolition by the NIHE, beginning with Monkscoole House this summer, to be followed later by Abbottscoole House. In their place, 50 homes will be built, about half as many as currently reside in the two blocks; this has led to graffiti in the estate protesting the plan (Newtownabbey Times one | two).
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Another World Belfast (web | Fb) collects toiletries and underwear for distribution – via local charities and community groups – in “Love Packs”. This ‘heart of hearts’ mural in support of the project is in the grounds of the Vault Artists (Fb | tw) in East Belfast.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“The Annals of the Four Masters record that in 665 AD, the Battle of Farset (Belfast) took place between the County Down Dal Fiatach, self styled Ulaid, and the Pretani or Cruthin where Cathasach, son of Laircine, was slain. This was an attempt by the Dal Fiatach to encroach on the Curtain territory of Trian Congail. The “third of Congal”, which encompassed territory on both sides of the Lagan, corresponding more to less to Uppers and Lower Clandeboye, including modern Belfast. Cathasach was Congal’s grandson. The battle was the first mention of Belfast in Irish history.”
The battle scene shown is Jim Fitzpatrick’s vision of the battle of Moira (in 637), rather than “Bellum Fertsi”. The salience of this description of intra-Ulster fighting is that there is a contention that the Cruthin were Scots (Picts) thus allowing for the idea (employed especially by the UDA – see Ulster’s Defenders and Defender Of Ulster From Irish Attacks) that present-day northern Protestants have a heritage, and a history of fighting for what is roughly Co. Antrim, that pre-dates the plantations. For more information and a similar board, featuring the tower blocks of Rathcoole rather than Cuchulainn and the Battle of Moira, see Kingdom Of The Pretani. For the debate over a connection to the Picts, see WP.
The Annals date back to the 1630s though they mostly comprise a variety of earlier sources.
The image of the gentleman with the sword appears to be a stock fantasy image, used for at least two characters in Game Of Thrones fandom (Rhaegon Targaryen and Lord Cameron Umber).
For the celebration of Rangers and the NI team, see Respect, Heritage, Culture.
The board on the right reads “Centenary of cultural expression 1921-2021. Sons Of Belfast LOL 743. Castleton Temperance LOL 867. The Memorial LOL 1197. Belfast Harbour LOL 1883. The Coote Memorial LOL 1921. Cave Hill Temperance LOL 1956.”
For the Crusaders FC mural, see The Northern Crusades.
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The fourth “Home Rule” bill, formerly known as the “Government of Ireland Act” was passed by the 11 November, 1920, and came into effect on May 3rd, 1921, partitioning Ireland into Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland (WP). There has been little to mark the centenary, perhaps due to distraction from Brexit and the DUP leadership change. The flag shown above celebrates the creation of the North, showing, clockwise from bottom left, the Crown, the Union Flag, King William at the Boyne, and Orangemen parading.
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The Ulster Banner flies at the bottom of the Limestone Road above a (new but possibly pre-dating the NI Protocol) hand-made ‘Brexit’ sign.
Previous ‘Brexit’ signs around Tiger’s Bay: Brexit Loyalists
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The cut-out Orange symbols at the ‘Tiger’s Bay’ corner of the Limestone Road (see Your Kingdom Will Endure Forever) are almost four years old. Here is the Union flag heart in the top left.
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“Gordon ‘Galloper’ Thompson – the headless horseman of North Belfast …. The Gordon ‘Galloper’ Thompson mural has been designed and created by young people from the Tiger’s Bay, New Lodge and York/Shore Rd areas of North Belfast as part of the CIRCA project delivered by Arts for All. … According to local legend, Gordon Thompson claimed that if he died and didn’t get into heaven, he would come back to haunt his ancestral home of Jennymount. An apparition of a man on horseback (with his head tucked under his arm) is rumoured to have been seen around Jennymount Mill where it is believed he was decapitated in an accident while fixing one of the weaving machines. Often parents used this tale to encourage their children to come in before dark. Many people still remember their parents telling them to be in for a certain time or: “Galloper Thompson will get ye.” ” (The text is from Joe Baker’s Haunted Belfast. More info from Walking Tours Belfast.)
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Extramural Activity 