A “hard Brexit” would involve the UK leaving the European Union and the European Economic Area. For Northern Ireland, that would mean (at least) customs checks at the border with the Republic. Politicians on all sides are concerned about what that might mean for the peace, but the split is encouraged by the board above on the “sports zone” next to the Mount Inn on North Queen Street, Belfast. The Navy and RAF ensigns perhaps suggest how the UK’s borders are to be secured.
Here’s a house in Kilburn Street, south Belfast, bedecked in loyalist flags: a Union flag in the door, a 36th (Ulster) Division centenary flag upstairs, a Lord Carson Memorial (Sandy Row, LOL 1050 | tw) flag, and a stand of small flags in the downstairs window.
The notice board for the Factory Community Forum in the Boyne Square/Ferris Park area of Larne has seen better days. The group’s web site is operational but advertising events from 2015.
“This is what a so called united Ireland would look like” – attacks on pro-Israeli murals in interface areas (in this case, Beverley Street, between the Shankill and the Falls.) This is the latest attack on the Patterson mural just off Northumberland Street (the Battle Of Britain mural was also damaged – Irish News). The mural was previously defaced, also by burning, in June 2016 (not 2017 as on the mural) – see Where Is The Reconciliation? – and graffitied in March 2017 (BBC-NI). The title of the post is part of the line at the bottom, from Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the burial of Patterson’s ashes in 2014.
This was presumably to be a UDA mural in the Bangor estate of Kilcooley (there used to be a UFF mural on this wall – see M03710), but the mural was started in May 2016 and the image above taken in April 2017. If you have any information about why the painting stopped, please get in touch.
“In loving memory of Taughmonagh residents Brian McMillan, Alan ‘Rocky’ Meehan, Dennis Berrty (Sgt UDA), Thomas Vance (2 Para), Thomas Douglas. Murdered by cowards during the conflict in Northern Ireland. Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day.”
McMillan and Meehan were civilians shot along with TA staff sergeant (and English Catholic) Joseph Flemming on July 9th, 1972.
Dennis Berry was shot by the UVF after leaving the UDA social club in Taughmonagh. According to Lost lives, “Reliable loyalist sources said the shooting was the result of a personal row rather than having any political or organisational basis.” (p. 441)
Thomas Vance died in the IRA’s 1979 ambush of the British Army at Narrow Water Castle, near Warrenpoint (WP), on the same day that Louis Mounbatten was killed. (Republican mural)
Thomas Douglas was shot while walking along the street. His family denied he was a leading loyalist and simply a member of the Orange Order (CAIN | Fb).
This plaque has been added to the UDA memorial garden in Taughmonagh (at the corner of Finbank Gardens & Malfin Drive).
It is usually the fourth verse from Laurence Binyon’s poem For The Fallen that is quoted on memorial stones to the fallen of the WWI but here we have the third verse: They went with songs to the battle, they were young/Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow/They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted/They fell with their faces to the foe. The stone commemorates “the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division who gave their lives for King and country at the Battle of the Somme 1st July – 18th November 1916”. It is in the garden adjacent to the West Kirk Presbyterian church (Fb) on the Shankill Road. As the image below shows, the garden is also host to many small boards to individual soldier (see previously Among The Fallen | XXXVI | The Sacrifice Remains The Same).
Here are the two low walls along Freedom Corner in east Belfast. Above, “The Ulster conflict is about nationality – this we shall maintain” using flags as identifiers: the Ulster banner for Northern Ireland, the St George Cross for England, the Union Flag for the UK, St Andrew’s Saltire for Scotland, and Baner Cymru for Wales. The previous version used flowers and the red hand – see Daffodil Nation.
Below, “Loyalist east Belfast” between the Ulster Banner and Union Flag.
Here is another in an occasional series of “RIP” graffiti to local people, this time in south Belfast’s Village neighbourhood: “RIP Grandpa – love from John”. Previously: Jamie and Kev | Caomhan, Punk, and Butt.
A “blue plaque” has been erected on the front of the Shankill Methodist church (on the Shankill at Berlin Street) to Saidie Patterson “trade unionist and peace activist”. In 1940 she led a seven-week strike to improve conditions and pay in Ewart’s linen mill on the Crumlin Road, where she had been working since age 14. As noted on the plaque, she was the first winner of the World Methodist Peace Prize (in 1977) – Allan McCullough has a photo of Patterson with her medal (the one in the middle). The plaque was unveiled on International Women’s Day 2018. (Irish News | Bel Tel | BBC-NI)
Extramural Activity 