A Salute To The Brave

The poppies and the downcast soldiers come from the first World War but the names are all of modern UVF and RHC volunteers, from 1976 to the present day. Included on the list is John Hanna (junior): the new board is next to the recent John Hanna memorial, as shown in the wide shot, below.

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Courage Is The Foundation Of Integrity

“With courage and vision you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity. – Mark Twain.” (The quote does not appear to be from Twain but is widely attributed to Keshavan Nair, who wrote a book on “lessons from the life of Ghandi”.)

This new board above the Red Hand Commando mural in Glenwood Street honours three UVF men who turned to politics and community work: Augustus (Gusty) Spence, who was among the earliest members of the UVF and after release in 1984 joined the PUP and set up the Shankill Activity Centre; David Ervine, also a UVF and PUP leader – see David Ervine and Memory Chair; Plum Smith, a founder member of the RHC and later shop steward and PUP leader – see RIP Plum Smith.

Click here for the full RHC mural.

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Rot In Hell, Martin

IRA volunteer and Sınn Féın politician Martin McGuinness died in March 2017 from amyloidosis (Guardian obituary). See also: Your A Scumbag, Martin McGuinness and The Bogside Butcher.

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Hanging Tower

Derry Gaol was built in 1791 with towers added in 1824, including the one shown above for executions by hanging. The rest of the prison was demolished in 1973; this tower lives on as a small WWI museum. For more info, see Rambling Wombat.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Village UVF

A WWI poppy is used as the “O” in “Lest we forget”, joining together the Ulster Volunteers of 1912 and the modern Ulster Volunteer Force. For more of the many small UVF boards mounted in the Village in order to re-establish its presence, see South Belfast Volunteers | Welcome To The Village | A Hive Of Glass | For God And Ulster.

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On The Other Side

The stained glass from Townsend Street Presbyterian shown above depicts a scene from Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress, where Valiant-for-truth crosses over to his Father’s house. The glass was unveiled in 1922 in memory of “John Sinclair Martin of the 5th Royal Irish Rifles and his son Robert T Martin” (Beechgarave | History Hub Ulster).

Below is ‘Charity’ from the trio of ‘Faith, Hope, and Charity’ by Wilhelmina Geddes, unveiled 1914-02-08. 2016 saw the publication of a biography of Geddes (BelTelIrish Times).

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Shankill Fathers

Eight silhouetted men ride on an elephant while the faces of a dozen more Like Sure Start, the Great Shankill Fathers’ Forum is perhaps part of the Greater Shankill Partnership. It does not appear to have any independent on-line presence.

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Copyright © 2017 ExtramuralSeosamh Mac Coılle
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For God And Ulster

The members of the anti-Home Rule ‘Ulster Volunteers’, formed in 1912, joined the 16th and 36th divisions at the onset of WWI. The emblem of the Ulster Volunteers is on the right (the emblem of the 36th is on the left). The same emblem was used in 1966 when the modern UVF was founded. See also South Belfast VolunteersA Hive Of Glass | Village UVF | Welcome To The Village.

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South East Antrim Remembers

This new South East Antrim 2nd battalion UDA/UFF mural in Glengormley prominently uses poppies, usually seen in UVF murals on account of their shared name with the Ulster Volunteers of 1912 and WWI. Replaces They Live With Us.

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X04600 X04599 X04598 X04597 John Stewart queens ave rathcoole monkstown whitewell greenisland rathfern shore rd glengormley carrickfergus larne braidside whitehead ballymena antrim balltcarry ballyclare newtownards terrae filius quis separabit dedicated to the offices and volunteers of the 2nd battalion

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Clonduff Youth

Nozzle & Brush worked with the young people of Clonduff Youth in a project to change the image of the estate. In years past, this wall was “UVF reserved”.

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