King Billy’s sword is tipped in blood, and he rides below a shamrock, rose, and thistle, uniting the kingdoms. Ballyclare Orange Hall is named after Hugh McCalmont, a major-general in the British Army Ulster Unionist MP for North Antrim in 1895 (and East Antrim in 1918?). His Whiteabbey house was burned down by suffragettes in 1914 because it was used as a training ground by the UVF of the anti-franchise Carson.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04455 X04454 rashee rd
On 20 August 1943, second pilot Sergeant John Erskine and the Liberator crew of seven others failed to return from a convoy patrol of the west of Ireland (59 Squadron). Erksine and 28 others from WWII (and one from the Korean War) are commemorated in a new mural in Erskine Park, Ballyclare. It’s not known if the street name is connected to Sergeant John.
The left-hand portrait is of Edward Girvan, from Ballynure, who was killed on the H.M.S. Repulse, when it was attacked by Japanese aircraft and struck by torpedo bombs in the South China Sea on December 10th, 1941 (WP).
The soldier in the centre of the mural wears the emblem of the Royal Ulster Rifles, Parachute Regiment on his cap. William Johnston 7018189 and George Williamson 7022501 are listed (on the right) as riflemen in airborne battalions of the RUR, but this appears to be a reproduction of an original painting of an RUR major.
Like the WWI Ballyclare & District mural, the UDA are on the side wall – see the wide shot, below.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04450 X04453 lest we forget in honoured memory life or service
Sir Edward Carson, 1854-1935, was born and raised in Dublin, and practiced law there for many years, but he is most famously associated with the Unionist campaign against Home Rule and the creation of “a Protestant province of Ulster” and eventually the six-county state of Northern Ireland. The new mural in today’s post is by Dee Craig in Ballyclare’s Grange Drive.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ballyclare UVF memorial mural to volunteers from the 3rd and 1st battalions.
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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(British Army) soldiers silhouetted against the sunrise go over the top during World War I.
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03772 Thornhill Pde
Writing has appeared alongside the “Show No Mercy Expect None Back” mural in Ballyclare. On one side : “We will never accept [was originally “except” but this was quickly changed] a united Ireland – Feriens Tego [the UFF motto]” and “Now entering loyalist Erskine/Rashee Park – Quis separabit [the UDA motto]” and on the other: “Ballyclare heartland of south east Antrim – Simply the best [used with both UDA and UFF]”
The final image is from July, when the wall had been ‘booked’ for the UDA.
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03847 X03846 X05348 erskine park
… The Great War, “1916-2016”. WWI centenary mural in Grange Drive, Ballyclare.
Replaces Over The Top.
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Above and below are images from a new UFF/UDA/UYM mural in Ballyclare, featuring the Ulster banner and Union flag, and a quartet of hooded gunmen.
A very similar slogan is used in an Eddie The Trooper mural in Carrickfergus.
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X3808 X03807 Erskine Pk south east antrim SEA quis separabit UYM terrae filius
New South East Antrim UDA/UFF mural in Ballyclare, with the usual emblems and a central board featuring a photograph of a balaclava’ed volunteer: “For as long as 100 loyal men remain Ulster shall be free – Quis Separabit”.
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03681 X03682 Erskine Park
The ‘over the top’ mural in Ballyclare has been refreshed, compared to the faded lettering of 2014: the list of battles has been restored (in the bottom right) but the large scroll in the centre has been painted over.
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Extramural Activity 