Belfast east – Page 12 – Extramural Activity

As The Stars Are Known To The Night

2020-07-032024-12-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

William McFadzean won a VC for sacrificing himself on the morning before the Battle Of The Somme (in WWI) and is commemorated in several murals. He shares a plaque here with “Vol W Miller”, who is perhaps the (modern UVF) volunteer Billy Miller from Donegall Pass who was killed in an RUC ambush in 1983 (Long Kesh I/O). The two names on the newer plaque are unknown on-line, perhaps having survived the Troubles and being recently deceased.

The title of today’s post comes from the Laurence Binyon poem For The Fallen.

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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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In Bloom

2020-06-292024-12-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Work by emic (web) at the Vault Artists’ Studios (web) (previously the Met College) in east Belfast.

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Copyright © 2020 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
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Our Heroes Past And Present

2020-06-252024-12-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The heroes of the past are the soldiers of WWI and WWII (commemorated by the poppies growing in ACT Initiative‘s Shankill Road Community Garden, above, and in the 75th anniversary VE Day posters in Madrid Street, east Belfast, below); the present-day heroes are the doctors, nurses, and staff of the NHS, symbolised by the rainbow in both images.

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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Girls Club

2020-06-162024-12-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Miss McMinn (BEM) created a haven for “Her Girls” in Thorndyke Street Club. It was a home from home where you were encouraged to be yourself. ‘Her girls’ were here life: Her 27 years of service brought joy to the lives of young girls in an area of Belfast that had been devastated by the Blitz. Miss Margaret (Greta) McMinn (we never used Christian names) never married but devoted her life to ‘her girls’. So great was her dedication that during ‘The Troubles’, unable to get to her home in north Belfast, she slept on the premises. With her guidance we learned many arts and crafts which we shared with our family and friends on ‘display night’. We also entered many sports competitively in our own area and the Shankill Road. Many outings to the pantomime, circus, etc. and the annual holidays to Shimna House, Newcastle, County Down, were a real treat for children who had little or nothing in the way of luxury. Wonderful memories of a beautiful lady. – Peggy Bowden”. Part of the “East Side Lives Heritage Trail” which “celebrates the unsung people who built community in east Belfast.

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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Fact And Myth Riveted Together

2020-06-142024-12-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Overlooked by the iconic Harland and Wolff cranes, Samson and Goliath, The Yardmen is a bronze sculpture depicting three shipyard workers returning home to East Belfast.” “At its peak 30,000 people were employed in the shipbuilding industry in Belfast. A high proportion of them lived in the terraced streets off the Newtownards Road. Not far away is one of the best preserved terraces of workers’ houses in Belfast – McMaster Street, begun in 1898. Most of the workforce was drawn from the countryside around Belfast, though many skilled workers were recruited in Britain. While shipbuilding was harsh and often dangerous work, the standard of living for workers was generally higher than that of shipyard employees in other British cities.”

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Copyright © Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07194 2015
X03179 X03172 X05215 2012
John harper baptist pastor glasgow mottpottinger tabernacle gave his life jacket to another man westbourne presbyterian ship of dreams mural dee street titanic mural discover ulster-scots belfast maritime trail 1700 large ships most famous being titanic a great ship now locked into worldwide history and romantic myth, fact and myth riveted together

Justice For Ian Ogle

2020-06-032024-12-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Ian Ogle (“Big O”) was standing at this spot (Cluan Place and Albertbridge Road) on the night of January 27th, 2019, when he was assaulted and stabbed by a gang of men. Three UVF members have been charged with his death though the UVF say the killing was not sanctioned (Sunday Life). The family continue to campaign for a safer east Belfast (BelTel).