Belfast east – Page 33 – Extramural Activity

Volunteering

2013-05-102024-12-19Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Two of the UVF flags put up to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the formation of the UVF still flying (on May 5th) above the black-and-white UVF mural in Carrington Street at the junction with the Ravenhill Road. The flags were supposed to come down directly after the parade on April 20th (BBC-NI) but there is now confusion as to who is responsible for their removal.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01085 formation of the UVF east belfast battalion for god and ulster trek the stunning mourne mountains oxfam trailfrekker samson goliath masked

All Gave Some

2013-02-132024-12-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here is a close-up of the UFF mural which can be seen in the background of the Feriens Tego post from a few weeks ago, in Lord St. A pair of red hands are in shackles and the fences of the Maze are superimposed on an outline of Northern Ireland. (Very similar to ‘For Peace’ mural on the Shankill in 1995.)

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00932 free our prisoners some gave all all gave some, east belfast, ulster freedom fighters

Semiotics

2013-02-032024-12-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

They say (some) shows on TV these days are good for you, because they are so complex in structure and signification. The citizens of Belfast are well up to the task, one suspects, as they get plenty of practice just walking down the street (in this case, the Newtownards Road): the Union flag is the most familiar signifier of the group, the fake storefronts (more) might take a moment to process (and make life difficult for bloggers differentiating between murals and street scenes), and one can then attempt to unscramble the meaning of adipose tissue (a.k.a. fat) of a bare-chested man spreading over his “cancer”-banded underwear. The store to the right of (the fake) Marie’s is coincidentally called “Body Language”! See image below ….

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Keeper

2013-01-312024-12-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

In an alley running between the backs of houses off Lord Street, the paint-ghost of a child ‘keeper tends goal. Wide shot below …

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ulster’s Past Defenders

2013-01-302024-12-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The “Ulsters Past Defenders” mural has been completely repainted though with a similar layout as before: UDR on the left, USC/ B-Specials on the right, but now with the USC emblem joining the UDR’s in the centre.

“Formed in 1970, the Ulster Defence Reg. was an infrantry [sic] regiment of the British army intended to carry out security duties in NI. It was later disbanded in 1992. A total of 197 members were killed through the troubles”

“This is dedicated to those who served in our conflict – we forget not”

“Formed in 1920, the Ulster Special Constabulary had been set up taking action against the IRA. It was divided into three categories A, B, and C specials. Later in 1970 they were disbanded. Then the UDR replaced them.”

Newtownards Rd, east Belfast.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Feriens Tego

2013-01-302024-12-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Striking, I Defend.” UDA murals in Lord Street, below the Albertbridge Road, accented by Union jacks (and, as can be seen in the wide shot, below, a pair of silver bells). The mural in the background of the wide shot is featured in All Gave Some.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00912 X00933 LPA UDA UFF UYM edith street est. 1973 free our prisoners

An Ulster Christmas

2013-01-292024-12-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Christmas decorations can still be found on poles around Belfast in late January. In some cases, as here, they are joined by Union flags.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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McCurrie & Neill

2013-01-282024-12-16Extramural Activity2 Comments

A banner and board reminding people of the deaths of Jimmy McCurrie and Bobby Neill, next to their memorial garden (in the right of the shot) on the Newtownards Road, with the cranes Samson and Goliath in the background. The two civilians died in the course of rioting and a gun battle around St. Matthew’s that was “the first major confrontation to occur in east Belfast during the troubles” (McKittrick et al., p. 50). It is not clear at what time each died. McKittrick (Lost Lives, ISBN 978-1840185041, amazon.co.uk, .com) gives the death of both as the 27th, and puts Neill’s death at 2 a.m. (and so strictly on the 28th??). Matt Baggott is the current Northern Ireland chief of police.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00900 Investigate these murders. Where is their justice? murdered 27/28th june 1970; still no truth, still no justice

Please Pay Here

2013-01-272024-12-16Extramural Activity1 Comment

A UVF mural featuring three masked paramilitaries over the car park of Iceland (a supermarket chain) on the Newtownards Rd. The line “We are the pilgrims, master; we shall go always a little further” comes from a 1913 poem by James Flecker. This mural was painted in May 2011, at a time when, in contrast, paramilitary murals were being replaced (BBC-NI). The in-progress shot below is from 2011-05-28.