Their Loyalty Betrayed

The Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) gave way to the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), which was disbanded in 1970.

One of fourteen panels in Thorndyke Street, east Belfast. For a list of entries for each panel, see East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00021

Unity Solidarity

A strike organised by the Ulster Workers Council brought down the power-sharing executive created by the Sunningdale Agreement in May, 1974.

One of fourteen panels in Thorndyke Street, east Belfast. For a list of entries for each panel, see East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00032 X00031

Hitler Attacks Belfast

From the info board, added later: In the blitz of 15/16th April 1941, “Across Belfast 745 civilians were killed, 420 were seriously injured and more than 1,000 less seriously. April and May 1941 an estimated 56,000 houses were damaged.”

One of fourteen panels in Thorndyke Street, east Belfast. For a list of entries for each panel, see East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00019 X00018

United Kingdom

The central panel in Thorndyke Street, Belfast, reproduces a postcard from during the Home Rule debate: “Ulster to Britain: thou mayest find another daughter with a fairer face than mine, with a gayer voice and sweeter and a softer eye than mine; but thou canst not find another that will love thee half so well!” The Ulster Banner (a flag of Northern Ireland) is used to represent Ireland in the quartet of flags while the shamrock stands alongside daffodil, rose, and thistle. For the Anglo-Norman French around the crown’s coat of arms, see Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense.

One of fourteen panels in Thorndyke Street, east Belfast. For a list of entries for each panel, see East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00027 [X00030]

Better The Grave Than Slavery

“How is freedom measured? By the effort which it costs to retain freedom!” (See also How Is Freedom Measured? and Deserted! Well – I Can Stand Alone.) This anti-Home Rule mural is the fifth of fourteen panels in Thorndyke Street, east Belfast. The “Ulster Unionist Convention” is connected to the Ulster Defence Union. The mural copies a WWI propaganda postcard.

One of fourteen panels in Thorndyke Street, east Belfast. For a list of entries for each panel, see East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00011 [X00010]

The City Is Saved

Derry city was saved from its siege by the Mountjoy “breaking the boom” that had been laid across the river Foyle. James II’s siege had lasted from April to July, 1689. King William III is in the insert.

One of fourteen panels in Thorndyke Street, east Belfast. For a list of entries for each panel, see East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00025 X00024

Lord Protector Of The Commonwealth

The “Lord Protector of the Commonwealth” is Oliver Cromwell, who put down an Irish rebellion (and allied Royalists) in 1650.

One of fourteen panels in Thorndyke Street, east Belfast. For a list of entries for each panel, see East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00020

East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society

In 2004 the East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society sponsored a series of 14 murals in Thorndyke Street charting Protestant history from Cromwell to Cluan Place. This post contains two wide shots.

Individual panels, from left to right, can be seen in the following entries:

  • Covenant M
  • Lord Protector M | X
  • The City Is Saved M | X
  • Civil & Religious Liberty M | X
  • Better The Grave Than Slavery M | X
  • Their Sacrifice Our Freedom M | X
  • United Kingdom M | X
  • Hitler Attacks Belfast M | X
  • Defending The Community M | X
  • Unity Solidarity M | X
  • Their Loyalty Betrayed M | X
  • Out Of The Ashes New Life M | X
  • Brittania M | X
  • Commonwealth/Sponsors M | X

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00035 X00034