Newtownabbey

Bill & Ben, The Loyalist Men

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2014-08-26 BillAndBen+

The original ‘Flower Pot Men’ was a radio show in 1951 and then a television series in December 1952; it featured the adventures/mishaps of two flower pot men, ending – because they were identical – with the question ‘Which of those two flower pot men – was it Bill or was it Ben?” The few (10? IMDb) episodes produced were repeated until 1970. “Bill” and “Ben” were the names of the younger brothers of creator Hilda Brabban and ‘Little Weed’ was based on her younger sister, Phyllis (Toonhound | Daze Of Our Lives). The characters were revived in 2001 and given a new look; the garden ornaments above from in a yard in Monkstown are based on the modern pair, though painted in red, white, and blue.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Memorial To The Missing

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2014-08-26 WeRemember+

Canadian physician John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields and the triple arches of the Thiepval memorial to the missing are featured in this Monkstown mural. It is McCrae’s poem that is thought to have given rise to the use of the poppy as a symbol of military remembrance (WP). A close-up of the right-hand side, showing the memorial, is below. The names of over 72,000 dead are inscribed on the memorial (WP | travelfranceonline).

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow/Between the crosses, row on row/That mark our place; and in the sky/The larks, still bravely singing, fly/Scarce heard amid the guns below.//We are the Dead. Short days ago/We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,/Loved and were loved, and now we lie/In Flanders fields//Take up our quarrel with the foe:/To you from failing hands we throw/The torch; be yours to hold it high./If ye break faith with us who die/We shall not sleep/Though poppies grow/In Flanders fields.”

2014-08-26 WeRememberDetail+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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1st East Antrim Ballyduff

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2014-08-25 Ballyduff1stBattUVF+

UVF mural showing the flags and insignia of the UVF and YCV (Young Citizen Volunteers), Ballyduff/Glengormley 1st East Antrim Battalion, alongside the flags of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Previously, nearby: Absent Friends | Another UVF 1st East Antrim Battalion – in Glengormley

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02108 For God and Ulster shamrock saltire

Bawnmore Supports Palestine

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2014-08-20 BawnmoreWide+

This banner just off the Shore Road includes two Palestinian flags and an Irish tricolour, along with a raised first and the lark of freedom, both in green, black, and red.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Absent Friends

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2014-08-25 AbsentFriends+

David Lee was a founder, in 1985, of Pride Of The Hill Flute Band in Carnmoney/Ballyduff. Kris Muckle – now deceased – was a long-time member. (Band Parades) Both are commemorated in this mural. If you know what territory is outlined around the red hand in the centre, please comment/e-mail. Our best guess is that it is Carnmoney Hill.

2014-08-25 AbsentFriendsWide+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Men In Black

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2014-08-25 SEAntrimUFF+

Two masked men with assault rifles flank the red fist and white star emblem of the Ulster Freedom Fighters. The figure on the left is shown in detail below. The South East Antrim UDA’s tumultuous history is substantial enough to warrant its own WP page.

2014-08-25 SEAntrimUFFDetail+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Reid & Wright

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2014-05-14 ReidAndWright+

This fake shopfront on the main Antrim Road through Glengormley pretends to be a bookstore but was once the Thyme Cafe. It’s not clear where the “restaurant” signage comes from.

Previously: Down The Shops | Back To Business | Needful Things | Yes, We Are Closed | Semiotics | G-8 Cover-Up

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Culture Before Cash

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2014-05-14 CultureBeforeCash2+

Materials intended for an Eleventh Night bonfire in Rathcoole were set alight early on Tuesday morning (0200 May 13th, 2014, according to Proud To Be A Protestant – Banter) and still smoldered in the morning. Nolan’s radio show last week had a segment on this bonfire, following up on an Irish News report (article behind a paywall) that the bonfire might be moved or covered for the Giro d’Italia. “Culture before cash” means that locals would prefer bonfires to the funds available (here is the Belfast City Council ‘Bonfire Management’ page; Rathcoole is in Newtownabbey) to put on a street party with a willow-wood beacon in its place. According to this Irish News report, in 2013 45 Loyalist  and 12 Republican bonfires part of the scheme. Here is the DOE’s Bonfire Report (pdf).

Previously: Bonfire Flags (images of (nearly) finished bonfires) | Everyone Has The Right To Participate (pallets in the lower Shankill estate)

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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It Was Gerry

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2014-05-02 RathcooleItWasGerry2+

Graffiti in the Rathcoole estate, in Newtownabbey just north of Belfast, “It was Gerry [Adams]”, next to “RHC” – “Red Hand Commandos”.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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1st East Antrim Battalion

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2014-02-11 QueensAve1Batt+

UVF mural in Glengormley featuring the familiar seal and a pair of hooded gunmen. This mural is on the same street as They Live With Us.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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