Covenant 1912

Faded Glory

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

These five images show the remains of an Ulster Special Service Force (USSF) mural in Drumahoe Gardens, Millbrook. In addition to the union flag and emblem of the unit, the mural showed the Covenant and Carson, the gunrunning ship Clyde Valley which landed at Larne (not shown here), the garlanded red hand shown above, a memorial lamp post(?) not shown, soldiers from the 36th Division going over the top(fourth), the Ulster Tower and a helmet on a cross (not shown).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04383 X04380 X04381 X04382 X04384

100 Years Of The Covenant

Extramural Activity1 Comment
03806-2016-08-25-100-years-the-covenant

The covenant was signed in September 1912 (as captured in another famous image from Belfast’s City Hall — see Betting Office). The mural above uses the text of the Covenant as a backdrop to a composite of Edward Carson speaking and a row of Ulster Volunteers, formed in January 1913 (see the similar mural First World War).

Murals Irlande du Nord has a post comparing this painted version with the previous plastic version.

Dean Park, Carrickfergus.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03806

carsonrally
Carson speaking, unknown year

Carson inspects UVF troops in 1914

Blast Off

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

A metal banner (attached to the two barrels) outside the Bowtown Youth Club in Newtownards shows the classic image of the signing of the Ulster Covenant against the background of a Union flag, and also a rocket taking off, in the children’s mural painted on one side of the club.

“NVF” in the left-hand insignia stands for “Newtownards Volunteer Flute [Band]” (Fb). On the right is the insignia of another flute band, the North Down Defenders (Fb).

The caption below the image of the covenant signing lists a good number of those in the picture:

Sir Edward Carson (later Lord Duncairn) signing the Ulster Covenant in the Belfast City Hall, September 28, 1912.

Left to right, 1st row: Mr. R.J. McMordie, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Lord Charles Beresford, Marquess of Londonderry, Sir Edward Carson, Captain James Craig (later Lord Craigavon), Mr. J.H. Campbell, K.C. (later Lord Glenavy), and Dr. W. Gibson.

2nd row: present Lord Londonderry, and Col. R.H. Wallace, C.B., D.L. Behind the latter, Ronald McNeill, M.P. (later Lord Cushendun).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01485

Out Of The Rubble

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Covenant and Somme boards originally on the corner of Barrington Gardens before demolition (see July 1st) have been mounted together on a metal frame inside the security gates.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01529

July 1st

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

In the old style of calendar (prior to 1752), the Battle Of The Boyne took place on July 1st, the same date as the Battle Of The Somme (in the new style of calendar). It is reported that some soldiers from the 36th Division wore their Orange Order collarettes into battle. In the image above, which reproduces a painting by Carol Graham, they defend their trench from a German assault.

Carson signing the 1912 Covenant is the second of the pair.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00848 X00807

Women Through The Ages

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A good part of this Enfield Street, Belfast, mural is in fact dedicated to Edward Carson – in the top left are “Sir Edward Carson’s family”, “Sir Edward Carson’s wife”, and “Sir Edward Carson’s mother” and below them is a photograph of Carson presenting colours to the South Belfast Volunteers (see We Won’t Have Home Rule) and another (to the middle) of “Sir Edward Carson being introduced to woman nurses”. In the centre are “Local women preparaing food during UWC strike 1974”. Other images include English monarchs Victoria (Queen Of Ireland, Empress Of India) and Elizabeth, Ulster 1914, and the signing of the Ulster Covenant by women.

“This project is part of Belfast City Council’s Cultural Networks programme. It is funded by the EU Programme For Peace & Reconciliation In Northern Ireland And The Border Region Of Ireland (Peace III).”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00548

Ulster Volunteers

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Centre: Carson signs the Covenant – the document is top right; top left: gunrunning on the Clyde Valley; bottom left, mounted rifles; bottom right, Carson presenting colours (and the 2011 Ballyduff bonfire).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00462 X05130

20th Century Northern Ireland

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is an in-progress set of images of the original “Wheatfield Project” panels on the Ballysillan Road, depicting the 20th century in loyalism. The crown on the YCV symbol and the tombstones and Ulster tower have not been finished and Carson’s statue will be added to the foreground of Stormont.

Later on, an info board would replace the first two panels, and the order after it would be Ulster Day, then Carson signing the covenant, then a new double-sized panel of Fernhill House, and then the rest as above, but with the order of the Sunningdale and UWC strike panels reversed.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2005 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00132 X00133 X00134 X00135 X00136 X00137 X00138 X00139 X00140 X00131 X00124 X00129 X00126 X00127 X00128

1912-09-28 CovenantDay.jpeg

Betting Office

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Ulster Day. Sir Edward Carson (WP) signing the covenant (WP). Belfast City Hall, 28th September, 1912.”

This is the first of three panels on this wall that together trace the history of the Ulster Volunteers; see also the second (Carson and the Ulster Volunteers) and third (women defenders while the men fight in Europe).

Below is a shot of the full scene in the courtyard of the Rex bar, two weeks away from the 12th

Moscow Street/Shankill Road, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00049 X00050 1912, lest we forget, 36th ulster division, battle of the boyne, 1st july 1916, ycv, uvf, rex bar est. 1865 moscow street