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The War Of Northern Aggression

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The confederate attempt to secede from the United States is here put in parallel with loyalist resistance to Home Rule. The page on Ulster-Scots Murals contains an attempt to understand the logic of this mural.

Various “sons of Ulster who led the confederate army” “during the War of Northern Aggression” [a.k.a. the Civil War] are quoted in the mural:

  • “Do your duty as I have done mine – General [James Ewell Brown] Jeb Stuart”
  • “It is history that teaches us to hope – General Robert E Lee”
  • “All that I am and all that I have is at the service of my country – General Thomas Jonathan Stonewall Jackson”
  • “The government at Washington denying our right to self-government, refused even to listen to any proposals for peaceful separation. Nothing was then left to do but prepare for war – President Jefferson Davis, inaugural address at Richmond, Virginia, February 22nd 1862”.
  • “My Ulster blood is my most priceless heritage” on the left-most panel is from James Buchanan.

The sons of Ulster who wrote and signed the Ulster Covenant during the Home Rule crisis of 1912 are described in this quote:

“Being convinced in our consciences that Home Rule would be disastrous to the material well-being of Ulster as well as the whole of Ireland, subversive of our civil and religious freedom … – The Ulster Covenant, written by Thomas Sinclair, Ulster Day, September 1912 inspired by Scotland’s Solemn League and Covenant, Greyfriar’s Churchyard, Edinburgh 1638.”

The right-most panel reads, “From pioneers to Presidents”. Murals under this theme – including two of Buchanan – were painted in 1999 (Belfast | Londonderry). This mural dates back to 2005 and perhaps earlier, part of a second wave of Ulster Scots murals that included Davy Crockett in Ballymena (2002), a gallery of famous famous faces in Newtownards (2005), and Andrew Jackson in the Shankill (c. 2007). See Visual History 08.

See also: the Confederate flag flying in Cluan Place | a confederate battle flag in Ballymacarett.

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Copyright © 2008 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Andrew Jackson

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“Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of the USA and the first of Ulster-Scots descent, his family emigrated from Carrickfergus to North Carolina in 1765. After leading the army to victory in the Battle Of New Orleans in 1815 Jackson became a national hero and became known as “Old Hickory” after the tough wood of the native American tree. His “common man” credentials earned Jackson a massive popular vote and swept him into the Presidency for two consecutive terms (1829-1837).” He also hated the British, owned slaves, and signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which led to the infamous “Trail of Tears” (Irish Times).

See also the Visual History page on Ulster-Scots murals.

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Copyright © 2008 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Stevie McKeag

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“In loving memory of military commander Stevie ‘Top Gun’ McKeag – sleeping where no shadows fall. Born 1970, died 2000.” McKeag’s portrait (now a head-and-shoulders shot rather than just the face – see M03803) is on a board at the centre of a mural of flags – UFF, Ulster Banner, St Andrew’s Saltire, and UDA .

A previous McKeag mural (on Shankill Parade) had been re-imaged in 2004 (into a Cuchulainn mural). This one was painted in 2006 across the green in Hopewell Crescent.

Lower Shankill, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2008 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Welcome To Loyalist Eden

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King William’s True Blues flute band from Eden Village (outside Carrickfergus) amalgamated with the South East Antrim Defenders. That group disbanded in 2007 but was re-established in 2010.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Lower Shankill UFF

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This lower Shankill UDA/UFF C company mural is a survivor from the days of Johnny Adair. There is a separate Visual History page on the Adair-Era Murals.

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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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United Kingdom

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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.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society

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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

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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