Union Flag

We Are The People

Extramural Activity4 Comments

“For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (Psalm 95:7). Glasgow Rangers – the team of the chosen people of Northern Ireland – returned to winning ways by securing the League championship for a record 55th time (see We’re Back | F*ck Your Ten In A Row | Respect, Heritage, Culture).

The previous Biblical reference in the apex was Rev 18:4 – see Brits Out! For 2 Chronicles 7:14 see If I Send Pestilence. For the Orange symbols on the left (and Gen 38:28), see Your Kingdom Will Endure Forever.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08053 X08052

It’s Happening!

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Corcrain-Redmanville bonfire in Portadown, that is. The foundational pallets for this year’s bonfire have already been laid (Fb) and the ‘Buck Truck’ is available to collect your donations.

Also in Portadown (previously): the Edenderry bonfire | the Killicomaine bonfire

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 squire93@hotmail.com
X08048

Loyalist Ardoyne Says No

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Loyalist Ardoyne says no to Irish Sea border”. ‘Loyalist Ardoyne’ is the Glenbryn area.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08006

Still Anti-GFA

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

More anti-Good Friday/Belfast Agreement sentiment, this time from Dungannon, and this time claiming not that support has been withdrawn from the Agreement but that it was not supported in the first place: “Loyalist Eastvale Avenue says ‘No’ to Irish Sea border – Anti-GF 1998, still anfi-GFA 2021”.

Also in this street: memorial plaque to LVF leader Billy Wright.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 squire93@hotmail.com
X07878 kilcoole dr

An Old Song Re-Sung

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Loyalist Ballysillan says NO! to Irish Sea border.” The Ulster Banner merges with the Union Flag, and a Northern Ireland floating free of the south is cradled by Britain. (Compare with Give And Take from last week.)

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07866 [X07867] Ballysillan Road

Stronger, More United

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Shankill Road pays to tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised more than 30 million pounds for the NHS, after his death on February 2nd, with a tarpaulin on the fence of the community garden. The flowers are from current Belfast mayor, Frank McCoubrey of the DUP. Elsewhere, Sinn Féin members of Fermanagh & Omagh council did not join their colleagues in expressing condolences (Impartial Reporter).

See previously: Different Wars, Always Heroes | You’ll Never Walk Alone

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07936 X07939 [X07938] X07937

Milltown Young Volunteers

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is a vintage board in Milltown (south Belvoir), carved and painted with the YCV/UVF emblems but with “MYV” instead of “YCV”. The band’s last on-line presence seems to be from a decade ago, playing in Rathcoole.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07899 Ballycairn Rd

V For Victory

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

August 15th, 1945, saw the end of the second World War in the Pacific theatre, effectively ending the war as a whole. The 75th anniversary of the event was celebrated on the Shankill by and Up! Culture + Arts. Belfast Councillor (and 2020 High Sheriff) Nicola Verner has video (tw) of the tarp on the float that paraded along the Shankill on the day itself. With sponsorship from the Executive and the Greater Shankill Partnership (tw).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07792

Their Amazing Attack

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“I am not an Ulsterman but yesterday, the First of July, as I followed their amazing attack, I felt that I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world. – Wilfred [Wilfrid] Spender – The Somme 1916”. Spender was born in England but served as quartermaster of the Ulster Volunteers and general staff officer of the 36th (Ulster) Division. He won the Military Cross for actions at Thiepval, and became Cabinet Secretary of the new “Northern Ireland” in 1921 (WP). His words are on one of three new murals in Belvoir Park, alongside two large flags – the Union Flag and Ulster Banner. Above the WWI mural old RHC lettering is causing the paint to fall away.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07504 X07505 X07501 X07502 [X07506] X07503 Belvoir Pk

On Foreign Fields

Extramural Activity1 Comment

“This plaque is dedicated to those men and women of the Orange Institution who volunteered to fight in the Great War for king and empire and who made the ultimate sacrifice on foreign fields.” A WWI commemorative plaque has been added to the Orange hall in Carrickfergus (seen previously in M05249).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07374 X07373