UVF-RHC-YCV

This trio of emblems dates back to at least 2008. So, there has been plenty of time to finish off the two of them that are incomplete – the YCV on the end is complete; the UVF and RHC ones are not. 

Off Greenland Drive, Larne.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Young, The Brave & The Fearless

Here are the main parts of the YCV mural in Walnut Street, off Donegall Pass, from left to right. The earliest image of this mural is 2001’s M01522.

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Mid Ulster UVF

Pallets are collected for Eleventh night in the Edgarstown estate, in front of the murals on Union Street: from left to right: Portadown True Blues, Mid Ulster UVF, and the Ulster Volunteers. In the final image, “LVPW” [Loyalist Volunteer Prisoners’ Welfare] on the tarmac is modified (by the rival UVF) to become “DVPW” – “D” for “drugs”.

There are shots of Mid Ulster UVF and Ulster Volunteers walls in 2008 at the Peter Moloney Collection – Murals.

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South Belfast UVF

South Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force 2nd Battalion “A” Company Donegall Pass, with the flag of England (St. George’s Cross) in one corner and in the other an orange star with “1912” written below, the year the Ulster Volunteers were founded. The colour-scheme is the reverse of the Orange Order’s: its flag has the purple star of the Williamites on an orange field.

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Boyle & Somerville

Harris Boyle and Wesley Somerville were UDR soldiers and UVF volunteers. They were “killed in action” when the bomb they were planting on the minibus of the Miami Showband went off prematurely. Of the pair, only Somerville’s arm, with its “UVF Portadown” tattoo remained identifiable (WP). The plaque is in Princess Way/Gloucester Avenue, Portadown.

Since 2014, the poster erected each year in Moygashel to honour Somerville has drawn criticism: 2014, 20152016, 2017, and 2018.

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Gregg & Carson

John “Grug/Grugg” Gregg and Robert “Rab” Carson of the UDA’s Southeast Antrim brigade were killed on February 1st, 2003, on orders from Johnny Adair of the West Belfast brigade after Gregg and other brigade bosses voted to expel Adair from the UDA (October 2002).

The emblem is of the Royal Irish/Ulster Rifles/Regiment – it’s not clear if there is connection to Gregg or the UDA; the emblem is also used by the Cloughfern Young Conquerors, but again the connection to the RIR is unclear.

Replaces the Cloughfern Eddie. (See also the Visual History page on Eddie.) Gregg was known as “the grim reaper” and had a tattoo of the reaper on his back (Guardian).

The Israeli flag flies from the Watta-Chip in Knockenagh Avenue, Newtownabbey.

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The Right To Defend Yourself

“We seek nothing but the elementary right implanted in every man: the right if you are attacked, to defend yourself.” Hooded gunmen return to east Belfast at the junction of Newtownards Road and Dee Street (Bright Street), replacing a mural for the Glentoran Community Trust. It’s not clear who the UVF felt attacked by in 2011; it is possible that this mural is also about local muscle-flexing in addition to sectarian politics or attention from the police.

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East Belfast UVF On Parade

The mural appears to show a “show of strength” (firing into the air) rather than a parade, by hooded gunmen of the east Belfast UVF. The crowd is gathered on Newtownards Road at Dee Street, date unknown (but prior to 2008).

Newtownards Road, east Belfast.

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UVF Run The Show

The covered-over graffiti is possibly “UTVT” [Up The Village Team]

Benburb Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Village YCV

Young Citizen Volunteers of both the Home Rule (1912) and Troubles periods are shown shouldering rifles.

The mural on the side-wall has been whitewashed – see previously M04214.

Broadway, south Belfast.

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