Pride Of The Park

Pride Of The Park (Fb) is the local flute band in Armoy. Practices are usually on Monday nights in Park Orange Hall. The lettering is at the junction of Gracehill and Drones roads.

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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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#SafeShankill

Social distancing was hard to maintain in some areas (BelTel) but many people celebrated the 12th from home this year, thank in part to messages such as appear on this pair of paste-ups in Olive Street and Glenvale Street off the Woodvale Road. “This year the bands are coming to you!” “This year’s 12th is about the battle with the [coronavirus] bug.”

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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Concerned Unionists

“Public meeting. Concerned unionists of south Belfast. Wednesday 6th November 7.15 pm Sandy Row Orange Hall. Stop the ”. Tonight will see a meeting in south Belfast (and another at the same time in Antrim) discussing the current Conservative Brexit plan that would allow some cross-border economic activity to continue – see The Betrayal Act. “VTOT” is “Village Team On Tour“.

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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Bill & Ben, The Loyalist Men

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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 (ToonhoundDaze 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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Welcome to Upper Ardoyne

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“KAT” (Kill all taigs, i.e. Catholics) in red, white and blue at the edge of the Glenbryn area at Alliance Crescent.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Loyalist Randalstown

“This plaque was presented by the officers and members of the Randalstown Sons Of Ulster flute band on Saturday 17th April 1999 in memory of all the loyalist people of Ulster who have suffered at the hands of the enemies of our land.” All of the plaque, the arch, the ground painting, and the 36th Division board are sponsored by the Randalstown Sons Of Ulster flute band (tw). Neilsbrook Road, Neilsbrook Park, and Blackthorn Way, Randalstown. For more images from the estate, see Loyalist Neilsbrook.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Summer Of ’69

The summer of 1969 is generally taken to be the beginning of the Troubles in Belfast and the most famous symbol of the August riots is the burning of Bombay Street. The street was (and is) just below the old Cupar Street, where many streets drop down from the Shankill (you can see the distribution of PUL and CNR houses in the Visual History page on the west Belfast “peace” line). This event is commemorated in nationalist murals (see e.g. No Mission) but for a statement from the PUL perspective, see Can It Change?

The mural is based on a Frankie Quinn photograph “Belfast 1984”.

Hopewell Avenue, lower Shankill, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2009/2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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