“To the men in the CDF – the war’s over, lads …” It’s not clear precisely what “CDF” stands for [Craigyhill ?Defence Force?] or if a specific incident is referenced.
Location unknown, Craigyhill, Larne
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00531
YCV volunteer Spike the bulldog has a word (backed up by a pistol on his right hip) with Celtic-supporter Tom cat.
Glenfarne Place, Larne.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00523 X00524
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.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00475 X00478 X00476 X00477
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.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00396 X00395 X00394
South Belfast MP Robert Bradford was assassinated by the Provisional IRA in Finaghy at a meeting with constituents; the caretaker of the community centre, Ken Campbell, was also killed by the fleeing attackers. In late 1981, with the hunger strikes having ended only a month before, the killing was noted around the world and raised fears of broad civil unrest (BBC | NYTimes).
“Vita, veritas, victoria” [life, truth, victory] is the motto of Londonderry. Here we have “vita, veritas, victa” [life, truth, conquered; perhaps the intended meaning was “conquering” rather than the passive]. The crest is also not quite the crest of the Apprentice Boys, with a ship in the bottom right rather than a skeleton. Get in touch if you can resolve either discrepancy.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00424 Oak St
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.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00501
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, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05146 X00486
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
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.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02889 X02890
“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.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05099 Dee Craig
Extramural Activity 