We Are The People

“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.

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Reflections Of Divis

The old streets of Divis, including St Peter’s (which goes back to the 1860s) are reflected in the head and shoulders of wide-collared youth.

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It’s Happening!

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

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Victory To The NHS

“Almond Drive [Twinbrook] supports front line workers.” “Victory to the NHS” in the fight against coronavirus and Covid-19, rather than “Victory to the Provos“.

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The Care Zone

“Together let’s value the experience and wisdom of older people in this community.” The Care Zone community initiative (web) attempts to raise the quality of life – and in particular to tackle deaths by suicide – in the ‘Belfast North’ Assembly area. This poster campaign – which features images from the Waterworks – is directed at developing respect for the elderly.

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Comóradh 40 Staılc Ocraıs

On Sunday March 22nd, 1981, forty years ago this week, Raymond McCreesh and Patsy O’Hara joined Bobby Sands and Francis Hughes on hunger strike in Long Kesh/HMP Maze. They would be joined by 19 more prisoners before the strike ended with ten of the 23 meeting their deaths. On March 31st, 1974, Michael Gaughan went on hunger strike in Parkhurst, along with four others, including Frank Stagg. Gaughan died in June as a result of forced feeding; Stagg would die on a later strike, in February 1976.

The board is on the site of the former Andersonstown RUC barracks.

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We Continue The Fight

“Our forefathers fought for our freedom and rights – no border in the sea or we continue the fight.” The uppermost placard – showing a hooded gunman – appeared in various town and drew complaints to the PSNI, who said that they were working with local groups to secure its removal (Irish News). It was condemned by UUP and DUP politicians (BelTel). The instance here is on a pole outside Armagh gaol. For most of its existence (beginning in 1780), HM Prison Armagh was a women-only institution. Its inmates included the three republican prisoners who went on hunger strike in 1980, simultaneously with men in Long Kesh/Maze. The building ceased to function as a gaol in 1986.

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Bravo, Ulster!

In the gunrunning by the Ulster Volunteers in April 1914, immediately upon docking in Larne weapons and ammunition were offloaded from the SS Clyde Valley onto two motor-boats which then headed for Donaghadee. A drawing of the unloading there, with the lighthouse in the background, was published as a postcard (you can see the b&w original at History Ireland). This time, of course, it’s not Home Rule that threatens unionists but the NI Protocol that is part of Brexit. “Play your part in opposing the border in the Irish Sea – Markethill stands up.”

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If Our Shores Are Threatened

“If our shores are threatened/We will take up arms/To defend our loyal cause/Our culture and our heritage/Our freedoms and our laws.” Moygashel’s own (William) Wesley Somerville, a member of both the UVF and UDR, was killed by a bomb prematurely exploding as he placed it on the minibus of the Miami Showband in July of 1975. Three members of the band died, one of them Protestant, along with volunteers Somerville and Harris Boyle from Portadown (WP). “He died for Ulster” (on the plaque).

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Still Anti-GFA

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.

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