The Pride Of Ulster

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here are six panels from the shops in the Westwinds estate in Newtownards, which have replaced a UVF mural (Help Us To Help You).

Little is known about the omnibus called “The Pride Of Ulster”, except that this picture shows it at Newtownards Railway Station, Victoria Avenue, c. 1920. SAS soldier and boxer (and rugby-player) Blair “Paddy” Mayne, DSO, is portrayed in the second panel. (For more, see these posts about Mayne from 2013 and 2014.).

On the other side of the Ulster Banner in the centre is a WWII Douglas Dakota C-47, specifically “FZ692 of No. 233 Squadron, around the D-Day period in 1944. This aircraft, which was named “Kwicherbichen” by her crews, was involved in Para-dropping operations on the eve of D-Day and subsequently in re-supply and casualty evacuation missions into and out of forward airfields in the combat areas” (RAF). 

Motorcyclist Joey Dunlop is on the far right (see Race Of Legends), and above them all is a WWI board from the 1st Newtownards Somme Society (based in the Somme museum in Conlig?).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06106 X06103 X06102 [X06104] X06105

Keep On Sprayin’

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Keep On Truckin’ is a famous one-page 1968 comic by R. [Robert] Crumb, and the first panel in particular has become iconic. Dublin artist ADW (Fb | ig | tw) has adapted it here to show four spray-can street artists, each a different colour, truckin’ along.

Previously from ADW: Born To Create | Keep ‘Er Lit | Labelz Are For Jars

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06236

Mar Uachtarán

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Voters in the Irish Republic go to the polls today (October 26th, 2018) to elect a president. Northerners cannot vote, though a referendum to allow residents of Northern Ireland to vote in presidential elections is expected in 2019 (BelTel). Nonetheless, these posters for Sinn Féın candidate Lıadh Ní Rıada are at the Glen Road/Falls Road roundabout in west Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06214

Mural Of Concern

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Emmalene Blake (web | Inst | tw) painted her biggest piece to date for this year’s CNBX/HTN18, in support of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland – it was approved in November 2015 but was blocked by a DUP petition of concern; the DUP now has only 28 seats but any new legislation is stalled by the current lack of a local parliament. The (Westsminster) Commons is scheduled to take up the matter on Friday (October 26th) for a second time – the bill was blocked in May (BelTel).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06247 X06246 Kent Street carpark

Da War Is Not Over Yet

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Well-meaning but simplistic (if not patronising) message from a tourist: «Irish, forget the past.» Local response: “Da war is not over yet.” Response-to-the-response: “Bring it on.” On the nationalist side of the “peace” line at Townsend Street.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06250 [X06251]

Boom

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Three members of the Miami Showband were killed in 1975 at a fake check-point set by members of the UVF’s Glennane Gang. The explosion during the incident did not kill the musicians (as the graffiti on the poster above in loyalist east Belfast suggests); they were shot. Rather, a bomb exploded prematurely as it was being planted on their van, killing two of the attackers – see Boyle & Somerville – prompting the shooting spree (WP) that left three of the five band-members dead.

For the mural in the background, see Please Pay Here.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06135

1912 UVF

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This post updates a 2017 one (Always A Little Further) from Whitehill, Bangor, with the addition of “1912 UVF” between the two “East Belfast UVF” boards, suggesting a softening of message. Similarly, a long “Ulster Volunteer Force” has been blacked out directly across the street.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06086 X06087

StayLo Skeetz

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here are two by StayLo Skeetz in Kent Street, Belfast. With writing by VENTS in the second.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06265 X06257

The Golden Hares Of Rathlin Island

Extramural Activity1 Comment

The ‘Golden Hare’ is a leucistic (WP) or albino (WP) hare (sources differ), with lighter fur than typical Irish hares. They are found on Rathlin island (Hare Preservation Trust) and now – in artistic form – in Belfast’s city centre, as painted by Birmingham artist Annatomix (tw | web | Fb) for CNBX/HTN18.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06198 Castle St Marquis St