“Hungerstrike & North West Volunteers Commemoration. 1:30 pm Sunday 21st May, Rosemount Factory, Derry.” The march will go from Rosemount to City Cemetery (Derry Journal).
Cast-iron post-boxes were made by W. T. Allen of London from 1886 onwards (Victoria died in 1901). This one, which is still in use by An Post, is at Collins Barracks in Dublin. The Royal Barracks (as they were then called) were built in 1702 and handed over to the Free State in 1922 and renamed; they are now a museum (WP).
The Boyne Bridge joins Durham Street and Sandy Row. Translink plans to demolish the bridge to make way for a new Transport Hub costing 150 million pounds. The Boyne Bridge Defenders (web | Fb) are organising a petition against it on the basis of the bridge’s age (parts of it were built in 1642) and long history. More info from the Tele.
A new mural to William “Buster” Keenan was unveiled this month – July 8th – coincidentally the anniversary of wife Eileen’s death. Both are listed on the UVF memorial stone (image 3) in front of the mural, along with David Ervine and the Long-Cordner-Bennett-Seymour quartet.
According to ACT, Keenan was involved in the Battle Of St. Matthew’s (in which Bobby Neill and James McCurrie were killed, along with Henry McIlhone). To the left (fourth image) is another “Ulster Volunteers” stone, a “Sydenham roll of honour – to those who gave their lives in the Great War”.
Belfast’s Ryan Burnett is IBF bantamweight world champion. What was initially given as a split decision was later corrected to unanimous due to a judge mixing up the boxers on his card (Telegraph). The mural above, by Glen Molloy, is on Cassidy’s on the Antrim Road, near Bearnageeha where Burnett (and Paddy Barnes) went to school.
A bleeding poppy, representing the conquests of the British Empire, is added to the PSNI officers in riot gear, part of a Saoradh protest of political policing at Creggan shops. “End PSNI/MI5 abuse.”
IRA volunteer George McBrearty was shot, together with Charles “Pop” Maguire, by the SAS on May 28th, 1981. This new mural was painted by Bogside Artist Kevin Hasson and unveiled on the 36th anniversary of his death. McBrearty is wearing an Easter lily on his lapel and the proclamation of independence backgrounds his portrait. (Video of the launch.)
The vintage South Armagh “sniper at work” “road sign” is revived, along with a modern PSNI officer in hi-vis coat in the crosshairs, on an electricity pole in the Bogside, Derry.
A plaque has been added to the Cupar Way “peace” line memorial to UVF man William “Plum” Smith. “Moved on 8th June 2016 – sadly missed by his family.” For more information on his life, see the previous version.