On the 300th anniversary of King William’s victory at the Battle Of The Boyne, red-white-and-blue coping stones on Ballylig Road in Magheramorne, outside Larne, with the Presbyterian church in the background.
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The confederate attempt to secede from the United States is here put in parallel with loyalist resistance to Home Rule. The page on Ulster-Scots Murals contains an attempt to understand the logic of this mural.
Various “sons of Ulster who led the confederate army” “during the War of Northern Aggression” [a.k.a. the Civil War] are quoted in the mural:
The sons of Ulster who wrote and signed the Ulster Covenant during the Home Rule crisis of 1912 are described in this quote:
“Being convinced in our consciences that Home Rule would be disastrous to the material well-being of Ulster as well as the whole of Ireland, subversive of our civil and religious freedom … – The Ulster Covenant, written by Thomas Sinclair, Ulster Day, September 1912 inspired by Scotland’s Solemn League and Covenant, Greyfriar’s Churchyard, Edinburgh 1638.”
The right-most panel reads, “From pioneers to Presidents”. Murals under this theme – including two of Buchanan – were painted in 1999 (Belfast | Londonderry). This mural dates back to 2005 and perhaps earlier, part of a second wave of Ulster Scots murals that included Davy Crockett in Ballymena (2002), a gallery of famous famous faces in Newtownards (2005), and Andrew Jackson in the Shankill (c. 2007). See Visual History 08.
See also: the Confederate flag flying in Cluan Place | a confederate battle flag in Ballymacarett.
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“I ndıl gcuımhne oglach [sic] Sean McCaughey, Gaelgoır [sic] agus muınteıor [sic] [Irish-speaker and teacher]. Fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann.” “Formerly of Duneden Park, Ardoyne. Died on hunger and thirst strike after 23 days in Portlaoise gaol on May 11th 1946.” “For those who believe no explanation is necessary; for those who don’t believe no explanation is possible.”
McCaughey was convicted of kidnapping and torturing IRA chief of staff Sean Hayes, who was suspected of treason. His hunger and thirst strike was preceded by five years on the blanket.
“NBCS” = North Belfast Cultural Society.
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2006 was the 25th anniversary of the second hunger strike, in 1981. This Ardoyne commemorative piece combines a painted border of Celtic knotwork with boards depicting scenes from 1981: a funeral volley, Derry women in blankets, women banging binlids, a masked protester throwing a Molotov cocktail at an armoured jeep, marchers outside a polling station.
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The close-up shows three generations of toddler hurlers, from barefoot and cloth-cap to boots and braces to baseball cap and tracksuit. Kickhams is the local Cumann Luthchleas Gael (GAA club) (Fb | tw), founded 1907, named for republican writer Charles Kickham. The mural shows football, hurling, and handball.
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Londoner Stephen Lawrence was murdered by stabbing in 1993 and, although arrests were made, no charges were brought. A 1998 public inquiry found that the Metropolitan Police Service was “institutionally racist”. In 2012, two of the original suspects were found guilty of the murder (WP). Catholic Robert Hamill was beaten to death by loyalists in Portadown in 1997 while police in an RUC land-rover looked on (WP).
Brompton Park, Ardoyne, north Belfast. The same board (in slightly different colours) appeared in Artana Street, south Belfast.
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“UVF” painted on sheet of metal in front of a padlocked barn on the upper Crumlin/Ballyutoag Road, Belfast.
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The mythological hero Cuchulainn, defender of Ulster against the forces of Queen Medb of Connacht, is placed below the flag of Northern Ireland. “Here we stand, here we remain. We simply want to take our God ordained place as indigenous Ulster people, understanding and living out our calling. We assume our identity without shame, retaliation or indignation against those who have caused harm to our past and tried to castrate our culture, our identity and our place on this island.”
Cú Chulaınn has his own Visual History page. This is the most active depiction of the hero; he is usually depicted in his death throes.
Shankill Parade, lower Shankill, west Belfast.
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These are 2008 images of the Drumcree mural in the lower Shankill estate, seen previously in 2004. The mural would be “re-imaged” in 2009.
“Here we stand, we can do no other” adapts Luther’s saying at Worms to the standoff in Portadown between the Orange Order and Catholics on the Garvaghy Road, which links the church at Drumcree (shown in the mural) with the town centre.
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“This mural portrays Protestant men defending their community which was subjected to constant attempts of ethnic cleansing with petrol bombing attacks of their homes on a day to day basis. Eventually vigillanty [sic] groups were formed to secure these areas.” “Several hundred familys [sic] were forced to flee their homes last night as homes came under attack from republicans. The number homeless is running into several thousand, more people were moving out of riot areas today. The women and children have been offered shelter in cities across the sea. Security forces moved in to bring calm into riot areas.” The event referred to is the rioting in Bombay Street in 1969.
Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, west Belfast
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Extramural Activity 