international – Paddy Duffy Collection

Old Glory

2026-04-162026-04-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Israeli ‘Flag Of Zion’ has been flown in loyalist areas of Northern Ireland since (at least) 2009 – here is the earliest recorded instance in Peter’s collection. (More early references are given in the Visual History page on International Solidarity.)

Until now, whenever the United States has been placed along side the Union Flag or the Flag Of Zion, is has been in the form of some sort of Confederate Flag (2014 | 2016 | 2025). This has indicated that the contemporary USA as a whole has not been perceived as a supporter of (Northern Irish) loyalism or in a similar position to loyalists, but that the spirit of the Confederate South is akin to that of loyalism: a once-dominant ethnos, which held its position by institutionalised violence, besieged by the forces of expanded suffrage and mediocrity (as they would see it).

Donald Trump’s rhetoric and agenda found favour with Northern Irish loyalists, and a few Trump flags and graffiti were seen previously – see Take America Back for an example and further references.

Trump’s victory in November, 2024, gave him a second term as President of the United States Of America. Freeing himself from anyone associated with the conservative/neoliberal Republican party that restrained him in his first term and instead installing (Trump) loyalists in the cabinet and other key positions, Trump has been able to erode the USA’s character as a liberal democracy and move it instead towards authoritarianism (Guardian).

Although Trump’s current term is only fifteen months old, the shift has been sufficiently profound that the USA is now seen as simpatico with (NI) loyalism, and the Flag Of The United States – not a Trump flag or a Confederate flag – now flies alongside the flags of the United Kingdom and Israel.

Barna Square, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Echoes Of The Ulster-Scots

2026-04-092026-04-29Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Echoes of the Ulster-Scots across the United States Of America”, “The Ulster-Scots … their footprints and songs graced the Appalachian Trails.”

These four panels are the first stage of a longer “pioneers to presidents”-style mural (Visual History) on Ulster-Scots (or, Scotch-Irish) emigration in the 1700s to the British colonies that in time became the United States.

Upon arrival at eastern sea-ports, many of the Scotch-Irish headed west across the Allegheny mountains and down into the Appalachians. By 1790, it is estimated, almost 200,000 people, or 6% of the population, of the recently-created United States Of America were of Ulster-Scots heritage (WP).

These four panels are in North Howard Street, west Belfast. As can be seen from the wide shot below, the mural will soon be extended around the corner into Fifth Street. (Update: see We Lead Across Time And Space.)

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Saturday Morning Stop Shop

2026-04-052026-04-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here are three banners/posters spotted along the Falls Road during the Easter Rising parade on April 5th:

Above: “Sainsbury’s supports Israel! Don’t shop there. Easter Sat 4th [April, 2026].” For background see the post and reel on the BDS Belfast Fb page.

Below: “U.S. military not welcome in Ireland! Not in Shannon, not in Aldergrove.” For background, see Al-Jazeera | ShannonWatch. April 13th: a person was arrested for taking a hatchet to a C-120 Hercules (Democracy Now).

Last below: “PSNI target Catholics at much higher rate for stop-and-search. Source: PSNI stop-and-search data. Do not join the RUC/PSNI. Same aim, different name. IRSP [web] – the party of Connolly & Costello.” The data in question might be from the 2020-2021 period (PSNI | TheDetail) as the current (2025) data do not appear to report on sectional identification.

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We Are All Palestinians

2026-03-152026-03-26Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Palestine bleeds. Over 20,000 children killed. That’s more than one child killed every hour. And 42,000 injured by the Israeli murder machine. Their revenge will be the laughter of their children. Andersonstown stands with Palestine. We are all Palestinians.” The figures perhaps come from a Save The Children report from September, 2025.

South Link, Andersonstown, west Belfast, next to the large Oppression Breeds Resistance mural.

Drop Allianz

2026-03-152026-05-01Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The campaign urging the GAA to sever its ties to sponsor Allianz (web) began in August 25th, after an update to a 2024 report by the UN urged businesses – including Allianz – to end their ties with Israel (UN | youtube). In response, a letter of protest, signed by 800 former and current players, was delivered to the GAA (RTÉ) but a vote in December retained the sponsorship (BBC | Irish Examiner). Protests have continued (e.g. at the GAA congress), among which is this message written in posters on the hoarding around Casement Park (for which, see Build Casement Now).

Andersonstown Road, west Belfast

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Lily Of The Rift Valley

2026-03-012026-03-03Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A pair of wooden lilies – symbol of the 1916 Easter Rising – are painted in the colours of the Palestinian flag and are placed below Palestinian flags on the Greater Ballymurphy memorial garden. (For the the names on the plaque, see the Peter Moloney Collection.)

The electrical boxes (below) are from the community mural at the bottom of Springhill. The imagery on the second one is by Emmalene Blake – see Seas Leıs An Phalaıstín.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Anti-Racism World Cup

2026-02-152026-02-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The date of the next Anti-Racism World Cup, a soccer tournament at Donegal Celtic contested by international youth teams, has been announced as July 25th, 2026 (ARWC Fb). The banner above includes the flags of antifa, Catalonia, Lebanon, Cuba, Ireland, Sudan, the Basque Country, Palestine.

Andersonstown Road, west Belfast

Gaels Against Genocide In Gaza

2026-02-152026-02-26Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Gaels against genocide in Gaza”, “Seasann CLG Naomh Pól [web] leıs an Phalaıstín [St Paul’s GAC stands with Palestine]”.

This pair of banners is on the fencing at Naomh Pól, on the Shaws Road, west Belfast. Teams at last year’s Murray Festival Of Hurling (named after St Paul’s player Liam Murray – Belfast Media) posed with the banner above (Fb).

Ireland Stands With Venezuela

2026-02-152026-02-18Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Free Maduro! Free Flores! Prisoners of war.” Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores have been held in a Brooklyn (New York) detention centre since they entered “not guilty” pleas on January 5th. The next hearing has been moved from March 17th to March 26th (Roya).

This is a Lasaır Dhearg (web) banner in the railings of the Falls Park, next to the Ógra Shınn Féın (web) banner shown in Hands Off Venezuela.

Don’t Forget The Palestinian Children

2026-02-102026-03-08Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“This Christmas, don’t forget the Palestinian children! Nollaıg shona daoıbh agus athbhlıan faoı mhaıse daoıbh! Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!” As the final image shows, this board is next to the Egyptian Arch in Newry, and is on public land. The DUP called for the board’s removal in January; Liz Kimmins, minister for Infrastructure, said that at the time that there were no plans to remove it (BBC), and a few weeks later (February 10th, the day of these photographs) it was still in situ, though an investigation by Newry, Mourne, and Down council is on-going.