This is a vintage UDA mural in Moeran Park, in the Rectory area of Portadown, still in reasonable shape after more than a decade – compare this image with the 2011 image in the Peter Moloney collection.
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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“In glorious memory of her majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022. I, Charles the third, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of my other realms and territories, king, defender of the faith, do faithfully promise and swear that I shall inviolably maintain and preserve the settlement of the true Protestant religion. God save the King.”
Pollock Drive, Lurgan
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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These community murals were painted under the auspices of the Edgarstown Residents’ Association (Fb), which hosts a Drop-In, Kids’ Club, Evolve (NI World), Smile (ArmaghI), and PCBDT (Portadown Community-Based Detached Team) (NI World | NIHE). The sub-station was painted in March, 2022 (Fb) – in the early 2000s it bore a UVF mural (see D01333); the low wall reading “Welcome To Edgarstown” is from August of this year (2024).
West Street/Margaret Street and Union Street, Edgarstown, Portadown
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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“Drugs destroy lives/families & communities – Stand together against drugs – There’s always hope. There’s always help.” According to the Education Authority, one in eight young people and one in five adults have a mental health need (EA). Services are available from PIPS (web), Lifeline (web), Samaritans (web), Extern (web), Addiction NI (Inspire), Debt Helpline (Advice NI), GP William St (web), Frank (web).
Painted by JMK (ig) in Levin Road, Kilwilkie, Lurgan, replacing some anti-internment writing (D02265).
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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IRA volunteer Raymond McCreesh, originally from Camlough, died on May 21st, 1981, after 61 days on hunger strike. “In proud and loving memory of ten brave Irish soldiers who died on hunger strike in 1981 for their five just demands. I gcuımhne ar ıobaırt [íobaırt] cróga na staılceoırí ocraıs 1981 ní dheánfar [dhéanfar] dearmad orthu.”
This is a new version of a long-standing board to McCreesh in Taghnevan Drive, Lurgan. For the previous (painted) version (from 2009) see M05408.
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Two plaques have been added to the Portadown True Blues mural in Edgarstown, Portadown (as compared with the images from 2021). They read “In loving memory of Richard “Dickie” Craven. Fondly remembered by the Portadown True Blues F.B.” and “In loving memory of Mark “E.T.” Elliott. Fondly remembered by the Portadown True Blues F.B.” Craven died in at the end of July, 2021, (Fb) and Elliott also in 2021 (Fb).
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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“Fuaır sıad bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann. Óglach Sean Burns, Óglach Gervase McKerr, Óglach Eugene Toman. “But they dared to hold their heads up high and never once did fail to declare their wish for freedom like true sons of the Gael” – The Lurgan Ambush (A poem by Ita Green [set to music at Irish Folk Songs])”.
The IRA volunteers were three of the six people shot in Lurgan in three incidents in November and December of 1982; the others were Seamus Grew, Roddy Carroll, and Michael Tighe. The deaths of the three would be investigated by the RUC and then by the Stalker Inquiry into the shoot-to-kill policy (RN); an inquest was begun by the Coroner in 2007 (BelTel | Madden-Finucane). Under the Legacy Act, which came into effect on May 1st (2024), the inquest has been suspended and the case transferred to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (Irish News).
Taghnevan Drive, Lurgan
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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“In Deo speramus”. “Edgarstown Remembers” “our forty-two fallen sons who made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their tomorrow for our today in the Great War 1914-1918.” “Dear Lord, I am just a soldier, a protector of our land/A servant called to battle when my country takes a stand./I pray for strength and courage and a heart that will forgive/For peace and understanding in a world for all to live./My family’s prayers are with me, no matter where I roam./Please listen when I’m lonely and return me safely home – Unknown”
Union Street, Edgarstown, Portadown
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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On July 1st, 1916, the Battle of Albert began, the first of many battles in what is known collectively as the Battle of the Somme. Soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) Brigade went “over the top” at 7:28 a.m. By the end of the day, more than nineteen thousand British soldiers were dead, five thousand from the 36th.
Below the main panel, which shows combat at close quarters, are the words of Wilfrid Spender: “I am not an Ulsterman but yesterday, the 1st. July, as I followed their amazing attack, I felt that I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world … the Ulster Volunteer Force, from which the Division was made, has won a name that equals any in history.”
The side-wall and the Mid-Ulster Brigade roll-of-honour plaque concern the modern UVF: “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty“. (Compare to the side-wall in 2016 / 2021.)
Union Street, Edgarstown, Portadown
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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Paddy Duffy Collection 