PUL

Armed And Ready Again

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This is the UVF/RHC memorial garden in Ballybeen, with individual plaques to “East Belfast battalion commander” RJ ‘Mickey’ Wilson (died 2022), Jim ‘Jonty’ Johnston (killed in 2003 BelTel), M. Walker, G. McCartney, David Brown. While most of the plaques and stones are to the modern UVF, there are three pieces to the 36th (Ulster) Division.

“Too many names to mention, but I will certainly try./Tears run down my face as I try not to cry./Their names written in gold of Volunteers gone by./These men they died heroes in battles, fought and won./They may be gone, but in our hearts remain./The Ulster Volunteer Force. The People’s Army./Armed and ready again.”

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Ballybeen Makes Winners

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Which direction will you go in? To the negative west of the compass of “choice” lie “Alcohol, paramilitaries, drugs”; to the positive east are “Education, employment, life. On the side panel, youngsters are encouraged to study English, math(s), social media and Google.

And further down Brooklands Drive, “Ballybeen makes winners” in sports: soccer, boxing, and motorcycle racing. The boxer is John Lowey, who represented Ireland at the 1988 Olympics; he is also featured in Boxing Through The Generations and Ballybeen Dream which last also includes three local footballers.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Railyway Road Bombing

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This memorial in the Coleraine diamond commemorates the six civilians who died in an IRA car-bomb explosion in Railway Road in 1973.

“In loving memory of those killed on Railway Road 12th June 1973 – never forgotten”, “Nan Davis, Elizabeth Palmer, Robert Scott // Francis Campbell, Dinah Campbell, Elizabeth Craigmile”, “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone but what is woven into the lives of others – Pericles”.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Armagh True Blues

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These two boards from the Armagh True Blues flute band (Fb) in Barrack Hill commemorate the Ulster Volunteers of 1912 who went on to join the 9th (County Armagh) battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers (Wartime Memories).

The “1st batt” emblem (in the third image) applies to both the Ulster Volunteers of the Home-Rule era and the Troubles-era Mid-Ulster UVF.

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Like A Pack Of Cards

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“Carrickfergus congratulates Rangers FC on their 55th title” on “Champions Row” (that is, Irish Quarter West) Carrickfergus.

As Chairman Dave King appointed Steven Gerrard as the new manager of Rangers in 2018, he predicted that a single league win for Rangers would cause Celtic to “fold like a pack of cards” (Sky Sport). Under Gerrard, Rangers clinched their 55th Scottish championship in spring of 2021. Celtic, however, won in 2022 and 2023 (WP).

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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The Crown

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Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96 and after 70 years as monarch of the UK. She was succeeded by Charles III.

“1926-2022 ERII. “Thank you” from the residents of Ballee [Ballymena]”.

The mural is by Craig “Chilli” Gilmore on Ballee Way, above UDR Checkpoint and The Lion Wears The Crown. The in-progress shot is from April.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Inspire A Generation

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“Marching into the future”. The 35th anniversary board – and the Pride Of The Bann flute band (Fb) itself – is still going over a decade after it was mounted in Harpur’s Hill, Coleraine; here is the board in 2012. It has now been joined by a board aimed at young people, designed by members of Sunlea Youth Club.

Tullyarton Road, Coleraine.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Nook Of The Ferns

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Here is a gallery of the larger pieces of street art in Coleraine, starting, above, with Others by emic (ig) in New Row West. Below is Flora And Fauna by Karl Porter of UV Arts (ig).

Many of these pieces (not including the piece above and Hilken’s Salmon Fishing) are part of the ‘Revitalise’ programme from Causeway Coast & Glens borough council (press release | map). There is a separate entry for some of the very many smaller pieces – see Voyage Of Discovery.

Hope (Hope Macaulay knitware (ig)) by Rob Hilken (ig) in Church St

Nook Of The Ferns (from the Irish “cúil rathain”) by emic (ig) in Queen St

Spacer by Shane Sutton (ig) in Queen St – a reference to Alexander Anderson’s work in 1920 on black holes (WP).

Sara O’Neill [ig] And The Fates Of Destiny by Friz (ig)

Willie Stewart by Meadow Toye (ig) in Park St

Salmon Fishing by Rob Hilken (ig) in Circular Rd

Illuminate by Friz (ig) in Abbey St

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
Department Of Communities Causeway Coast & Glens Housing Executive
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