Tina Turner’s cover (youtube) of Bonnie Tyler’s song “The Best” reached #5 in the UK charts in 1989 and the phrase “simply the best” from the chorus would appear in a number of UDA murals over the years, beginning with this 1995 mural depicting hooded gunmen from the UDA/UFF’s second battalion C company.
Dover Place, west Belfast. This mural would be repainted in the Adair era to include a list of mass killings of Catholics.
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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
T00139c
“Compromise” in “Compromise or conflict” hints at the potential of the peace process but loyalist muraling continues to present hooded gunmen (in this case from “1st battalion, west Belfast UVF”) engaged in physical-force activity. In the same vein, see Prepared For Peace, Ready For War.
The first appearance of Eddie The Trooper – a definite increase in the intensity of violent imagery – will be in 1996.
Later with a side-wall (to the right of image) that read simply “A. company / 1st battalion”
Dover Place, west Belfast
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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
T00133c
“In memoriam: Brig. J. McMichael, Jim Kenna, Frankie Smyth, Ernie Dowds, Sammy Hunt, Steven Audley, William Kingsberry, Joe Bratty, Tommy Morgan, William Hamilton”
UDA “roll of honour” mural in Rowland Way, Sandy Row, south Belfast
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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
T00132
“Murdered by the enemies of Ulster Nov 1987. “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life” – Revelation 2 V.10″
Controversial DUP and later independent politician and preacher George Seawright served as city councillor and NI Assembly member from 1981 to 1986, when he was jailed for his role in physically attacking NI Secretary of State Tom King. The “enemies of Ulster” in this case are the IPLO.
Side-wall: “In remembrance of all those who have given their lives and their freedom in the struggle to keep Ulster Protestant.”
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Copyright © 1994 Paddy Duffy (undated image; possibly 1993)
T00228
Pride Of Windsor was formed from members of the Donegall Road Protestant Boys (Belfast Forum). It’s not clear how long the band lasted after being formed in 1989 and this mural in 1990. The mural features Carrickfergus castle between St Andrew’s Saltire and Union Flag. “Audaces fortuna juvat” [fortune favours the bold] is the motto of Linfield FC.
Lisburn Road, south Belfast
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Copyright © 1990 Paddy Duffy
T00129
The Rockland Street or Village King Billy was repainted many times over its long life-span, including this 1990 refresh.
For other versions, see the mural’s Visual History page.
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Copyright © 1990 Paddy Duffy
T00124
The Young Conquerors flute band (Fb) and the South Belfast UVF celebrate the 300th anniversary of the battle of the Boyne, with a new mural in Pine Street, Donegall Pass, south Belfast. The emblems of the RIR and 36th Division are in the bottom corners, and the flag on the left is a regimental flag of the Ulster Volunteers.
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Copyright © 1990 Paddy Duffy
T00123
South Belfast MP Robert Bradford was assassinated by the Provisional IRA in Finaghy at a meeting with constituents; the caretaker of the community centre, Ken Campbell, was also killed by the fleeing attackers. In late 1981, with the hunger strikes having ended only a month before, the killing was noted around the world and raised fears of broad civil unrest (BBC | NYTimes).
“Vita, veritas, Victoria” [life, truth, victory] is the motto of Londonderry. Here we have “vita, veritas, victa” [life, truth, conquered; perhaps the intended meaning was “conquering” rather than the passive]. The crest is also not quite the crest of the Apprentice Boys, with a ship in the bottom right rather than a skeleton. Get in touch if you can resolve either discrepancy.
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Copyright © 1990 Paddy Duffy
T00122
King Billy, in red, white, and blue, crossing the Boyne and trampling on a Jacobite soldier in green, white, and orange. This mural was painted in 1989 by a “H. Gibson” (according to the 2015 repainting). The original version of this mural was on the other side of the Pass, at the junction of Apsley Street and Howard Street South, next to a mural of the Lindsay Street arch dedicated to Robert Bradford. (See Cemented With Love for both of these.) 1989 was the 25th anniversary of the erection of the arch in nearby Lindsay Street, but the arch was not painted into this mural until 2002.
Oak Street, Donegall Pass, south Belfast
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Copyright © 1990 Paddy Duffy
T00130
King William III is flanked by foot soldiers from 1690 and 1990. A small painted sign to the right reads, “We the people of Sandy Row remember with pride the 300th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne. No surrender. Signed, UFF.”
The modern-day gunman on the right would later be replaced by another period soldier – see the Peter Moloney Collection.
Blythe Street, Sandy Row, south Belfast
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Copyright © 1990 Paddy Duffy
T00131 T00121
Paddy Duffy Collection 