Belfast south

This Divided Ulster Community

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The South Belfast UDA/UFF commander John McMichael was killed by an IRA car bomb in 1987. In addition to organising a team of assassins in the 70s and 80s, he founded a Political Research Group and wrote two documents proposing an independent Northern Ireland. The memorial garden, shown in full in the image below, is just off Sandy Row, near the John McMichael Centre.

“There is no section of this divided Ulster community which is totally innocent or indeed totally guilty, totally right or totally wrong. We all share the responsibility for creating the situation, either by deed or by acquiescence. Therefore, we must share the responsibility for finding a settlement and then share the responsibility of maintaining good government.” (John McMichael 1948-1987) (See also: We Must Share The Responsibility)

The same thirteen names that appear on the South Belfast UDA A battalion “roll of honour” plaque in the McMichael memorial garden in City Way, off Sandy Row also appear in the small (4′ x 3′) reproduction of a mural (2005 M02408) from nearby Rowland Way, which was itself a repaint of an earlier (see 1995 M01183 and 2001 M01518) mural, though updated to note the “distinguished service” of Samuel Curry.

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Continuing Conflicts

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The war memorial garden in City Way (Sandy Row) commemorates those from the Great War, World War II, and “Continuing Conflicts” which includes the “Troubles”. There is also a fourth, smaller, stone, with John Maxwell Edmonds’s memorial epitaph.

“The Great War 1914-1918: In memory of the fallen”, with John McCrae’s poem ‘In Flanders Fields‘.
“Second World War 1939-1945: Freedom is the sure possession of those have the courage to defend it. Their ideal is our legacy. Their sacrifice is our inspiration.”
“Continuing Conflicts: We remember those who have given their lives. The wounded and those who serve in continued conflicts around the world.”

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Open The Bridge

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“Save Sandy Row – open the bridge”. “Sensitive dismantling” of the Boyne Bridge began at the end of November (BBC), as part of the restructuring around the new Grand Central Station despite another protest from locals who allege that the bridge is an essential part of Sandy Row culture (see the entry Battle Of The Boyne Bridge in the Paddy Duffy Collection). (There was an earlier protest on November 5th (BBC); the images below confirm the Irish News‘s estimate of “several dozen”.)

However, the bridge’s demolition has become entangled with the traffic congestion currently dogging the city. Specifically related to the bridge, demolition work paused on the 5th of December because strategies to deal with the disruption to traffic had not been effected (News Letter). And more generally, it is claimed that the closure is contributing to the congestion (News Letter) which is affecting businesses in the city centre (News Letter) and in Sandy Row (BBC). So far, the only concrete step that has been taken to tackle the traffic problem is to allow taxis to use bus lanes (BBC).

For streetart at the new station, see Action At A Distance.

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Action At A Distance

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The new Grand Central Station opened at the beginning of September, replacing both Victoria Street train station and the Glengall Street bus station. The artwork outside the station (shown here) was completed by Dee Craig (Fb), depicting the rail-yards and mills of old Belfast, and physicist (and Belfast native) John Stewart Bell (WP).

One knock-on effect of the new station was that the tracks begin west of the Boyne Bridge and it is due to be dismantled – see Battle Of The Boyne Bridge.

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Hotel? Motel?

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Friendly faces by Aches (web) on the side of the “Sandy Row” Holiday Inn, officially in Hope Street/Bruce Street, but more familiarly above the car-park where the Twelfth bonfire has previously taken place, starting in 2016 – see Stuff We Don’t Need – and continuing into 2024 – see News Letter.

October 20th:

October 13th:

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Battle Of The Boyne Bridge

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The railway line running between Belfast and Lisburn opened in 1839 (WP) and in 1863 a bridge was built to allow passage over it. This bridge was known as “the Boyne bridge” after the legend that King Billy had travelled across a nearby bridge (the Saltwater Bridge across the Blackstaff) on his way to meet James II in 1690. The (railway) bridge was expanded in 1936 (Read The Plaque) and the Saltwater bridge was used as the foundations for the approach road from Sandy Row to the expanded bridge (WP).

The new Grand Central Station “Transport Hub” means that trains no longer pass underneath the bridge and its demolition was included in the 2017 plans, scheduled to begin in October of this year (2024). However, protesters lodged a legal bid to stop the demolition, under the auspices of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society (BBC) but lost the case, though it is now not being “demolished” but “sensitively dismantled” and parts saved for “an art project” (Third Sector). A rally is planned for November 5th to “Save Sandy Row” (Boyne Bridge Defenders facebook group).

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Ulster’s Conflict

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“In proud [and] loving memory of our fallen comrades during Ulster’s conflict. ‘Some gave all, all gave some.’ South Belfast Brigade.” According to Sutton, 91 UDA members died during the Troubles (CAIN).

The text on the side-wall reads, “Death is not an honour but a sacrifice and those who gave that sacrifice are remembered by those that followed. Quis separabit.”

Replacing the mural of a UDA barricade.

Rockview Street, Village, south Belfast.

September 1st:

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Where You’ve Been, Where You Are, Where You’re Going

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Youth follows age and west (Belfast) looks towards east in these black-and-white combinations of portraits and maps by emic (web) on the side of Belfast Woodfired Pizza in Lislea Drive, south Belfast (which does not appear in the maps).

With support from the Lisburn Road Business Association.

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