“People make Sandy Row” – community artwork in Maxwell Street, Sandy Row, south Belfast
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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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People Make Sandy Row
Belfast
Time Makes More Converts Than Reason
“Common Sense: “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”
John McMichael, the South Belfast UDA/UFF commander, 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 words above come from the end of the introduction to the second of these, Common Sense (available at CAIN).
Lemberg Street, south Belfast, replacing a previous mural to McMichael.
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John Hanna
“In loving memory of volunteer John Hanna, murdered by the enemies of Ulster 10th September 1991. Always remembered by the officers and volunteers South Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force. Lest we forget.”
UVF volunteer John Hanna was 19 years old when he was killed by the IRA as he tried to escape over his back-garden wall at his home on Donegall Road in the Village (UPI).
The small board to the left reads, “Volunteer John Hanna, 30th anniversary. Always remembered by the officers and volunteers South Belfast UVF. Sandy Row C Company.” On the side-wall, the poppies and the downcast soldiers come from the first World War but the names are all of modern UVF and RHC volunteers, from 1976 to the present day.
Prince Andrew Park, just off Donegall Road, south Belfast, replacing the printed board seen in He Died That We Might Live.
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Ulster Young Defenders
This is a fiftieth anniversary (1974-2024) board celebrating the “Ulster Young Defenders F[lute] B[and], Sandy Row.” It is on the side of the Sandy Row Rangers Supporters’ Club, above a composite board of six old Sandy Row bars including the Shaftesbury Arms, the Albion, the Royal, the Sandhurst, and the Klondyke.
“In tribute to all UYD members, past and present.” ‘The Final Chapter'”
See also: a small UYD mural in 1990.
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The Croc
“The lad from Sandy Row – Lewis (The Croc) Crocker, IBF welterweight champion 2025.”
Sandy Row native (Belfast CC) Lewis Crocker beat Paddy Donovan in a fight for the open IBF welterweight title at Windsor Park in September (BBC).
Donegall Road, south Belfast, at the top of Roden Street.
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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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Inky & Candy
“25 years from home. In proud and loving memory of Inky & Candy. Gone but not forgotten.”
October 2000 was a violent month in Tiger’s Bay, north Belfast, as the UDA and UVF feuded. David “Candy” Annesley (commonly known as David Greer – BelTel) was shot in Mountcollyer Street on October 28th by the UVF. On the 31st, Bertie Rice, veteran UVF member and canvasser for the PUP, was killed by the UDA at his Canning Street house. Later the same day, Tommy “Inky” English – UDA commander in north Belfast who had previously lived in Tiger’s Bay – was shot death by the UVF at his Ballyduff home. Mark Quail of the UVF was shot in Rathcoole on November 1st. (BBC | BBC | WP) There were fears that the feud would end (An Phoblacht) but it was formally ended on December 15th, with a joint statement by both groups (RTÉ).
This twenty-fifth anniversary tarp is on the multi-use pitch on North Queen Street at Upper Canning Street.
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Tiger’s Bay Loyal
This pair of hand-painted (and stencilled) boards is next to the Mount Inn on North Queen Street. Tiger’s Bay is loyal to the memory of “1690” and the service of the 36th Division in WWI in 1916.
Greenmount Street, Tiger’s Bay, north Belfast
On the other side of the Mount, at the bottom of the old Lewis Street, are two more hand-painted boards from 2024 – see Friends Of The Somme.
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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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Tiger’s Bay Loyal
“Welcome to the homeland of Tiger’s Bay Loyal flute band. “He is our God, and we are the people.”” Tiger’s Bay Loyal [Fb] is a new flute band, formed in 2025.
Ten local streets are named around the central tiger: Robina Street, Edlingham Street, Mervue Street, Upper Mervue Street, Hallidays Road, Mackey Street, Cosgrave Heights, North Queen Street, Canning Street, Hogarth Street.
The banner itself is in Mervue Street. The Tiger’s Bay First Flute mural remains.
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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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Fulton & Goatley
“In loving memory of John Fulton [and] Stephen Goatley, died 15th March 1975. Will always be remembered by their family and friends. Quis separabit.” UDA members John Fulton and were Stephen Goatley were killed together in the Alexandra Bar on York Road (close to the Mervue Street location of this memorial) in revenge for the stabbing of the UVF’s Joe Shaw in the North Star Bar. , by the UVF as part of the UDA-UVF feud in 1975.
The two men named on the other board were also killed in a feud between the UDA and UVF, in 2000 – see Inky & Candy. “In loving memory Thomas (Inky) English & David (Candy) Greer Annesley. Together in the same old way/would be our dearest wish today./Silent memories true and tender/just to show we still remember.”
Mervue Street, Tiger’s Bay, north Belfast
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“At the going down of the sun and the morning we will remember them – quis separabit”
Loyalist Glenrosa Street
In case the large medallion celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee (in 2022) was not a sufficient indicator, a small “Loyalist” has been added above the street-sign. In the last century, Glenrosa Street in Tiger’s Bay used to continue across Duncairn Gardens into the New Lodge as Glenrosa Street South.
At the other end of the street is a warning sign next to the bonfire site: “All taigs will be shot – TBH #1. If this boney goes, so does NLR [New Lodge Road]”
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Paddy Duffy Collection 