Ulster Banner – Page 7 – Paddy Duffy Collection

Make No Covenant With Them Nor Show Mercy Unto Them

1997-07-012025-10-19Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

These two murals are side-by-side in Blythe Street.

On the left, a particularly violent rejection of the peace-process: “they arose in the dark days to defend our native land for God and Ulster”, “And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee, though shalt smite them and utterly destroy them, thou shalt make no covenant with them nor show mercy unto them – Deuteronomy 7 verse 2”.

On the right, a UVF roll of honour: “In memory of fallen comrades. Lest we forget. John Hanna, Billy Millar, Noel Little, Bunter Davidson, Billy Stewart, Davy McNaught, Sammy Mehaffy, Dicky Richardson [later removed], Geordie Norris [later added]. Their duty demanding, their courage outstanding. Here lies a soldier, murdered by the enemies of Ulster.”

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00254 T0255

Young Newton

1997-07-012025-11-03Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“In proud memory of comrades A. Petherbridge, G. Reid, K. Watters, W. Warnock, R. Warnock. [In memory of our fallen comrades. We forget them not. Terrae filius. East Belfast brigade UDA-UFF.] At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them. Young Newton.” “UDA East Belfast. Ulster Freedom Fighters. Quis separabit.”

The fine condition of the murals suggests that the missing wording (on the plinth) has yet to be added. A very low wall to the right of frame reads “Formed to fight for the right to remain in the United Kingdom.”

All five of the named volunteers died in the early 1970s: Petherbridge 1973-02-07, Reid 1974-02-26, Watters 1974-02-17, W Warnock 1972-10-16, and R Warnock 1972-09-13. Young Newton was an east Belfast “tartan” gang (History Ireland) and then part of the UYM (WP).

Fraser Pass (later Pitt Place), east Belfast

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00246 [T00253]

Ulster’s Finest

1997-04-012025-10-08Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

There are two unusual features of this UVF mural in Monkstown: the six volunteers are unmasked – so, this is not a “hooded gunman” mural – and two of the volunteers – the pair in the centre carrying, though not aiming, Uzis – are female. As far as we know, this is the only PUL mural showing armed females. (See the Visual History page on women in murals and muraling.)

The records of this mural are contradictory – this image in the Paddy Duffy Collection is dated April, 1997; other, less reliable, sources give 1999 as the date of its creation and say it was plastered over in 1996 (Xitter). All of this confusion, and its limited appearance in the various collections, suggests that this was a short-lived mural, perhaps because the Uzis, assault rifles, and RPG were being brandished next to Hollybank primary school.

Hollybank Park, Monkstown, Newtownabbey

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00230

Turning The Screw

1995-01-012025-09-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A tricoloured screw bears down a helmet comprising a Union Flag bowl and Ulster Banner visor.

Foyle Road end of Brook Street, Derry

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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
T00104

Rev Robert Bradford

1990-07-012025-09-15Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

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

UDA A Battalion South Belfast

1990-07-012025-08-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The mural at the corner of Roden Street and Donegall Road was repainted annually in 1989, 1990, and 1991. The first (see the image from 1988) lacked the McMichael memorial seen here and the white background only went half-way up the wall; the second completed the background, added LPA and UDF emblems and “In memory of John McMichael” in text (see C00525). This third iteration places the McMichael memorial and the attendant graveside mourners on a bed of grass.

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Copyright © 1990 Paddy Duffy
T00120

Tiger’s Bay UVF

1988-05-012025-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

UVF volunteers in balaclavas take aim other across a free-floating Northern Ireland with an Uzi and an assault rifle. The emblem supported by flags on the right is unusual for its inclusion of a ?large daisy? and pink ribbon.

The location of this wall is unknown, which suggests the site of the Community Centre – please get in touch if you know where it was.

Tiger’s Bay, north Belfast

Then And Now

1988-05-012025-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“They fought then for the cause of Ulster, we will fight now.” The 75th anniversary of the Ulster Volunteers is celebrated in this mural in Dover Place, west Belfast. On the left of the Northern Island is an Ulster Volunteer in period (1912) garb standing on a patch of ground, on the right, a modern (1987) paramilitary in hood and fatigues standing on a city footpath. The Ulster Volunteers as such did not fight for Ulster – they instead joined the British Army and fought “for King and Empire” in WWI, after which Home Rule was applied only to 26 counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland was created and remained within the UK.

UDA A Battalion South Belfast

1988-04-012025-07-31Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“UDA “A” batt. South Belfast. RSD [Roden Street Defenders (private Fb)] UFF”

This is the mural that greets travellers moving west along Donegall Road to the Village. The houses in Beit Street have been knocked down and their replacements, which face directly onto Roden Street, no longer reach all the way to Donegall Road, leaving this gable as a prime painting space.

UVF And UDA

1988-04-012025-08-11Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

These are murals from completing organisations, the UVF (above) represented by an Uzi above various flags and the emblem of the UVF, and the UDA (below) represented additionally by hooded volunteers on manoeuvres. They were together on the Crumlin Road, on waste-ground at the top of Queensland Street and at the top of Tasmania Street. On the gable next to the UVF flags large YCV and 36th Division emblems would be added – see the Peter Moloney Collection.