UDA/UFF/UYM – Page 7 – Paddy Duffy Collection

Alternative Ulster

2022-11-012024-08-04Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The upper flag on the right-hand side of this mural – purple saltire on a blue background with star and red hand – is the proposed flag of Ulster nationalists. The position was espoused by the UDA of the 1970s, under the guise of the political parties the Ulster Loyalist Democratic Party and the Ulster Democratic Party, and for a time by the Red Hand Commandos under the Ulster Loyalist Central Coordinating Committee.

For the previous (identical) version, see UFF Carrickfergus in the Peter Moloney collection.

Castlemara Drive, Carrickfergus

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Defending Freedom From Hate

2022-10-282024-08-02Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Compared to the UVF, the UDA more strongly detect an existential threat to loyalism and evince a siege mentality that provokes the need for armed resistance. Hence the more frequent presence of armed gunmen in UDA murals (which is also due in part to the UVF being able to “re-image” around the Ulster Volunteers and the Somme). With Brexit and the Protocol, however, armed gunmen have recently been appearing more frequently in UVF murals – see, for example, If Our Shores Are Threatened | Bang Up To Date | Our British Identity.

“Springmartin–Highfield–Glencairn Ulster Defence Association est. 1971. Defending freedom from hate.” As the companion mural (We Will Take Nothing Less) makes clear, the hate is coming from a “fascist republican enemy” (“Sinn Féin/IRA”, presumably) and the government of Ireland. Graphically, this mural is the same as the previous one on this wall: Under The Protection Of The UDA.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Simply The Best

2022-10-272024-08-02Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Founded 1973”. Hooded UDA gunmen in Devenish Drive, Monkstown, with “Quisseparabit’ run together.

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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50 Years

2022-10-252024-08-02Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Fifty years of the UDA South East Antrim brigade is marked at the Rathfern shops, replacing a WWI commemoration (see Rathfern Remembers).

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Rathfern UDA

2022-10-252025-05-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This entry updates the Rathfern UDA mural at the entrance to Cloughfern estate, painted in 2015 with only the name of John “The Reaper” Gregg listed on the right. Rab Carson’s name was added last year (2021) after his widow’s bid for compensation – which included the claim that Carson was not in the UDA – was denied (BelTel | BelTel). The pair had equal footing on the previous mural (see Gregg & Carson).

Both were members of South East Antrim brigade. Gregg waged a campaign of terror against Catholics in the area and was reputedly associated with British neo-Nazi groups. He and Carson were killed on February 1st, 2003, while returning from a Rangers match, on orders from Johnny Adair (of the West Belfast brigade) after Gregg and other brigade bosses voted to expel Adair from the UDA in October 2002. (Irish Examiner)

Knockenagh Drive, Newtownabbey

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Copyright © 2022/2025 Paddy Duffy
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South East Antrim UDA

2022-10-242024-08-02Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

There are both UDA and UVF murals along Devenish Drive in Monkstown. Here we have a UDA hooded gunman, along with insignia and mottoes of the UFF/UDA/UYM. The UFF/UYM with a red hand closed into a fist, the open palm of the UDA; UFF – Feriens Tego; UYM – Terrae Filius; UDA – Quis Separabit.

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Rathcoole UDA

2022-10-242024-08-01Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Territorial markings next to the playing fields in the middle of Rathcoole but lacking the assault rifle at the playground – see The Rifles Of The UDA.

The Rifles Of The UDA

2022-10-242024-08-01Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

South East Antrim UDA, 1st battalion, mural, complete with assault rifle, next to the Youth & Community Centre at the Diamond in Rathcoole. Two men from the area were convicted in December (2018) for attempting to purchase Glock pistols from PSNI officers posing as ‘dark web’ sellers (BelTel). Fears of a feud continue (Belfast Live).

Rathmore Drive, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey

Common Sense

2022-10-162024-07-31Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

UDA commander John McMichael was also secretary of the New Ulster Political Research Group (NUPRG), a think tank of the UDA/UFF. The group argued for an independent Northern Ireland (based in part on beliefs about a separate Ulster ethnic identity – see the Visual History page on Cú Chulaınn) in two documents, 1979’s Beyond the Religious Divide and 1987’s Common Sense (available at CAIN), promoting the philosophy of ‘Ulster nationalism’, depicted here by the free-floating Northern Ireland. McMichael ran unsuccessfully for the Belfast South seat after the murder of Robert Bradford (see To Bathe The Sharp Sword Of My Word In Heaven).

The side wall reads “Because loyalists have a past doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have a future. Quis separabit.” It previously had a McMichael quote – see We Must Share The Responsibility.

Ulster Defence Association

2022-10-132024-10-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A 1972 Victor Patterson photograph of a UDA mobile patrol in the Oldpark is recreated for this new mural in the Village, south Belfast. “The UDA was formed in September 1971 for most of this time it was a legal organisation. It’s [sic] declared goal was to defend Ulster loyalist Protestant areas and to combat Irish republicanism mainly the IRA. The UDA/UFF declared a ceasefire in 1994 it ended its campaign in 2007.”

Rockview Street, Village, south Belfast.