UDA/UFF/UYM – Page 9 – Paddy Duffy Collection

50th Anniversary

2022-09-252026-08-30Extramural Activity1 Comment

Three months after it was initially whitewashed (mid June, 2022), the repaint of so-called “Freedom Corner” was completed, with a new mural on each of the 11 panels that make it up. Here is a gallery of fifteen images from the wall. The main gables reproduce photographs of the UDA (and more specifically the East Belfast brigade) during the 1970s. The side walls celebrate the formation of the UDA/LPA/UFF/UYM in 1971-1974 and the role of women in supporting prisoners.

By Blaze FX (Fb | ig) on the Newtownards Road. Here is a small gallery of in-progress images: Waiting For The Wall.

Newtownards Road, east Belfast

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Dee Street 2nd Batt

2022-09-232026-08-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Perhaps because of the Covid pandemic, this mural of UDA volunteers on parade reflected in the sunglasses of one of their comrades took months to complete – it was started in late 2020 and was still unfinished in the summer of 2021.

The photograph reproduced is from the 1974 Ulster Workers’ Strike; it appeared on the cover of Don Anderson’s Fourteen May Days (CAIN).

The mural replaced the previous “UFF Formed 1973” mural – see Northern Island.

Avoniel Road, Belfast.

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In Defence Of The Woodvale

2022-09-182026-08-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The end wall of Columbia Street in the Woodvale was knocked down, taking with it a former Duke Elliott/UDA mural, which was then replaced with boards (rather than murals) commemorating the history of the UDA and Elliott. Elliott lived one street over, in Leopold Street (WP). He was killed in 1972, at age 28, in a dispute with other UDA members.

Ohio Street, Woodvale, west Belfast

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Invictus

2022-09-182024-07-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This printed mural in the Woodvale area of west Belfast was officially launched on Saturday, June 3rd, 2017. It celebrates the creation of the Woodvale Defence Association as “Defenders of our community since 1969” which in 1971 merged with other associations to form the UDA, whose youth wing is the UYM (lower middle, “terrae filius” = “sons of the soil”) and which uses “UFF” (upper left, “feriens ego” = “attack to defend”) as a cover for military operation. The final emblem is of the LPA (Loyalist Prisoners’ Association, “quis separabit” = “none shall separate us”). The mural replaced by this one is in the bottom left, while the bottom right contains an image of Long Kesh in 1979. The main photograph is of a 1972 march on the Shankill.

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A Mother And Father Of Ulster

2022-09-182024-07-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Billy Moir, who died in May 2016, was a central figure in the Glasgow flute-band scene. The board above, dedicated to Billy and his wife Anne, is in the lower Shankill estate. “Dedicated to a mother & father of Ulster: William (Big Billy) & Anne Moir, in appreciation for their Dedication, Loyalty, Support and Friendship to all the people of the Shankill Road and their beloved ULSTER. In Glorious Memory, Lest We Forget, Quis Separabit.”

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They Shall Not Grow Old

2022-09-182024-07-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Remember With Pride” (with a poppy). Although the dates of his birth and death are given, Stevie “Top Gun” McKeag’s name appears only on the side-wall of this new mural in the lower Shankill estate. McKeag was the top assassin in the UDA during the 1990s, claiming at least 12 victims. Both his WP page and this Guardian article describe his career and preeminent standing within the UDA.

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Carrickfergus UYM

2012-07-312026-10-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Hooded gunmen from the UDA/UFF/UYM take aim at children going to Woodlawn primary school. There are a few emblems and a quote on the side-walls to the right (out of frame), including the phrase “They rose in dark and evil days to free our native land” which comes from the song ‘The Memory Of The Dead‘, about the 1798 Rebellion, rather than the creation of the UDA in 1971.

The Birches, Carrickfergus

HM Queen Elizabeth II

2012-07-312026-08-05Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“HM Queen Elizabeth II 1952-2012”. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor acceded to the throne of the United Kingdom in 1952 (she was crowned in 1953). 2002 was her golden jubilee year. (See also Long To Reign Over Us.) The ‘sponsorship’ box read “This mural was commissioned by 1st batt A coy South East Antrim UDA UFF UYM.” but has been whited out and would later be painted over in black. It is undamaged in J1444.

Owenreagh Dr, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey

Rathcoole UFF

2012-07-312026-08-05Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This UFF/UDA/UYM mural on Iniscairn Drive in the Rathcoole estate features a red fist (centre) and a red hand wrapped in barbed wire (apex), as well two masked figures aiming rifles.

Tiger’s Bay First Flute

2008-01-012026-08-03Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Tiger’s Bay First Flute, “Est 1983”. The emblem is in the style of the UDA emblem, and UDA members are listed on the side wall. For two of those listed, see Bacon and Baird. T[ommy] English was killed by the UVF in 2000.

Hogarth Street, Tiger’s Bay, north Belfast