assault rifle – Page 8 – Paddy Duffy Collection

Our British Birthright

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

This pair of UVF boards are on the wall of the Fern in Rathcoole and right next to the UDA markings seen in Rathcoole UDA. Included in the 1st East Antrim are both local areas (Carrickfergus, Ballyduff, Ballyclare, Greenisland, Glengormley, Monkstown, Rathcoole, Larne, Whitehead) and affiliated British units (Drumchapel (Glasgow, Scotland), Blackpool (England), Corby (England), Paisley (Scotland), Liverpool (England), Possilpark (Glasgow), Blairgowrie (Scotland), Falkirk (Scotland), and Springburn (Glasgow)) of the 1st East Antrim Battalion, “The people’s army”.

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The Rifles Of The UDA

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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

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Dignity And Pride

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The UVF mural dedicated to Colin Caldwell on Derry Hill in Rathcoole was repainted in 2016 and a mention added of “Marky” Mark Quail — who has a separate mural a short distance away — added on a (painted) ribbon. The mural shows two hooded volunteers — from the 3rd [north] Belfast battalion and 1st east Antrim battalion – aiming rifles; the previous mural (X00512) showed volunteers mourning beside a memorial stone. “We salute all volunteers at home and on the mainland who served with dignity and pride.”

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Honour, Service, Sacrifice

2022-10-242026-10-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The backdrop to the Red Hand Commando memorial garden in Rathcoole has been repainted (compare with the final image, below) with the emblem of the “Red Hand Comrades Association” (for background see We Await In The Shadows). “The highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s faith, community and country. [George S. Patton, Jr.] Honour, service, sacrifice.” With the names “N[orman]. Williamson, L. Orr, S. Wasson, N. Anderson, A. Moore.” (Anderson and Moore are new additions, compared to M16237 and M16236, below;

For the plaque to Williamson on the main mural see the Peter Moloney Collection.

It is in the same colour-scheme as the main wall, which is now fading somewhat: Founded in 1970, “To this day our principles remain the same: to protect the loyalist community, to retain our Britishness. It is not for glory or riches we fight but for our people. Lamh Dearg Abu.” The mural shows the “Rathcoole Elite” unit (1st Batt., B. Coy) of the Red Hand Commando, complete with four masked men each bearing weapons.

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Pearse Jordan

2022-10-162024-08-01Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Pearse Jordan was unarmed when he was killed by the RUC on November 25th, 1992 but in this new Éıre Nua Flute Band board he leaves his prints on an assault rifle. (previous Éıre Nua board) His killing was ruled unlawful, and subsequent inquest insufficient, by the European Court Of Human Rights in 2001. The campaign for an inquest continues (An Phoblacht).

The words on the board – “Slan [sic] go foıll [sic] moh [sic] chara, just for a while/We’ll not have your craic, your jokes, or your smiles/But in years to come, your memory’s still true/A brave son of Ireland, we will not forget you” – are the chorus of The Ballad Of Pearse Jordan (words | sung by The Irish Brigade).

The board is in Hugo Street, which is also the site of his memorial plaque, just above the Evolution Of Our Revolution.

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The Evolution Of Our Revolution

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A history of nationalism/republicanism from left to right: a pair of Easter lilies, four generations of rifles, and then a switch to a ballot paper with a check in favour of “unity” and a road named “Unity Way”: “From bullet to ballot: the evolution of our revolution. 1916 – 2016”

This mural is on the north side of Hugo Street – the south side remains exclusively éırígí.

Hugo Street, west Belfast

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Village UVF

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

Territorial markings of the UVF are posted on the new development on the east side of the Village. These images are all from the Kitchener Drive, which has new houses in Kitchener St and Soudan St.

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Village UVF

2022-10-132026-08-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The main UVF mural in the Village area of south Belfast was freshened up in 2018. The design of the mural remains the same as before, with hooded gunmen on either side of the UVF emblem aiming directly at the viewer (see the second image). For the previous version, see 2013’s The Village People.

The plaques were added to the side-wall in 2022. This is the third commemoration to Village UVF volunteer Stevie McCrea and the second to Sammy Mehaffy – see Stephen Desmond McCrea and Battalion Of The Dead, which also includes John Hanna, who has a solo board in Prince Edward Pk.

As is often now the case, the modern UVF (McCrea died 1989-02-18 from wounds sustained in the IPLO attack on the Orange Cross, and Mehaffy on 1991-11-13, shot by the IRA in nearby Lecale Street) is mixed in with the 1912 anti-Home Rule Ulster Volunteers and Young Citizen Volunteers, which are themselves blended together with WWI and the 36th (Ulster) Division of 1914-1918.

Death’s Parade Ground

2022-10-132024-07-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The bugler in period uniform and the language of the poem are reminiscent of WWI but all of the UVF mural, roll of honour, and reproduction of an old YCV mural refer to the modern UVF and in particular to William Millar [sometimes given as “Miller”], Bobby Morton, and Tommy McAllister. Millar and Morton were ambushed by the RUC on the 16th of March 1983 – Millar died and Morton was injured (Long Kesh Inside Out). Millar was included in an old Cregagh mural – see C00956). Morton died in 2016 (Young Conquerors), hence his portrait shows him as an older man. The same is true of McAllister’s portrait, though no information about him is readily available.

“As the bugler blows/O’er the graves in rows/As reveille sounds/Over death[‘]s parade ground/Where our fallen comrades lie/With our standards proud/Once their deathbeds shroud/We will come from far and near/To salute our dead/And the roles they played/With the Ulster Volunteers.”

The mural was launched on March 19th (ACT) in Pine St. Below the new mural are a roll of honour and a board reproducing a former mural by Gareth Keys one street over, in Walnut Street – see The Young, The Brave, The Fearless.

We Will Take The Matter Into Our Own Hands

2022-10-092024-07-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“We in Ulster will tolerate no Sinn Féin but we tell you this – that if, having offered you our help, you are yourselves unable to protect us from the machinations of Sinn Féin, and you won’t take our help; we tell you, we will take the matter into our own hands …. ” A quote from Sir Edward Carson (probably, 12th of July, 1920 rather than 1912 – Treason Felony | RTÉ) replaces the previous “free men” quote (see M03378); the poppies between the emblems in the main panel are also new, as is the plinth the hooded gunmen are standing on, which reads “1912 East Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force” (also, “1981 Gareth Keys 2008″). In other words, the mural has been softened (slightly) by adding historical elements.

Castlereagh Road, opposite Ravensdale Street.