hood/mask/balaclava – Page 3 – Paddy Duffy Collection

In The Shadows Of Our Community

2023-10-052026-04-01Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“It is not for riches, fame or glory that we remain in the shadows of our community, but for its protection.”

These words are echoed on the central stone in the garden of reflection, with adjacent North Down UDA roll of honour: “‘Who shall separate us?’ Right up to the present day, these words have been the inspiration and motivation of numerous men and women to serve, fight and die for the defence of their homeland, its people and its heritage. This selfless action is not for riches, fame or glory, but is freely given out of a love of freedom, commitment to the faith and culture of our nation, and a desire that all future generation in all communities can live in peace.”

Movilla Street and Wallace’s Street, off Upper Movilla Street. “Loyalist Movilla” in Newtownards.

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“This garden of reflection is paying tribute to the men and women who have lost their lives in all wars and conflicts, past and present, here in Northern Ireland and throughout the world, in the hope that one day we can all live together, side by side in peace regardless of religion, colour or creed.
“‘Who shall separate us?’ Right up to the present day, these words have been the inspiration and motivation of numerous men and women to serve, fight and die for the defence of their homeland, its people and its heritage. This selfless action is not for riches, fame or glory, but is freely given out of a love of freedom, commitment to the faith and culture of our nation, and a desire that all future generation in all communities can live in peace. Their sacrifice, commitment and dedication will always be appreciated and will never be forgotten.”
“In our past the soldiers fought, for freedom and for pride, some of them were wounded, many of them died. With poppies we remember the soldiers that have died, with them we now have freedom, because they fought with pride. There they lie in Flanders Fields, where bright red poppies grow. In the war they fought for, and that we’ll always know. Freedom is never free.”

Fifty Years Of Service

2023-09-152024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here is a survey of the UDA boards in Carnany estate, Ballymoney. Many of these have been seen before (in Ulster’s Past Defenders, Ulster’s Present Defenders, The Terror, Threats, And Dread, and Ballymoney UDA). The anti-drugs board in the final image is new (see previously the one in Londonderry: Peace Impact Programme) and the one shown above and immediately below is an updated version of the board shown in Past, Present, For All Time. The dates given in the earlier version were 1972 and 2016; in this one, for “50 years of service”, they are 1971 and 2021. 1971 is the typical date given for the formation (in Belfast) of the the UDA; the 1972 date might have been a specific reference to the North Antrim And Londonderry brigade or the beginning of the Londonderry UDA’s actions, with bomb attacks on a factory and a pub in Donegal in October and November, 1972 (WP).

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“The blood our comrades shed shall not have been in vain. We honour Ulster’s dead and staunch we will remain.” better to die on your knees than live in an Irish republic don’t let drugs destroy your community declaration of arbroath

North Antrim & Londonderry UDA

2023-09-152024-11-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“North Antrim & Londonderry brigade, UFF, Ballymoney 3rd battalion” – hooded men with assault rifles remain on the walls in Alexandra Avenue/The Crescent, Ballymoney.

Pause, Reflect, Remember

2023-08-272024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Always remembered by the officers and volunteers of South Londonderry/Randalstown Ulster Volunteer Force.” This memorial mural and plaque in Magherafelt names Charlie Wright, Jonathan Wallace, Ken Wilkinson, and Ian McArthur.

Of these, Wilkinson seems the most well-known, as he served as a PUP representative for the area. He commented on sectarian tensions in Randalstown in 1999 (An Phoblacht) and in Coleraine in 2009 (Irish Examiner), and spoke against sueprgrass trials in 2011 as a member of FAST (Irish Times | see previously FAST and FASTing For Human Rights And Justice); he was accused of intimidation of Catholics in Antrim in 2003 (An Phoblacht). He stood for a number of elected positions (e.g. 2013) but was unsuccessful.

Ostensibly for his stand against drug-sellers, in 2010 a pipe-bomb (BBC), and in 2011 a make-shift car-bomb (BelTel), were placed against his home and he received death threats in 2013 (politics.ie). He died in 2021 (BelTel | News Letter | Irish News).

The plaque in the memorial garden (shown below) reads, “This plaque is dedicated in memory of all of the loyalist people of Ulster who have suffered at the hands of the enemies of our land. Lest we forget.”

The mural in the background can be seen in Leckagh Remembers The Fallen.

Also included is a nearby bench celebrating the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Leckagh Drive, Magherafelt.

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Welcome To Craigyhill

2023-03-192026-04-15Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Bullets and bonfires in Craigyhill, Larne: the hooded gunman shown above is next to the boards shown in The Loyalist Executioner in Glenfarne Place, Craigyhill (Larne).

Both it and the second image (from the top of Cairngorm Drive) have been added since July, 2022. For the claim to be the “world’s tallest bonfire”, see Commonwealth Handling Equipment.

The image of a pair of assault rifles is in Fanad Drive.

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Welcome To New Mossley Play Area

2023-02-262024-10-11Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This hooded gunman from the UVF’s North Belfast/3rd battalion will keep an eye on your wains while they play in the playground across the street. This mural replaces a kids’ mural that read “New Mossley estate recognises the importance of its young people.” (Street View)

Ballyearl Drive, New Mossley, Newtownabbey.

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Ernie Dougan

2023-02-262024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Officer in command Vol. Ernest “Ernie” Dougan (30/04/65-22/03/20) Ballyduff/Glengormley Ulster Volunteer Force 1st East Antrim Battalion.” Dougan died at the beginning of lockdown and so the public commemoration of his passing did not take place until 2022. He was also involved in the Ballyduff Community Redevelopment Group (Fb). According to a Sunday World article, Dougan did not join the UVF until sometime after the Agreement, after he was given a punishment beating by the UDA in north Belfast (see Irish Times | Mirror) and moved out to Ballyduff.

Ernie was the brother of Robert Dougan, who was killed by the IRA in 1998 – see Everyone’s Friend | Gone But Not Forgotten.

The two long sides of the electrical box were seen The Ultimate Sacrifice and If Needed We Shall Rise Again. The Ulster Banner with charging soldier on the other short end replaces Carnmoney Remembers.

Westwinds UVF

2023-02-192026-02-12Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here is a gallery of UVF stencils and boards in the Westwinds estate. Despite being in Newtownards, the UVF here is allied with the East Belfast brigade, rather than the North Down brigade – see Belfast Live for background.

Parkhall UDA Remembers

2023-02-092025-10-08Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“South East Antrim UDA UYM. In proud memory of Brig John Gregg, CO Gerry Evans, Andrew Gillespie, Billy Graham, Jamie Penny, Ken Thursby, T. Daly, J. McClure, B. Hobbs, B. Smyth”. Graham replaces William Hutchings, and Thursby is a new addition. The original version of the mural, dating back to 2004, included J. Kelly, W. Gordon, G. Fittis, A. Helm (M05230) – these are perhaps below the fence-line.

Gregg was a hero to loyalists for seriously injuring Gerry Adams in 1984; he was killed in the Adair feud in 2003 (Guardian). Evans was killed by the INLA on April 27th, 1994, shot at his shop in the Northcott centre. (Lost Lives 3472. Sutton describes Evans as a “civilian”.) He was remembered first/long ago (1996) in a Cloughfern mural – see T00217.

Compare to the similar SEA UDA murals in Ballymena and (formerly) Glengormley.

Kilgreel Road, Parkhall, Antrim

South East Antrim Brigade

2023-01-152024-09-15Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

UDA volunteers in balaclavas stand ready to defend Erskine Park (Ballyclare) against forces (from the south? from Britain?) that would implement ‘home rule’ in (north-east) Ireland.

“South East Antrim Brigade – “Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees in an Irish republic.” (A slogan from Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata.)