physical force

RHC C Company East Belfast

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A Red Hand Commando volunteer kneels in a garland of poppies. The quote on the left – “It’s not for glory or riches that we fight but for our people” – is based on the Declaration Of Arbroath and seen also in south Belfast (For Freedom Alone) and in Bangor (Remember Them Who Gave Their All). The Declaration was also used on one of the series of murals that can be seen, in part, to the left of the image above – see Ulster’s Freedom Corner.

The quote on the right – “Ulster’s destiny is in our hands; our grip is tight; we’ll never let go.” – appears to be original to the RHC.

Tower Street, east Belfast, replacing a version that had a solid white background.

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy
T00454

Never Again!

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In August, 1969, families, mostly Catholic, were driven out and their homes burned in Bombay Street (and surrounding streets), between the Falls and Shankill (RTÉ news report). The defenselessness of the community then is reflected in the urging for “No decommission” in the present. Fıan Gerard McAuley (aged 15) was shot in nearby Waterville Street.

Bombay Street, Clonard, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy
T00342

WDA 2nd Batt B Coy UFF

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The Woodvale Defence Association (WDA) was the largest of the local associations which merged together in 1971 to form the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and the WDA became B company of 2nd battalion (WP).

Both pieces are in Heather Street, Woodvale, west Belfast. Between the two are the words “Ulster Freedom Fighters” in large letters – see D00967.

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy
T00451 T00450

Lincoln Court UDA

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“In memory of Ben Redfern, Lindsay Mooney, Cecil McKnight, Gary Lynch, Ray Smallwoods, William Campbell. Lest we forget.” For Redfern and Lynch, see It’s Still Only Thursday; Smallwoods has a WP page; Campbell died in 2002 in a premature pipe-bomb explosion (Guardian).

Lincoln Court, Londonderry

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy (no date given)
T01195

Ballybeen RHC

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“Ballybeen C Coy East Belfast”, “Lamh dearg abu”, “It is not for glory or riches that we fight but for our people. We will always protect our community.” The first part of the quotation is based on the Declaration Of Arbroath (see also this RHC C Coy mural in east Belfast); “we will always protect our community” is original.

Upper Newtownards Road, Dundonald

(In some images of this mural, the top scroll says simply “Ballybeen”.)

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy
T00435

Release The Political Hostages

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“We have achieved peace, we have maintained peace – now stop the injustice: release our political hostages.” “Dedicated to Mark Rice”, a Tullycarnet resident who was jailed for 20 years for possession of an assault rifle used in the attack on Sean Graham bookmakers on the Ormeau Road in February 1992 (Relatives For Justice). To the left of centre, a red fist smashes through an Irish Tricolour; a Tricolour is also worn by the volunteer in the crosshairs.

Granton Park, Tullycarnet, Dundonald

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy
T00431

Champions Of Ulster

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Cú Chulaınn (or, as here, Cuchulainn) is usually shown dying, in the pose made famous by Oliver Sheppard in his statue that was installed in the General Post Office in Dublin in 1935. (See the Visual History page about Cú Chulaınn in murals.) Here, however, he is a living warrior (carrying a sword and a shield emblazoned with the crest of Northern Ireland) as an analogue to loyalist paramilitaries and prisoners of war (“LPOW” on the right).

Lincoln Court, Londonderry

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy (no date given)
T01194

Shankill Eddie

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A Visual History page details the various appearances of Eddie The Head in his guise as a Red Coat soldier-cum-UDA volunteers. In this Shankill Eddie, he carries an assault rifle and an Ulster Banner as he marches over the graves of “E[ddie] Copeland”, “S[ean] Kelly”, and “S[tephen] Larkin”. The three are IRA volunteers: Kelly, along with Thomas Begley, bombed Frizzell’s fish shop on the Shankill Road in 1993 – Kelly survived; Copeland was injured during an attack on Begley’s wake; Larkin made an attempt on the life of Johnny Adair in 1993.

There is also a Visual History page for the murals painted in the era of Johnny Adair’s C company, of which this is one.

Hopewell Crescent, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy (no date given)
T01178