Tina Turner’s cover (youtube) of Bonnie Tyler’s song “The Best” reached #5 in the UK charts in 1989 and the phrase “simply the best” from the chorus would appear in a number of UDA murals over the years, beginning with this 1995 mural depicting hooded gunmen from the UDA/UFF’s second battalion C company.
Dover Place, west Belfast. This mural would be repainted in the Adair era to include a list of mass killings of Catholics.
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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
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“Compromise” in “Compromise or conflict” hints at the potential of the peace process but loyalist muraling continues to present hooded gunmen (in this case from “1st battalion, west Belfast UVF”) engaged in physical-force activity. In the same vein, see Prepared For Peace, Ready For War.
The first appearance of Eddie The Trooper – a definite increase in the intensity of violent imagery – will be in 1996.
Later with a side-wall (to the right of image) that read simply “A. company / 1st battalion”
Dover Place, west Belfast
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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
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“In memoriam: Brig. J. McMichael, Jim Kenna, Frankie Smyth, Ernie Dowds, Sammy Hunt, Steven Audley, William Kingsberry, Joe Bratty, Tommy Morgan, William Hamilton”
UDA “roll of honour” mural in Rowland Way, Sandy Row, south Belfast
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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
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Long Kesh viewed through a keyhole, with green ribbons from the campaign to free republican prisoners. “The mural was donated by New Lodge RAC [Relatives Action Committee]”.
Donore Court, New Lodge, north Belfast
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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
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This is a mural on Whiterock Road, west Belfast, bidding “Slán Abhaıle” to a British soldier who is himself standing on Whiterock Road in front of the 1916 mural (Who Fears To Speak Of Easter Week?).
In the medallions to the left and right are four demands from during the (first) ceasefire: “End collusion, Release POWs, Disband RIR RUC, End Unionist veto”.
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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
T00105
A tricoloured screw bears down a helmet comprising a Union Flag bowl and Ulster Banner visor.
Foyle Road end of Brook Street, Derry
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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
T00104
A fist in flames to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the battle of the Bogside, and the beginning of the Troubles, 1969 – 1994. The Battle began on August 12th, 1969, with the declaration of “Free Derry” and exclusion of police. The British Army was deployed on the 14th.
For more information, see the documentaries Battle Of The Bogside and No Go on youtube, and the WP page.
Painted by Arlene Wege in Lecky Road, Bogside, Derry
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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
T00103
A large green ribbon is added to Free Derry Corner (Visual History) as a call for prioritising the release of political prisoners in negotiations that take place during the ceasefire.
In the background is The Petrol Bomber.
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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
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The Petrol Bomber was the first mural painted by the Bogside Artists – Kevin Hasson, Tom Kelly, and William Kelly – as part of what would become The People’s Gallery (Visual History).
It shows 13 year-old Paddy Coyle (Derry Journal) with a Molotov cocktail and wearing a gas mask (used to protect rioters against CS gas). The original did not have the green ribbon on the boy’s badge – it is a symbol of the movement to have POWs released as part of any peace agreement.
The Rossville flats are in the background of the mural (though not of Clive Limpkin’s original photo, included below from this gallery of Limpkin’s images of Derry 1969-1972).
Lecky Road, Bogside, Derry
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Copyright © 1995 Paddy Duffy
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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
[T00102] [T00191]
“Murdered by the enemies of Ulster Nov 1987. “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life” – Revelation 2 V.10″
Controversial DUP and later independent politician and preacher George Seawright served as city councillor and NI Assembly member from 1981 to 1986, when he was jailed for his role in physically attacking NI Secretary of State Tom King. The “enemies of Ulster” in this case are the IPLO.
Side-wall: “In remembrance of all those who have given their lives and their freedom in the struggle to keep Ulster Protestant.”
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Copyright © 1994 Paddy Duffy (undated image; possibly 1993)
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