political – Page 6 – Paddy Duffy Collection

The Zombie-Slayer

2023-10-152024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This Castlemara, Carrickfergus, board is not remarkable so much for what it depicts — the new prince and princess of Wales, “baron & baroness of [sic] Carrickfergus” — but for what it replaces, namely, the Carrickfergus Eddie, which had been in place since (at least) 2000 — see Show No Mercy.

This means that there are no large murals of Eddie remaining; there are only some smaller versions of Eddie of boards or tarps. Eddie has his own Visual History page.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Love, Marriage, And Country

2023-10-152024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This Castlemara, Carrickfergus, board is notable for its background, which follows that of old coronation and jubilee portraits. These would show the royal couple (and sometimes immediate family) in plush surroundings and standing in front of chairs. This style of composition has been seen in murals of George V’s jubilee in 1935 and George VI’s coronation in 1937 — see Visual History 01. In this board, however, Philip and Elizabeth are portrayed in old age and are not in coronation gear; the chairs shown are from the Throne Room in Buckingham Palace.

Also notable is that the board replaces a UDA mural – see Joint Manoeuvres. The other UDA mural in the estate — Carrickfergus Eddie — has also been replaced.

For the UVF/YCV gunmen in the background of the wide shot, see Out Of The Trenches.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Ulster Says No To An ILA

2023-10-152024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Resistance to IRA demands – “Every word spoken in Irish is like a bullet being fired in the struggle for Irish freedom” – Ulster says no to an ILA.” The precise wording and the author of the quotation are unclear. Nelson McCausland of the DUP gives it as “Now every phrase you learn is a bullet in the freedom struggle” and attributes it to Sınn Féın’s Pádraıg Ó Maolchraoıbhe in May 1982 (BelTel | Nelson’s View). The Irish language is not, of course, the exclusive property of militant republicanism, and, although the IRA has ceased its campaign and decommissioned its weapons, it is used here in conjunction with an image of a gunman firing an assault rifle in order to provoke fear against an Irish Language Act. The bill – enacted by Westminster rather than Stormont – became law last (2022) December (BBC). The poster dates from 2022 or 2021.

See previously: A Tale Of Two Protests | Acht Anoıs.

Below are “PSNIRA” targets and an old Leo Varadkar poster – see A Return To Violence.

Beechfield Avenue, Carrickfergus

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Royal Visits To Carrickfergus

2023-10-152024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

William was granted the peerage “baron Carrickfergus” as a wedding present in 2011, which made Catherine/Kate baroness (WP). They visited the town in 2022 (BBC). The black-and-white photograph on the left is of Queen Elizabeth visiting in 1961 (youtube).

Replaces the kids mural We Are Friends in Hawthorn Avenue, Carrickfergus.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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The Crown

2023-09-192024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96 and after 70 years as monarch of the UK. She was succeeded by Charles III.

“1926-2022 ERII. “Thank you” from the residents of Ballee [Ballymena]”.

The mural is by Craig “Chilli” Gilmore on Ballee Way, above UDR Checkpoint and The Lion Wears The Crown. The in-progress shot is from April.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Look Back With Pride

2023-09-112024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Queen Elizabeth II, her sovereign majesty, 1926-2022. ‘I believe that, young or old, we have to look forward to with confidence and hope as we have to look back [on] with pride.'”

This is the mural that controversially replaced the infamous ‘Rathcoole towers’ UDA mural that had stood for more than 20 years in Bencrom Park (see South East Antrim UFF). Apparently, some people thought Queen Elizabeth was not hard-line enough (BelTel).

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Bill Of Shame

2023-09-092024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Stand against the legacy legislation – state murder is murder! – bill of shame”

The UK parliament adopted the “Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023” on Septetmber 6th and it became law on the 18th, preventing future inquests and civil cases. Twenty challenges have been lodged against the bill and a hearing is due to begin on November 20th with a primary focus on whether or not the bill is compatible with the European Convention On Human Rights (ITv | BBC). In the meantime – prior to the May 1st, 2024 deadline — the Springhill-Westrock inquest continues on Monday (RFJ).

This mural showing Lady Justice gagged but with a raised fist, by Iliana Edwards (ig), is on a wall outside the offices of Relatives For Justice (web).

Update: February 28, 2024: The High Court has ruled against the Act (BBC).

See previously: a call to a rally in September.

Leaders Of Unionism Against Home Rule

2023-09-032025-03-11Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Carson, Crawford, and Craig are lionised as resisters of devolvement of Ireland to Dublin in the early twentieth century. Despite calling Home Rule “the most nefarious conspiracy that has ever been hatched against a free people” and vowing to fight it by “all means necessary”, including the Ulster Volunteers armed by Crawford’s “guns for Ulster”, Edward Carson “warned Ulster Unionist leaders not to alienate norther Catholics, as he foresaw this would make Northern Ireland unstable.”

With Voice, Pen, Or Hand

2023-09-032024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“With voice, pen or hand we will defend our land.” David (Davy) Patterson (12-10-1955 – 03-01-2019) was a member of the 1st East Belfast Rangers Supporters Club (Fb) and Albertbridge Glentoran Supporters Club (Funeral Times). This memorial board is the side-wall to the Somme Society mural (see Their Name Liveth Forevermore) and the Red Hand Commando memorial garden in Hunt Street, east Belfast.

Faith, Blood, Service, Sacrifice

2023-08-132024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here are three images from the blind end of Montrose Street, east Belfast, updating a post from November last year (Loyal Servants) with the addition of the boards above, on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and the final image below, which puts the new King Charles III between Queen Elizabeth and King William III.