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Queen Of Angels

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Queen Elizabeth II died, aged 96, on September 8th, 2022, and is now (according to this board) queen of the angels in heaven (Matthew 28:2), which perhaps allows her to send other angels to Earth (Matthew 24:31) to deliver messages to chosen people.

Also included (below) from the same street is a memorial tarp to British soldiers in the Great War and WWII, including Vickers machine guns, Spitfire aeroplanes, and a WWI tank (perhaps a Mark V (Tank Museum)).

Ballyree Drive in Bloomfield, Bangor.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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How Real Men ‘Take A Knee’

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Here is a survey of PUL boards (from left to right) at the shops in the centre of the village of Moygashel, just south of Dungannon.

First is a British Army soldier in a firing position. Compare this board to Now Is The Time To Kneel in Clonduff, Castlereagh, which suggested that the time for soldiers to kneel was in mourning for Queen Elizabeth.

The subject of the second image is obscure. Vanguard as a political and activist group dissolved in 1977 (WP) and the name and emblem have been taken up by the Vanguard Bears, a Rangers supporters’ club (see e.g. Defending Our Traditions).

Third is a children’s mural, produced (in part) by children from Howard primary school.

The ‘Time To Decide’ and UDR 8th (Co. Tyrone) battalion roll of honour were seen previously, alongside two others which are now absent, in Belfast Agreement Null & Void.

Beyond those is a tarp celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee, in 2022.

Finally, a Moygashel Youth Club (Fb) mural in disrepair.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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The Children Of Palestine

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“Attach an item for every child murdered by the IDF in Palestine”. If the practice were followed in accordance with Al Jazeera’s track of casualties in Palestine, there would be roughly 16,500 teddy-bears and other soft toys on these railings at William Street/Anne Street in Dungannon.

For galleries of bears on the railings and lamp-posts of Belfast, see Boycott Israeli Genocide and It Could Be You.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Seas Leıs An Phalaıstín

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Two murals have been added to the exterior of Felons’ Club in Andersonstown to show support for Palestine. Above, on the Lake Glen side of the club, a printed board reading “We stand with Palestine – seas leis an Phalaıstín” and including an Emmalene Blake image (ig) on the right (shown in close-up, below); further below, a “Stop the genocide in Gaza” tarp above the entrance.

Also included are images of several memorial plaques from the courtyard, to James Smyth, Anraí (Harry) Osborne, Seosamh Ó Conghaıle (Joseph Connolly), and Roger Casement. “County Antrim Memorial: Tógaḋ an leaċt seo mar ċoṁarṫa urraıme, grá agus dílse do na saıġdıúırí uaısle as Contae Aontroma, a martraíoḋ ar son Ṗoblaċt Na hÉıreann. Ṡeas gaċ glúın díoḃ sa ḃearna ḃaoıl, ag troıd go cróga ċun aontaċt agus saoırse a ṫaḃaırt ar aıs do náısıún na nGael. Go spreaga an leaċt cuımhne seo na daoıne feasta ıonas go leana sıad lorg na laoċra dtí go mbéarfar bua uasal na saoırse ar ball. Erected by the Belfast Committee of the National Graves Association with generous co-operation from sub-committees in America and Dublin.”

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Copyright © 2024 Extramural Activity
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The Defence Of Ardoyne

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Martin Meehan joined the IRA in 1966 and was one of a few IRA volunteers defending Catholics in Ardoyne (Ard Eoın) in August 1969. Rioting did not cease there until the 16th, when British troops were finally deployed to the Crumlin Road to block mobs coming from the Woodvale and Shankill. Meehan resigned after the failure of the IRA to defend Ardoyne, Clonard, and Divis. This Magill article from the time summarises the IRA’s actions as “late, amateur and uncertain”. (Meehan would later rejoin the IRA and PIRA.)

For a close-up of the plaque, see Show Me The Man.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Unrecognisable Britishness

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Billy Wright broke with the UVF over the ceasefire in 1994 and after being expelled (and the Mid-Ulster brigade disbanded) in the summer of 1996, formed the LVF (WP). The tarp shown above, however, is in the UVF Ballykeel area of Ballymena, which has come around to his anti-Agreement way of thinking in the current anti-Protocol environment. There is video of the speeches from which these paragraphs come; the first paragraphs can be seen in this AP report; the third paragraph (from a speech on Xitter) is followed by the claim that “democracy has been stood on its head”.

“”I am living through the death of our nation, the destruction of our way of life. I am sick of ambiguity, I am sick of the government’s lies and deceit. I will not become part of a process that is designed to ease our people into a United Ireland. They shall demand concession after concession, their small inches will soon turn to yards, then yards to miles and finally they shall have their way, your Britishness shall become unrecognisable.” – No Irish Sea border – Maintain the Union – Defending our heritage and culture.”

On top of a Covid-era “NHS thank you” board on Crebilly Road, Ballymena, next to Somme, King Billy, and VE Day pieces.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Remember Me

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“Remember me – Glenn Quinn. Murdered by cowards. We all know who they are!” The body of Glenn Quinn was found in his Carrickfergus home in January 2020. His family believe he was beaten and left to die by members of the South East Antrim UDA; as a result of their accusation they have been threatened a dozen or more times (BBC). The Crimestoppers’ 20,000 pounds reward has now – on the fourth anniversary of the death – been doubled by an anonymous donor. (BBC)

Spotlight investigated Glenn’s death in 2021 (BBC).

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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At The Eleventh Hour

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The portrait on the right is probably William McFadzean, familiar from murals such as in the Caw, Londonderry, and in Cregagh, Belfast (though the photo is unknown). The face on the left is John Travers “Jack” Cornwell, “the boy hero of Jutland”, who was awarded the VC for staying at his post as a sight-setter on the HMS Chester (the picture is from an earlier posting, on the HMS Lancaster) when it was hit by German light cruisers on May 31st, 1916. Cornwell died from shrapnel wounds on June 2nd (Mary Evans).

It’s not clear why Cornwell is included here, as he was from, and is buried in, east London, rather than Belfast or Ireland, and does not seem to be associated with the 36th Division. Please get in touch if you can explain his inclusion here. See also: Battle Of Jutland and HMS Caroline.

Dee Street, east Belfast, on the fence seen previously in My God-Given Right To Rule.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T03875 T03876 at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them royal irish rifles lest we forget

Remembrance Sunday

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Remembrance Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, commemorates and celebrates the end of hostilities in the first World War on November 11th, 1918. Many ceremonies in the UK take place on the second Sunday of the month, regardless of the date. This practice began in 1945, changing the WWII practice of marking the occasion on the preceding Sunday, to ensure that the holiday did not fall on a work-day (WP).

This large tarp (above) is at the Shore Road memorial garden to the 10th, 36th, and 16th divisions, shown below, along with the nearby Fifes & Drums/Fairhill flute band (Fb)/Pride Of The Shore (Fb) tribute to QEII. The tarp was also seen last year: Remembrance Day.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Fergie

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The plaque above – “Ormeau Road in memory [of] Fergie” – is now somewhat incongruously above painted signage for a coffee-and-donuts shop (Bunelos | web) on the Ormeau Road, a commercial road which is also at the edge of the Ballynafeigh neighbourhood.

“Fergie” is perhaps Iain Ferguson, who died in 2021 (Belvoir & Ballynafeigh UPRG on Fb) and is remembered in a tarp on the side of the flats in Belvoir, shown below. (UPRG is affiliated with the UDA – hence the red hand and the six-pointed star in the plaque, alongside the flowers of the four nations – rose, shamrock, daffodil, thistle – and orange lily.)

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Copyright © 2023/2022 Paddy Duffy
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T01528 T01529 a true loyalist will be missed by all his friends in Belvoir & Ballynafeigh QS Somerset Street Belvoir Drive