Fifty years of the UDA South East Antrim brigade is marked at the Rathfern shops, replacing a WWI commemoration (see Rathfern Remembers).
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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50 Years
painted wall
Rathfern UDA
This entry updates the Rathfern UDA mural at the entrance to Cloughfern estate, painted in 2015 with only the name of John “The Reaper” Gregg listed on the right. Rab Carson’s name was added last year (2021) after his widow’s bid for compensation – which included the claim that Carson was not in the UDA – was denied (BelTel | BelTel). The pair had equal footing on the previous mural (see Gregg & Carson).
Both were members of South East Antrim brigade. Gregg waged a campaign of terror against Catholics in the area and was reputedly associated with British neo-Nazi groups. He and Carson were killed on February 1st, 2003, while returning from a Rangers match, on orders from Johnny Adair (of the West Belfast brigade) after Gregg and other brigade bosses voted to expel Adair from the UDA in October 2002. (Irish Examiner)
Knockenagh Drive, Newtownabbey
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Copyright © 2022/2025 Paddy Duffy
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The Somme 1916
The ‘Liverpool No. 4 battalion’ UVF mural in Tynan Drive, Monkstown, (seen previously) has been replaced by a Dee Craig (Fb) mural to the soldiers of the Ulster Volunteers (see the ‘bleeding hand’ symbol in the apex) at the Somme. The small plaque on the fence to John Webster (a.k.a. Webber), Lee Irwin & Steven Cook, remains.
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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South East Antrim UDA
There are both UDA and UVF murals along Devenish Drive in Monkstown. Here we have a UDA hooded gunman, along with insignia and mottoes of the UFF/UDA/UYM. The UFF/UYM with a red hand closed into a fist, the open palm of the UDA; UFF – Feriens Tego; UYM – Terrae Filius; UDA – Quis Separabit.
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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William McFadzean
The William McFadzean VC mural in Monkstown is re-emerging many years after being painted over. The original goes back to 2002 (see J1326).
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Rathcoole UDA
Territorial markings next to the playing fields in the middle of Rathcoole but lacking the assault rifle at the playground – see The Rifles Of The UDA.
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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The Rifles Of The UDA
South East Antrim UDA, 1st battalion, mural, complete with assault rifle, next to the Youth & Community Centre at the Diamond in Rathcoole. Two men from the area were convicted in December (2018) for attempting to purchase Glock pistols from PSNI officers posing as ‘dark web’ sellers (BelTel). Fears of a feud continue (Belfast Live).
Rathmore Drive, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Sacred Heart Boxing Academy
Sacred Heart Boxing Academy was housed in the parochial hall (shown in the middle of the mural) before closing perhaps because of safety concerns and/or debt.
Oldpark Avenue, north Belfast
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Boxing Champions
“Ardoyne-Bone boxers have punched well above their weight. As professional we have won … British, Commonwealth, European & W.B.U. titles. As amateurs we have won 3 Olympic bronze, European Gold, Commonwealth Gold, World Junior silver, 17 Irish senior titles & an A.B.A senior title. Nor forgetting all our boxing coaches, who put in their time and effort for all our young boxers. Truly amazing for such a small area.” The wide shot below shows the whole of this new Ardoyne/Ard Eoın mural celebrating local boxers; the boxers named are Darren Corbett (WP), John Kelly (FightsRec), Paddy Barnes (WP), Harry McAuley (BoxRec), Anthony Maguire, Hugh Gilhooley (BoxRec), Eamonn McAuley (BoxRec), Freddie Gilroy (WP), Terry Magee (WP), Sean Brown, Noel Magee (WP), Barney Burns, Pat Kelly, Eamonn Magee (WP).
This image shows the replacement set of painted boards; for the originals see A Small Area.
Ardoyne Avenue, north Belfast
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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What Would Socrates Do?
Holy Cross [Boys] Primary School [“HCPS”] distributes student into four “houses” within the school for motivational purposes but unlike the four houses of Hogwarts (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin) these are named for famous philosophers. Students in all seven years take one hour of philosophy a week – staff are trained by The Philosophy Foundation (HCPS Prospectus) – and they now have a mural just outside the school gates to encourage them in the four “R”s – “reflective, reasoned, responsive, re-evaluative”. The mural shows a student (Conor) sitting in the pose of Auguste Rodin’s Le Penseur/The Thinker, bringing to mind sayings of the four philosophers: (from left to right) “Quality is not an act, it is a habit” – Aristotle; “I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think” – Socrates; “He who knows only his own side knows little” – JS Mill; “Philosophy begins in wonder” – Plato.
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Paddy Duffy Collection 