plaque – Page 4 – Paddy Duffy Collection

Camlough Memorial Garden

2024-06-212024-11-24Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The memorial garden in Quarter Road, Camlough, commemorates deaths and events from 1916 to 1921:

“In memory of the Irish men and women who died in 1916 in conflicts both at home and abroad.”

“1917 marks the formation of the Camlough company of Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann (Irish Volunteers).”

“1917-2017 centenary of the Sınn Féın cumann, Camlough.”

“1918-2018 commemorating 100 years of women’s suffrage ‘For men and women equally the rights of citizenship; from men and women equally the duties of citizenship’. In memory of Hannah Sheehy-Skeffington – suffragist, nationalist, socialist.”

“December 1920, during the Tan War, the RIC barracks in Camlough was attacked by local volunteers of the Irish Republican Army.”

“In December 1920, in the aftermath of the attack on the RIC barracks in Camlough and the ambush at the Egyptian Arch, 10 family homes were burned to the ground by the Black And Tans.”

“In memory of Vol. Sean Doran and his sister Mary Ann Kearney, shot dead by the Black And Tans, 1921.”

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Brigadier Billy Wright

2024-03-302024-11-11Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends – John Ch. 15 v13”

This memorial plaque is “in memory of [LVF] Brigadier Billy Wright (King Rat)”. Wright was killed in the Maze in December 1987 by members of the INLA (neither the INLA or LVF were on ceasefire).

Kilcoole Drive, Dungannon.

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How Real Men ‘Take A Knee’

2024-03-302024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

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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If Our Shores Are Threatened

2024-03-302024-11-11Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“If our shores are threatened/We will take up arms/To defend our loyal cause/Our culture and our heritage/Our freedoms and our laws.” Moygashel’s own (William) Wesley Somerville, a member of both the UVF and UDR, was killed by a bomb prematurely exploding as he placed it on the minibus of the Miami Showband in July of 1975. Three members of the band died, one of them Protestant, along with volunteers Somerville and Harris Boyle from Portadown (WP). “He died for Ulster” (on the plaque).

“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.”

Moygashel Park, Moygashel

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The Defence Of Ardoyne

2024-02-182024-11-03Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

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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Pride Of Ardoyne

2024-02-102025-10-17Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Pride Of Ardoyne flute band memorial site was overhauled in November. The silhouetted bandsmen (seen in Pride Of Ardoyne) are gone and the cross and wooden plaque at the top (see Billy Hanna) have been joined by two large boards, naming “J. Bailey, W. Hanna, S. Rockett, B. McClure” and, (on the drum) “Charlie Dunn (1957-2021)”, along with 20 small plaques of these five plus 15 more who are an “absent member”, “absent friend”, and “loyal supporter”.

For Bailey, see On This Day. For Rockett, see Essence And Space. For McClure, see UPI. For Dunn, see the band’s Fb Page.

2025-10 Update: the main board was damaged when a wreath was set alight – Belfast Live.

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30 Years On

2023-10-232025-06-14Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A service was held yesterday in West Kirk Presbyterian to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the bombing of Frizzell’s fish shop on the Shankill Road. As part of the ceremony, wreaths were laid at the new memorial marking the spot on the Shankill where the bomb exploded, killing nine locals — hence the Arabic “9” among the Roman numerals on the clock face — and one of the bombers (ITv footage). The clock shows the date and time that the bomb went off: 1:06 pm on Saturday October 23rd, 1993.

The new ‘clock’ memorial replaces the three plaques seen in Frizzell’s (though the circular plaque might have been incorporated into this new memorial); the board of portraits served as the cover for the memorial in the days prior to unveiling and was placed over the credit union’s ATM.

West Kirk also contains a stone and bench to the victims of the Shankill bombing. Nine trees were also planted in their memory: John Frizzell, Sharon McBride Leanne Murray, Michael Morrison, Evelyn Baird, Michelle Baird, George Williamson, Gillian Williamson, Wilma McKee.

“We remember those who were killed, those who survived and those lives changed forever.”

“‘And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away’ Revelations 21 v4”

Some Gave All

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

“All gave some; some gave all.” During its twenty-two years of operation, 197 UDR soldiers were killed. The scroll on the left gives the dates of the regiment’s operation: 1970 (April 1) was the year it replaced the Special Constabulary, and 1992 (May 31) was the year seven of the nine battalions were amalgamated with the Royal Irish Rangers’ two battalions to form the (modern) Royal Irish Regiment (WP) – the piper in the top right is carrying a flag of the Royal Irish Regiment.

The inscription on the plaque reads: “Ulster Defence Regiment mural, dedicated on the 19th March 2016 by Chairman Roy Burton, Carrickfergus Glasgow Rangers Supporters Club [and] Chairman Stephen Weir, Carrickfergus Ulster Defence Regiment Association CGC. Lest we forget.”

The mural is at the Carrickfergus Rangers Supporters Club (Fb). Also from the Club: Club: a gallery of Rangers’ Managers in We Welcome The Chase | commemorative murals to the 36th Division in A Name That Equals Any In History | and to the Highland Fusiliers.

Armed And Ready Again

2023-10-042024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is the UVF/RHC memorial garden in Ballybeen, with individual plaques to “East Belfast battalion commander” RJ ‘Mickey’ Wilson (died 2022), Jim ‘Jonty’ Johnston (killed in 2003 BelTel), M. Walker, G. McCartney, David Brown. While most of the plaques and stones are to the modern UVF, there are three pieces to the 36th (Ulster) Division.

“Too many names to mention, but I will certainly try./Tears run down my face as I try not to cry./Their names written in gold of Volunteers gone by./These men they died heroes in battles, fought and won./They may be gone, but in our hearts remain./The Ulster Volunteer Force. The People’s Army./Armed and ready again.”