Paddy Duffy Collection

Old Ulster’s Battle Cry

2023-02-092024-11-11Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“‘We bravely charged through no-man’s land/With the red hand flying high/Our cry was ‘No surrender’/Old Ulster’s battle cry.’ 1st July 1916 – Battle Of The Somme. Faugh a ballagh.”

“No surrender” was the cry against the forces of James II as they marched on Derry on December 7th, 1688, a moment celebrated by members of the Orange Order, Royal Black Institution, and Apprentice Boys, and from there, possibly shouted on July 1st as the 36th Division, formed from the Ulster Volunteers, attacked Schwaben Redoubt from Thiepval Wood (Irish Times | History Ireland).

The red hand is the emblem of the 36th (Ulster) Division and the shamrock stands for the 16th (Irish) Division, which was not in action on July 1st (the Battle Of Albert) but at the Battle Of Ginchy and Battle Of Guillemont in early September (Long Long Trail). (See also various Messines 1917 murals: Killed Wounded Missing | Comrades In Arms | We Are The dead | Brothers In Arms | Messines 1917

“Faugh a ballagh” is also included; of the regiments who supplied battalions for the 36th Division, only one – the Royal Irish Fusiliers – used that motto, the 9th battalion of the RIF was raised from the Armagh, Monaghan, and Cavan Volunteers. The motto of the Royal Irish Rifles (who supplied 8 of the 12 battalions of the 36th), and later of the UDR, was “Quis separabit”. “Faugh a ballagh” was the motto of the Royal Irish Rangers and is the motto of the current Royal Irish Regiment.

The military boards are flanked by boards for two local flute bands: “Ballycraigy Sons Of Ulster est. 1971” (tw) and “Ladyhill flute band est. 1998” (Fb).

Update 2024-06: Silhouetted graveside mourners have been added to either side of the Somme board – see the final two images.

2023-11: with silhouetted graveside mourners and helmet on cross

2024-06 wide shot:

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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North Down Defenders

2023-02-052024-10-07Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

At the end of 2016, Dee Stitt of Charter NI and the UDA was criticised for remarks describing his North Down Defenders (Fb) as the “homeland security” of Bangor’s Kilcooley estate and describing working-class estates as “jungles” in which there is always a “big guy” (Guardian video 8 min mark ff.| BelTel | ITv) .

The mural above does not directly indicate ties to the UDA/UFF, except for the red fist. For a more explicit NDD board further down the estate, with UDA, UFF, UYM, and LPA flags, see North Down Defenders.

Orlock Gardens, Kilcooley, Bangor

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Volunteer, Brigadier, Ulsterman

2023-02-052024-10-07Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Tommy Herron was kidnapped and executed in September 1973, probably by members of his own East Belfast UDA brigade in a dispute over money from a robbery (Irish Times | Lost Lives 938 | Holland | BelTel) though others allege it was by the security forces (BelTel), perhaps the SAS or MI5. These BBC News videos (one | two) give a sense of the perplexity of the case; a HET inquiry years later was inconclusive (Irish Times). His 18-year-old brother-in-law, Michael Wilson, had been killed by the UDA at their shared house in June, perhaps in a case of mistaken identity, perhaps as an informer (WP | Lost Lives 877).

Despite the internal conflict over Herron’s position and profiteering, 25,000 people attended his funeral and hearkened to the words of the Reverend Ian Paisley (AP video | Patterson images). The AP video shows ranks of UDA volunteers marching in the procession; the mural was launched with (two) masked UDA volunteers flanking speaker Dee Stitt (BelTel).

Orlock Gardens, Kilcooley, Bangor

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Only A Few Minutes

2023-02-052024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The day before he met his end, Captain James Samuel Davidson, Brigade Captain in the machine gun company of the 108th infantry brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division, wrote to his mother, “Only a few minutes to tell you I am well. The dawn of tomorrow will be the critical time for us but I hope good luck will attend us. Mother dearest, I don’t want you to be too anxious about me but if I should have bad luck, will you give [fiancée] Eileen [Rogers] any of my little personal things she would like to have. I will send a postcard just as soon as I can if all goes well.”

Staff Officer Wilfrid Spender wrote to the family at Seacourt, Bangor, “I am told that your son fell after gallantry which deserved the Victoria Cross and was killed when his men had at last persuaded him to consent to letting them carry him back. Though badly wounded, he had insisted on carrying on. If I may say so, I value the friendship of your son and hope that I may be worthy to renew it later in another and better life.” He had initially been shot in the knee and was shot again while being carried back.

Before the war, Davidson had been a director at Sirocco and a member of the North Down battalion of the Ulster Volunteers.

(Military Images | Men Behind The Glass)

12 panels in Clanmorris Avenue, Bangor.

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Suíomh Marbhlaınne

2023-02-022026-04-03Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Belfast 1941 Blitz – folcadáın na bhFál, suíomh marbhlaınne [Falls baths, mortuary site]”. For background, see WartimeNI.

Falls Road, west Belfast. Another plaque is on the side of the Woodvale Community Centre.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Clonard Amateur Boxing Club

2023-02-022026-02-05Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Michael Conlan is portrayed on perforated metal (by Graepels Perforators – Construction Ireland) on the refurbished electrical station that is now the new home of Clonard Amateur Boxing Club (Fb). Conlan boxed at the club for about a decade before turning pro (Belfast Live).

Gortfin Street/Beechmount Pass, Beechmount, west Belfast

INLA Roll Of Honour

2023-02-022024-10-19Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Irish National Liberation Army, Belfast Brigade, roll of honour. For national liberation and socialism in Ireland.” With the named of 22 volunteers who died between 1975 and 2021: Ferguson, Loughran, McNamee, Daly, Bunting, Little, Power, McLarnon, Craven, McCann, Power, O’Reilly, Kearney, Gargan, Gallagher, McColgan, Campbell, McWilliams, O’Hara, McMullan, McElkerney, McWilliams.

This is an extension, to the right, of the yellow-backgrounded panels seen in For A Socialist Republic (2021-05), Defund The Police (2022-09), and Bap McGreevy (2022-11).

Falls Road, Belfast.

Titanic Halt

2023-01-292025-07-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The underpass from Ballymacarrett Road to the Titanic Quarter station (formerly Bridge End and renamed in 2012 (BBC)) was remodeled in 2020, with new pavers and the removal of the bollards at the entrance to the underpass, and some new parking bays (ACS). In 2022 the old mural (Transformation, from 2012) was replaced with a gallery of famous faces – actors, musicians, comedians, and singers.