2012 is a busy year – Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee, the centenary of the Ulster covenant, and recent (2011-2012) home and away strips for Glentoran and new home and away strips for Ulster rugby in 2012-2013.
Newtownards Road, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
Carson at the corner of Welland Street and the Newtownards Road, below a banner for the East Belfast Protestant Boys (Fb).
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
Gertrude Star flute band was formed in 1961 and a new mural has been painted to mark the occasion, with Ulster Banners and Union Flags flanking the UK coat of arms – “Dieu et mon droit”, “Honi soit qui mal y pense”.
The following areas are listed: (left) Gertrude St, Clarawood, Templemore Ave, Woodstrock Road, Albertbridge Rd, south Belfast, Scotland, Antrim, Glengormley, Carrickfergus, Braniel; (right) Dee Street, Newtownards Rd, Cregagh Rd, Castlereagh Rd, Holywood, Ballybeen, Tullycarnet, Shankill Rd, north Down, Bangor.
Martin St, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
Updated mural in Martin Street, Belfast, for the 50th anniversary (1961-2011) of Gertrude Star flute band (Fb). The other side of the street was also repainted.
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
No re-imaging here – a new UVF hooded gunman takes over from the previous pair.
Carrington Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
This is the arch in My Lady’s Road, with Orange Order symbols (crown, ladder, star) surrounding a painting of King Billy and two small banners of Queen Elizabeth and the 36th Division going over the top, from the East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society and the Lagan Village Cultural Society.
Seen previously in 2010.
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
These stencilled notices are on the outside of the Belvoir Bar in east Belfast: “Property of east Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force – Not for sale” alongside a plaque to “fallen comrades” Robert Bennett, Roy Walker, Joseph Long, James Cordner, and Robert Seymour. It seems that the bar has been shuttered since 2011 (Belfast Telegraph).
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
“We will not have Home Rule.” This mural is dedicated to the men and women of Willowfield. In 1912 the 3rd bill was introduced and passed by parliament and although defeated 3 times by the House of Lords it was sent for Royal assent. On 9th April 1912 over 200,000 unionists attended a rally at Balmoral including the Orange Order and Unionist Clubs which had marched from the city center. Here they were addressed by among others, Sir Edward Carson, leader of the Irish Unionist Party. On 28th September 1912 nearly 500,000 men and women signed the Ulster Covenant. Factories and the Shipyard in Belfast were idle and silent, allowing their workers the opportunity to attend church and then to congregate at the City Hall. 3,242 men and women from Willowfield signed the Covenant, some in their own blood. They then formed into the 2nd Willowfield Battalion of the East Belfast Regiment U.V.F. commanded by Dr. William Gibson. They drilled and trained in the Willowfield Unionist Club that was situated about half a mile from this spot. With the onset of WW1 in 1914, these same volunteers stood to the fore to defend the Empire as the 8th Battalion [East Belfast] in the 36th Ulster Division. Many did not return, but their bravery and honour will forever be remembered.
“They went with songs to the battle, they were young/Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow./ They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted/They fell with their faces to the foe./They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;/Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn./At the going down of the sun and in the morning,/We will remember them.”
Carlingford Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
A fourth plaque (shown above) has been added to the UDA memorial in Kenbaan Street, Belfast. The first three, along with the murals to either side, were seen previously, in 2006.
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
This is a repainted version of the mural seen previously in 2006 – the main elements remain the same but a few Ulster Volunteers/36th (Ulster) Brigade elements have been added (as distinct from the UVF), the quote on the right has changed, and there is a dedication.
The quote is from “Sir Edward Carson, 1912” (probably 1920, 12th of July – Treason Felony | RTÉ): “We in Ulster will tolerate no Sinn Féin but we tell you this – that if, having offered you our help, you are yourselves unable to protect us from the machinations of Sinn Féin, and you won’t take our help, we will take the matter into our own hands.”
The Gareth Keys commemorated here is perhaps the same Gareth Keys who painted the yellow UVF mural in Donegall Pass, and whose death is described in this BelTel article.
Castlereagh Road, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
peter moloney collection 