Milltown Arch

This is the arch in Milltown Street, Dungannon. The panels show (left) William, Prince Of Orange and (right) the B-Special and UDR on either side of an Ulster Banner in the shape of Northern Ireland, and, (left) Milltown Arch Committee, Dungannon, and (right) the surnames of the thirteen apprentice boys who shut the gates of Derry against the forces of James II in 1688.

M08412 [M08413] [M08414] M08415 [M08416] [M08417]

Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney

Ballee Blues And Royals Flute Band

“Ballee Blues And Royals Flute Band, est. 1987” with a list of the Apprentice Boys (on the left) and (on the right) seven streets in the area (Drumtara, Lettercreeve, Kincora, Shanowen, Shancoole, Shanlieve, Lanntara) and the six counties of Northern Ireland. The emblem in the centre is the arm badge of the Blues & Royals (the British Army regiment), featuring the (French) Waterloo Eagle – here carrying a flute. The band does not appear to have persisted past 2012 has since changed its name – see comment below. Drumtara, Ballymena.

M03577

Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney

Vita, Veritas, Victa

South Belfast MP Robert Bradford was assassinated by the Provisional IRA in Finaghy at a meeting with constituents; the caretaker of the community centre, Ken Campbell, was also killed by the fleeing attackers. In late 1981, with the hunger strikes having ended only a month before, the killing was noted around the world and raised fears of broad civil unrest (BBC | NYTimes).

“Vita, veritas, Victoria” [life, truth, victory] is the motto of Londonderry. Here we have “vita, veritas, victa” [life, truth, conquered; perhaps the intended meaning was “conquering” rather than the passive]. The crest is also not quite the crest of the Apprentice Boys, with a ship in the bottom right rather than a skeleton. Get in touch if you can resolve either discrepancy.

M01525

Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney

The Brave Thirteen

A small board and two murals in the Fountain, London-Derry. The board has the city of Derry crest on it surrounded by Ulster banner, Union jack, St Andrew’s Saltire, and Apprentice Boys flag; the first mural lists the names of the thirteen apprentice boys; the second is a William King Memorial flute band “founded 1973”, again with the crest of the city.

M01289 M01288 M01287 M01286

Copyright © 1996 Peter Moloney

Vita, Veritas, Victoria

m00937

Three loyalist emblems in a row in Bond’s Place, London-/Derry. first, the crest of the city of Londonderry – “Vita, Veritas, Victoria”. Second, the insignia of four loyalist groups (UFF, UDA, LPA, UDF) in the quarters of an Ulster Banner shield. (See Sans Peur Fountain, Sans Peur Percy Street.) Third, the insignia of the UDA, present in 1985 along with a King William.

M00937

Copyright © 1990 Peter Moloney

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

m00816

The Siege and Relief of Derry are portrayed in two panels painted by J[?] Thompson, and the names of the thirteen Apprentice boys who closed the gates to the city are given in the middle: Campsie, Crookshanks, Morison, Steward, Irwin, Sherrard, Harvy, Cairns, Sherrard, Cunningham, Conninghman, Hunt, Spike. To the left and right are shields of brethren around the world: England, America, Australia, Quebec, and Éire. Sandy Row, Belfast

M00816

Copyright © 1990 Peter Moloney