So the (not so) big parade in Belfast commemorating the foundation of the original Ulster Volunteer Force or UVF, the historic terrorist arm of the British Unionist minority in Ireland at the start of the 20th century, has passed off with minimal trouble. Well minimal if you exclude the several incidences of members of the national and international media being shoved into side streets or back into their vehicles by steroid-pumped “stewards”. At a later rally in Craigavon speeches were made, flags were flown, but what exactly was said and what exactly was displayed is under wraps. No journalists were around to witness events. All in all, a good day out for Ireland’s very own version of the “Golden Dawn”.
AN SIONNACH FIONN 
Wouldnt be surprised if a smartphone video of the events makes it on to Youtube.
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Most of them have probably just heard this bit of history and trying to make some claim of tradition
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One is waiting but nothing has emerged so far. That is some tight security for a “community event”… 😉
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Ever wonder why so many sectarian murders went unsolved.
Probably because in a number of cases those who carried out such murders weren’t resident in Northern Ireland.
I’m thinking of people like William (Bill) Campbell who arrived by plane at Aldergrove Airport every Friday night from Glasgow.
Bill ex British Army now deceased was a convicted UVF member.
Bill spent the entire early 1970s traveling back and forth every weekend.
I doubt he was there for a few beers and a sing song.
Nobody would ever know anything about him until he was convicted of blowing up pubs.
He was buried in East Belfast with full UVF honours.
He didn’t get that being a good bass drummer.
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Indeed, a good point which others have wondered about. More on Bill Campbell here.
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Were there many unionist pols at this Seamas? Whilst the march and commemoration were pretty laughable (it’s called talking out both sides of your mouth lads about democracy and paramilitarism) what I would note is that so few turned up to it compared to what might have been expected say 10 years ago. The #flegs disaster, Kaflik outreach etc. political unionism is a busted flush, though I wonder if we are much better at the moment.
Also, if you don’t mind (if you do just edit and delete of course) but I have a guest blogger, Cleenish, discussing how Northern Nationalism really needs to get its house in order regarding cross border thinking and trying to make the border melt away. http://wp.me/p1eiVW-mk
As always, all comments are welcome. Thanks, FC.
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One understands that a number of DUP and UUP party members attended in a “private capacity” but no major names have emerged so far. The content of the speeches remain under wraps thanks to the media exclusion zone thrown up around the gathering in Craigavon. St. Patrick’s Day or the Fourth of July it wasn’t.
These cuddle-some granddads were in attendance though.
Thanks for the link, will have a read. Looks interesting.
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I don’t think it’s so much that political Unionism is a busted flush (surely Sinn Fein are now virtually proto-Unionist) : the relatively small attendance at the weekend parade is more a reflection of the fact that the vast majority of the Unionist community regard the U.V.F. as a bunch of murdering, criminal thugs and wouldn’t be seen dead (if that’s the right expression) at such an event. Most Unionist politicians know this and accordingly wouldn’t attend, especially if they want to win back the East Belfast Westminister seat from Alliance. It must have been bad enough for the middle class burghers of the Belmont Road to have to put up with a lot of guys with shaven heads and tattoos putting up U.V.F. flags on their lamp posts.
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I disagree about the characterisation of Sinn Féin as “virtually proto-Unionist” though as a Republican I’m less than impressed by their efforts to govern effectively in the north-east of the country while also failing to pursue a pro-active All-Ireland agenda. Its almost as if they are in a waiting game. They have no real intent to make the regional government in the North a success until they hold the reins of power firmly in their hands from the position of First Minister. And will not drive the end of partition until they are in a position to do so from the FM’s office (so as not to frighten/scare Unionist “colleagues” in the here-and-now).
I certainly agree that some members of the British Unionist minority in the north-east of Ireland have little regard for the UVF – in any incarnation.
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Contrary to your comments I attended the parade and journalist Wer moved by psnira not by our stewards and as for comments about the parade we don’t name kids parks after people who blew themselves up trying to plant bombs planned to kill innocent soldiers and policemen
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Hi Geoff. One can only go by the media reports and the journalists concerned were quite clear that they were forced away by parade stewards. The reference to the naming of Raymond McCreesh Park and the objection of Unionists to this decision is something I have some sympathy with. On the balance of things it was probably wrong to do so at this time and insensitive to the British Unionist minority community in the north-east of the country. Volunteer McCreesh actually died on hunger strike.
“Innocent” soldiers?
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