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Wednesday
Apr172013

"Flegs" In East Belfast

On Tuesday flags, or should I say 'flegs', went up in East Belfast.  Not on my street, but within sight of my house.  The flegs commemorate the founding of the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) in 1913 - many of whom went on to die in the Somme.  About sixty years later the UVF name and its symbols were taken over by a group responsible for the death of many hundreds of people during the 'Troubles'. As were several other groups, too.

Some, but not all, of the men putting up the flegs wore masks.  The flegs are unofficial but hundreds of them have gone up. An official parade is taking place next Sunday to commemorate the founding of the origional 1913 UVF and the flegs line the parade route.

On Tuesday, as we drove past, the expressions on the faces of the men putting up the flegs made me pretty uncomfortable, and I thought: 'what is the outcome you most heartily desire? And if you got that, what would you do next? And then what would you do after that?'

My husband feels it is futile and dangerous to talk to anyone about the flegs. I'm not sure.

Oh, my feelings are complicated.

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  • Response
    Response: Rose R. Walters
    Great Post !! Very interesting topic will bookmark your site to check if you write more about in the future

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