Is Loyalist Radio good for Ulster?

 

The airs that played could be at home in a pub in Dublin, a dance hall in Glasgow, a front room on the Shankill Road or at a festival in New York. Their toe tapping and embracing folk style makes Irish music a favourite all over the globe. The lyrics given to these melodic airs however, are worlds apart, create divisions and have consequences.

‘The Scum in Green will be killed by the UDA. Give my guns to my sons when I am dead.’

Matthew Milliken from the Ulster University wrote on the RTE website,

‘In many divided societies, identities are self-evident (language, skin colour), but the tell-tale reference points that would instantly reveal the crossover teacher in Northern Ireland as an outsider are largely absent. English is generally spoken as a first language by both communities and there are no distinguishing racial characteristics by which Catholics and Protestants can be identified. 

Family names and first names can provide a widely understood tell – those whose name has an Irish origin are presumed to be Catholic whilst those who bear a British name are expected to be Protestants.  Generations of inter-marriage and "faith-fluidity" (the 21st century equivalence of taking the soup) mean that a surname may be a potentially misleading clue to identity. Accuracy increases when both first names and surnames are available.’ 

A Belfast based online radio station in 2021 is perpetuating that sectarian divide between Loyalism and Republicanism and reinforcing the Loyalist’s belief that the opposite side of their community is primed to attack and wipe out them and their traditions. It is reinforcing a stereotype that influences a younger generation through, word, music and radio.

 

‘UlsterScot FM’ is based in Belfast online radio station that is easily accessed through online streams including the Tune-In app. There are no restrictions on who can listen or on content being age appropriate. The songs played are a mixture of celebration and commemoration of Loyalist heroes and atrocities. They celebrate the romantism of proscribed organisations like the UDA and the UVF and they propagate the stereotype of the ‘Fenian Taigs’ being their enemy. Their tagline is,

UlsterScot FM: The home of loyalist music and banter, Accept no substitutes!

 A look at their output on Friday 19^th February 2021 from 3.45pm – 4.30pm was as follows,

Ballad of Noel Kinner (Imprisoned for the murder by the UDA of Brendan McLaughlin in 1980, Died of a heart attack November 4^th 1996)

On Our Way to Ibrox

The Men of the UDA

(Lyrics included The Scum in Green will be killed by the UDA. Give my guns to my sons when I am dead)

Flute and Drum Tunes including Nearer my God to Thee.

The Protestant Boys (Celebrating July 12^th & The Loyalist Irish brigade. Sung to the tune of  "Lillibullero", a march composed by Henry Purcell that became popular in England at the time of the Glorious Revolution in the 17^th Century.)

A Village in County Armagh (Sung by a Scottish Artist) (Lyrics include ‘The Protestant Cause must never be lost) This song is about a young Ulster soldier.

We Will Follow Glasgow Rangers (Lyrics include ‘If they go to Dublin we will follow on’.)

The Lassie of Kelvin Hall (Loyalist folk song) also found on Christy Moore’s website

Pipe and Drums Marching Tunes

No Pope of Rome (sung to the tune of Where the Buffalo Roams) ‘No Pope of Rome, no nuns, no priests and no rosary beads’, ’Every day is the 12^{th of} July’.

We’ll Keep the Blue Flag Flying High (The Parkhead Boys haven’t a clue) to the tune of Oh Camembert.

When You wear the Red and Brown. (The Red Hand Soldier, we’ll take on Gerry Adams,)

UDA UDA All the Way (Marching the Streets on the 12^{th of} July)

 

On numerous nights the station broadcasts its loyalist, and sometimes sectarian brand of entertainment, live on through their Tune-In app and on Facebook Live. On Friday February 19^th the live presenter was DJ Debz (Debbie Smith) who was on air from 8pm to Midnight. On other nights Shirley Lindsay and BrucieBoy were the presenters. The presenters rarely spoke on air but were available to take requests from those interacting on Facebook either through the chat facility or in a private chat room. For the first thirty minutes of DJ Debz show on the 19^th the music tracks were,

Pipe & Drums

Jingle

The Red White & Blue (‘A UVF soldier bold and true’, ‘We have been silent for too long’) Sung to the tune of You are My Hero.

On the Shankill Road

Our Love for The Red White and Blue (‘You’ll never rule over Ulster’)

The People’s Army, The Ulster Volunteers (The 36^th Division and the Liverpool Volunteers)

Jingle

Come Over to Ulster

The UDR 4 (The UDR Four were four members of the 2nd Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment who were convicted of the murder of Adrian Carroll in 1983. Adrian Carroll was the brother of the Sinn Féin councillor Tommy Carroll. Three of the Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers were acquitted on appeal in 1992.^[1][2] However a fourth, Neil Latimer, had his conviction upheld and served 14 years in prison before being released under the Good Friday Agreement.)

No 1 Platoon of UVF (Lyrics include ‘With a gun in my hand I will fight for my land’.)

Side by Side with Scotland

The Men Behind the Wire (The Loyalist version of The Men Behind the Wire dates from the early 1970s, probably 1972. Its writers are unknown and several Loyalist groups and musicians have performed the song. Like the Republican version it emulates, The Men Behind the Wire is a protest against internment and imprisonment of paramilitary volunteers. Its lyrics are laden with symbolism, mentioning the “Red Hand”, the “Crown” and the “old Red White and Blue”. It also pays tribute to “loyal sons” and their “love for dear old Ulster”. Alphahistory.com)

Jingle

The popularity of the shows on Facebook is evident from the numbers averaging 2,226 per live show. The views on Facebook Live were

DJ Debz February 19^th                        1,800 views                 1,200 comments

DJ Shirley February 18^th                    1,100 views                 781 comments

DJ BrucieBoy February 17^th             2,200 views                 689 comments

DJ Debz February 15^th                        2,600 views                 994 comments

DJ Shirley February 13^th                    3,100 views                 1,500 comments

DJ Debz February 12^th                        2,800 views                 1,800 comments

 

The Radio App was developed by Nobex Partners who describe themselves as the complete digital solution for radio stations and podcasters.

‘We make it easy for you to create your own custom, feature-rich mobile app and provide the most powerful Dashboard to help you engage and grow your listenership.’

According to the data statistics website 42matters.com, UlsterScot FM has over one thousand app downloads alone apart from their availability on Tune-In.

 

The content is sectarian but it is in tradition of the loyalist culture. It is however important that the Loyalist culture should have an outlet whether it’s through social media or broadcast. The Catholic/Nationalist community in Belfast can tune into Radio Failte. The Falls Road located station was originally a pirate radio station before receiving a license from Ofcom, the British regulator. As a licensed station, the content it broadcasts is subject rules and codes of practice. The similar rules do not apply currently to broadcasters online.

 

The support of and the playing of tunes littered with foul language in support of Glasgow Rangers matches the sectarian bigotry of their rivalry with Glasgow Celtic, seen as the Catholic half of the rivalry. Many of the tunes are generically Irish, while other tunes are plagurised from other artists with the words substituted, known in the business as ‘Contrafactum’. Even though it was voted was the World’s Favourite song in a Global BBC poll, the Wolf Tones version of ‘A Nation Once Again’ rarely receives radio airplay due to its overly sectarian connotation, even though it was not written for that purpose. The song though is sung with gusto at events including weddings and funerals yet many who sing it do not know or even fully understand why it is so controversial or why it is offensive to a different community. For some it is just a really fine example of an Irish song.

 

Many of the songs that are aired on stations like UlsterScot FM reinforce the anti-Catholic sentiment that manifested itself throughout over a century of Belfast history. The Falls Road and the Shankill Roads are separated by a wall imposed to protect lives and property and the Protestants and Catholics on either side are living in enclaves with both sides having experienced forms of ethnic cleansing in the early part of the Troubles in the late sixties and early seventies. It is a form of brainwashing to perpetuate the hatred and the divisions that have existed in Northern Ireland even after the Good Friday Agreement that brought an end to the Troubles.

 

The issue that UlsterScot broadcasts sectarian inspired content contravenes the terms of service of Tune-In.

Terms of Service

Acceptable Uses and Objectionable Content. We want Users to have an enjoyable experience when they use the Service. To facilitate that, we have adopted an Acceptable Use Policy, which is hereby incorporated by reference into this EULA. You are required to comply with the Acceptable Use Policy when Posting any User Content to the Service. The Posting of any Objectionable Content, as defined in the Acceptable Use Policy, may subject you to third party claims and none of the rights granted to you in this EULA may be raised as a defence against any third party claims arising from your Posting of Objectionable Content. If you encounter any Objectionable Content on the Service, then please immediately email TuneIn at support@tunein.com. 

Tune In acceptable policy states,

‘Treat fellow members of the community with respect. Act in good faith and assume others are acting in good faith as well. Treat others the way you would like to be treated.

We do not permit objectionable content on the Service, which is content that is or could be interpreted to be (i) abusive, bullying, defamatory, harassing, harmful, hateful, inaccurate, infringing, libellous, objectionable, obscene, offensive, pornographic, shocking, threatening, unlawful, violent, vulgar, or in violation of any applicable laws (including laws related to speech); or (ii) promoting any product, good, or service, or bigotry, discrimination, hatred, intolerance, racism, or inciting violence (including suicide) (collectively, “Objectionable Content“)’.

 

According to the Irish Times in December 2020 the Irish Government intends to tackle content such as that broadcast on UlsterScot FM although it will be difficult to police online.

‘The sharing of hate speech on social media is to become a criminal offence under Government proposals to combat racism and bigotry. This will mean that the sharing or retweeting of hateful speech on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter will be a crime, even if the person sharing it was not the author. Under the Government plan, to be published on Thursday by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, there will be protections for social-media companies from prosecution. For example, it will be a defence for a company to show it had existing measures in place to prevent hate speech and was complying with these.’

 

The large social media companies have come under sustained pressure especially in the wake of the 2020 US presidential Election to be more proactive in identifying and blocking hate speech online but this must also apply to so called radio services masquerading as entertainment when in fact they material broadcast is inflammatory and insensitive. The adage that ‘if you don’t like it you don’t have to listen’ rings hollow when in fact the issue is the indoctrination of a younger generation into believing that the opposite side of a divide is the enemy that must be challenged.

 

This is not the first time that stations like this have faced criticism. In an Irish Examiner article in 2005, detailing the story of Loyalist FM (https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30217677.html).

“Internet authorities tonight pledged to probe any fears about an online radio station allegedly glorifying loyalist terrorists. SDLP Assembly member John Dallat has demanded the shutdown of a website he believes is trying to recruit teenage paramilitaries. The East Londonderry MLA has also urged Chief Constable Hugh Orde to move against Loyalist FM.

The site claims to be promoting loyalist culture by playing music and providing entertainment for the 1,080 registered users. But its online jukebox contains songs where a father implores his sons to take his gun and fight as Ulster Defence Association men, and another portraying a 16-year-old taking up a rifle on behalf of the YCV – the Ulster Volunteer Force’s youth wing. Mr Dallat said: “Given the countless massacres that loyalist paramilitaries have been involved in, this is obviously just about incitement to hatred and lawlessness. “I have written to the chief constable, drawing his attention to it and suggesting it was a recruiting agent for the worst kind of paramilitaries.”

 

Loyalist FM’s playlist is still available on SoundCloud with versions of the ‘Deck of Cards’ lauding the exploits of the UVF, ‘Craigavon Protestant Boys’ and ‘I Am Northern Ireland’.[1] They even produced an album featuring the seventeen most requested tracks played on the station.

According to the widely respected Cain Website the importance of the online station’s activities in promoting the loyalist band traditions,

‘The role of the online radio station Loyalist FM, in organising events, sponsoring bands and hosting band websites in 2004 and 2005 provides evidence that online activity has become woven in with the loyalist band scene as a significant new form of alternative media.’

However even within Loyalism, the station was controversial and is yet another indication that online radio stations should be, if not licensed, then registered, In May 2005, The Sunday Life Newspaper reported,

‘Loyalists have fallen out over business dealings at an online radio station, it has been revealed.

A new management team has taken over Loyalist FM after it was discovered a former member had been taking bookings for gigs without telling anyone. The internet station which plays "the best in loyalist cultural music" can be booked for private functions at lodges, clubs and band halls. A new website ‘loyalistfm.net’ was created last month and new managers posted a statement online distancing themselves from the former organisers. The statement reads: "Since the new management team have taken over the running of Loyalist FM, it has become increasingly apparent that there was a lot of business being done by one member of the management of ‘loyalistfm.co.uk’ which no one else was told about. "We would like to make it clear that we are in no way related to the work of the previous management.

 

It appears that (the former member) a lot of bookings and did a lot of business under the Loyalist FM name without telling anyone else. "This has left us in the dark about most bookings for Loyalist FM. "If you have booked Loyalist FM through (the former member) and would like the new team to carry out the booking, please contact lexi@loyalistfm.net". He added: "We cannot guarantee that we will be able to attend your event, but we will make every effort to help you." A spokesman for the station was reluctant to discuss recent developments. He said: "It was an internal issue that's been resolved and the people involved have now left" Loyalist FM DJ’s are in high demand, according to the website, playing functions across the province and further afield.’[2]

 

Other online stations have come and gone including ‘LoyalistShankillFM’ whose online profile said it ‘is a loyalist radio station formed 2014 to bring you the best possible loyalist music that we can and to keep our culture alive.’

 Another station was Shankill Radio which says that it ‘is a community based radio station which delivers two FM broadcasts a year one in July and the other at Christmas Shankill Radio also have internet broadcast in between their FM broadcasts. All the people at Shankill Radio are volunteers and give up their free time to help keep the radio running. Shankill Radio is a charity based organisation which is in constant need of funding. I have listened to Shankill Radio myself and have found if very enjoyable and the DJ's and staff of Shankill Radio are very friendly. 

 

The Ulster -Scot connection was reinforced for a time by a Scottish based Loyalist/Orange Order online station based in Scotland known as Radio 221 /Radio Calton[3]. According to their website,

‘Only songs portraying our Protestant, Orange and Loyalist culture will be played! Some songs may be construed as offensive and unfortunately the listener cannot choose which songs they want played’.

In his book ‘Unionists, Loyalists and Conflict Transformation in Northern Ireland’ by Lee A. Smithey, he wrote,

‘Websites such as PULSE, formerly Calton Radio, based in Glasgow, exemplify the revanchist quarters of loyalism where zero-sum mentalities are perpetuated. PULSE caters to bands, paramilitaries and their supporters, hosts online discussions, publishes newsletters and streams a radio broadcast of loyalist and Orange tunes. The materials available on the web typify the defensive and studiously anti-Republican views of working class Protestants who feel ‘under siege’ and question whether the war is truly over. Paramilitaries figure prominently in the music that the site broadcasts.’

 

The Ulster Loyalist tradition of following Glasgow Rangers is an extension of the sectarianism of Belfast onto the sporting fields of Glasgow as Rangers seen traditionally as the Protestant team facing down their rivals annually, the Catholic based Glasgow Celtic. The song ‘The Fields of Athenry’ written in 1979 by Pete St John is a traditional favourite at sporting fixtures in both rugby and soccer and has a communal feel to it as most people at least known the chorus but when listening to ‘True Blue Loyalist Radio’ with their tagline ‘We are the People (WATP)’, the words had been adapted to the tune, the chorus now boasting,

‘Remember, our fathers brave and bold, As they fought for Ulster's cause in far off lands’

Almost every tune played each night 8-11pm (except Tuesdays) referenced the connection between Scotland and Ulster and Orangeism and loyalism. They too promote and reinforce the sense of isolation for their culture and a sense of its their backs to the wall, they must stick together and they idolise acts of violence and hero worship Ulster protestants who fought in World War One with scant reference to any Ulsterman who may have lost their lives in any other war. The music is well produced and has a certain appeal, one song about a song remembering his father who died in the fields of celebration during the 12^th of July parade was particularly good.

During the Covid19 pandemic, when July 12^th festivities including parades were banned in Northern Ireland, the Orange Order developed a pop up radio station to keep their brethren informed and entertained. According to The Journal.ie in July 2020,

‘At the centre of the celebrations will be ‘Radio Boyne’ – a pop-up radio station that will begin broadcasting on 10 July. With music, chat and a thought-for-the-day section, the Grand Orange Lodge is hoping that people tune into shows such as the ‘Twelfth Request Sunday Show’ and ‘Auld Orange Ballads’. 

 

The freedom of speech should not be impugned but the content of some of these online radio stations should be monitored. It is important that traditions of culture and history are respected and embraced but to prolong and encourage sectarian bias and a belief that violence against another community can be legitimatised, is unacceptable. It should not be tolerated online on social media or broadcast either via analogue transmissions (pirate radio) or online radio stations. Some of the music is very engaging and enlightening and it is important to respect the music that Loyalists generations have enjoyed in the past. It assists in healing if we can understand opposing views. Words and music matter. Radio can be a healer or it can continue division. Radio can work.

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[1] https://soundcloud.com/loyalist-fm

[2] Journalist Sinead McCavanna

[3] Began broadcasting in March 2007 later to rebranded as PULSE, Protestant Unionist Loyalist Social Education