Extramural Activity

Coınnıgh Saor!

2026-08-232026-09-01Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Dual-language (Irish and English) traffic signs and road-markings have been mounted/painted on the Falls Road in the Gaeltacht Quarter (specifically, between Springfield Road and Whiterock Road) by the Department Of Infrastructure/An Roinn Bonneagaır.

Shown in this entry are signs and markings reading, “Tacsaıthe atá ceadaıthe,” “Lána bus”, “Glanbhealach uırbeach, Luan go hAoıne [agus] ın am ar bıth ar an chosán”, “Deıreadh an lána bhus”, “Coınnıgh saor”, “Ceamaraí lána bus”.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Community, Culture, Heritage

2026-08-212026-08-25Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This new “welcome to Boyne Square” sign was mounted in late June in preparation for this year’s Twelfth.

The dates in Roman numerals in the corners are (top) 1688-1690 and (bottom) 1914-1918. The emblems in the background are of (l-r) Clyde Valley flute band (Fb), Rangers Supporters’ Club – Larne (Fb), ABOD Walker Club Larne Branch (Fb), Boyne Defenders LOL 1297 (Fb), George A Dummigan accordion band, Constable Anderson Memorial flute band (Fb), Larne & District Great War Society (Fb), Boyne Square Bonfire Society (Fb).

Herbert Avenue, Boyne Square/Factory, Larne

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Relax The Tax

2026-08-202026-09-04Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Not until the last pint of beer has been poured, and the last plate of food has been cooked, will the government realise we can’t eat VAT! It’s time to relax the tax on food. (paraphrased from Cree wisdom …)”

This statement is on the side wall of the Ginger Bistro. VAT on restaurant food was temporarily reduced to 5% during COVID, and this summer the same rate was used for children’s meals, but as of today are now back at the standard rate of 20%. Four famous chefs have called for the tax on restaurant food to be reduced to 10% (BBC | This Is Money).

Hope Street, Belfast, replacing the quote about creativity seen in A Bigger Picture.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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In Scrabo’s Fields

2026-08-182026-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The rocks in Westwinds estate have been repainted. The poppy in the foreground was previously a YCV emblem (as seen in 2018). In the distance, Scrabo Tower overlooks the estate.

Blenheim Drive, Westwinds, Newtownards

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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William And Mary

2026-08-182026-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“King William III, King of England, Scotland and Ireland 1689-1702. ‘Prince of Orange’. “The enemy made some resistance but at length gave way, and we routed them entirely.” King William III, writing to Queen Mary after the battle of the Boyne: 1st July 1690″.

This gable-sized board – launched on July 10th, 2026 – replaces the UVF “Armed And Ready” centenary mural in the Westwinds estate.

The “parchment” in the lower-left corner describes the crisis in Protestantism caused by James II’s (conversion to Catholicism and) second marriage and birth of a son, thereby threatening to establish a Catholic line of monarchs.

It then includes some of the letter from the Immortal Seven inviting William, who was already married to James’s (Protestant) daughter (and presumptive heir) Mary, to take over. As the dates-of-death on the board make clear, Mary died young, at age 32, of smallpox (WP), leaving William to rule alone for another eight years.

Blenheim Drive, Westwinds, Newtownards

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Outside The Longfellow

2026-08-162026-08-19Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This entry updates An Architect Of Peace, which includes an image (partially obscured by bins) on a small UVF flute band board comprising three photographs of the band over the years. The second image was of the band parading past the Ormeau Road branch of Sean Graham’s bookies, where five people were killed by the UDA in 1992 (WP). Family-members of the victims objected to the display of the image (Crime World) and the photograph was replaced with the one shown above, of the band outside the Longfellow bar.

The final two images show a small vertical banner outside the Longfellow Bar in tribute to Alan “Alio” McKenzie, a barman who died in 2013, one of twenty or more people who died from taking an unregulated drug (BBC | RTÉ); the lounge of the pub is named in his honour.

The Park Of The Dead

2026-08-162026-09-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“The Park” is the name of the new beer garden/courtyard at the Hatfield on Ormeau Road in south Belfast. “Mex” (web) is a brand of flavoured tequila-based cream liqueurs, which had its Belfast launch in Thompson’s last week (Aug 8th) (ig). Mex’s symbol is the skull-painted face worn for the Day Of The Dead, on November 1st/2nd – see La Calavera Catrina.

Fight Racism, Not Races

2026-08-092026-09-18Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The chalk grid-lines are still visible but work appears to have ceased on the latest Kneecap-sponsored mural in Hawthorn Street (though an apostrophe was later added – see SMC). It joins the four that have been added to the facing walls, one in each of the last four years and all at the time of Féıle (see T07533 and T00841). The new addition likewise accompanied this year’s performance, at the Uppa Falls concert in the Falls Park on Thursday (August 6th) (BBC).

For the Gibraltar 3 board, see T00840; for the plaque see the Peter Moloney Collection.

Hawthorn Street, west Belfast

Paddy Duffy Collection

Murals From Belfast (And Round-About)

Author: Extramural Activity