Saoradh (web) took over this wall from graffiti artists (see Visual History 11) and painted their largest piece in support of Palestinian rights, compared to e.g. Resistance Is Not Terrorism | Ireland Stands With Palestine, but after nearly five years on the wall it is beginning to peel badly. The now-destroyed placards to the right don’t help either – see Palestinian Solidarity.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03353
The Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival began in 2013 (Rathlin360) and continues this year (2023 programme). The mural dates back to at least 2019.
Ballycastle harbour.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03329
This is an image of McQuillan’s hurling star Eddie Donnelly (Saffron Gael) painted by Irony (ig) in Castle Street, Ballycastle.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03325
Ballycastle harbour is home to the Rathlin Island ferry and a memorial plaque to Marconi for an 1898 transmission between the town and Rathlin, and Morton’s Fresh Fish and Fish ‘n’ Chips. The mural above includes Ballycastle fishermen Sean Morton Snr, Phillip Morton, Jack Coyles, Will Henry, and Jimmy Black.
The mural is by Oliver McParland (web).
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03328
The inspiration for this piece is the Ould Lammas Fair, one of Ireland’s oldest and, some claim, biggest festivals, which is held in Ballycastle on the last Monday and Tuesday of August (Irish Culture & Customs). The piece, by emic (web), is in Castle Street which was perhaps the location of the market within the mediaeval town walls.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03327
Feıs Na nGleann is an annual festival of Irish language, arts, and crafts, begun in Glenariffe in 1904. The website has not been updated since 2019, presumably due to COVID putting a stop to activity.
The “F” makes reference to the local “Irish (Peasant) Home Industries“, while the “E” shows the harebell (bluebell) in flower. The “I” might be St Brigid as an oak or a reference to Princess Taisie/Taobhgheal of Rathlin.
Laura Nelson of Szu Szu Signs (ig).
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03326 T03331
Local storyteller Hugh Dillon in Castle Street, Ballycastle, by JMK (Jonny McKerr). The original photograph, of Dillon in Leyland Road, Ballycastle, in 1956 and is available at Dúchas.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03322
Glentaisie Drive – site of this mural by Friz (web) – is named for Glentaisie, the glen – one of the nine Glens Of Antrim, at the foot of which lies Ballycastle – and Glentaisie is named for Taise Taobhgheal (Taise the bright-cheeked), daughter of King Donn of Rathlin island, renowned for her beauty, and who lived in the glen with her husband Congal, who had to kill the Norwegian king Nabghdon to prevent her being carried off (Archaeology Ireland). Or so they say. She also inspired the name “Fair Head” for the local cliffs. Or so they say.
In later years (1565), Sorley Boy MacDonnell was taken prisoner by the O’Neill’s after a battle in Glentaisie (WP).
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03320 [T03321]
Paddy Duffy Collection 