Ballymena

Mill Street, Ballymena

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These shutters of a solicitor’s office in Mill Street, Ballymena, are painted with a view of the street from around the turn of the (20th) century.

The original photograph, by photographer Robert French, can be seen in the National Library Of Ireland. French died in 1917, which provides an upper limit for the date of the scene.

In the misty distance is the tower of St Patrick’s (CI) church (WP) and closer to the camera (on the right of the left-hand panel) is the steeple on top of the old town hall, which was built in 1684 (one of the old “seven towers” in the town) and rebuilt in 1928 (WP).

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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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1916 Battle Of The Somme

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153 men of the 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (which included men from Ballymena and other Central Antrim Volunteers) died on the first day of the Battle Of The Somme, July 1st, 1916, as they and the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers attempted to take German trenches near Beaucourt railway station (Royal Irish). According to the account of the movements of the 12th Royal Irish Rifles by Des Blackadder on the Great War Forum, “they were cut down like corn before a scythe”. In all, more than 2,000 men from the 36th Division were killed that day (WP).

The new mural in Drumtara, Ballymena, was painted by Craig Gilmore, who also did the recent tribute to Elizabeth II (see The Crown) (Ballymena Guardian article on the mural, also by Blackadder). The cut-outs (in the third image) are on a wall at the bottom of the estate; the machine-gunner is unusual.

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Copyright © 2024/2023 Paddy Duffy
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To Markets New

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The Saturday market in Ballymena goes back to the 1600s but has had troubles recently finding a thriving home (Ballymena Guardian). The recent streetart by Friz (ig) and NRMN (ig) in Greenvale Street is intended to be a reference to the ancient market and is (probably) inspired by James Guthrie’s 1883 painting, ‘To Pastures New’, showing a girl herding geese in Lincolnshire.

Funded by the Department For Communities, Department For Agriculture, Environment, And Rural Affairs, and the Department For Infrastructure, with support from the Mid- & East-Antrim Borough Council.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Beacon Of Hope

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This is the mental health mural painted by artist Carly Wright (web) and Sam McAleese (of Coven Tattoo) on the outside of Ballykeel 1 (Ballymena Guardian), below a 4th battalion South East Antrim UDA board with the emblem of the 1893 Ulster Defence Union (seen in mural size in Carrickfergus). (For the previous “UDA” version see M05983.)

Wright and McAleese later did a piece in Belfast for HTN2023.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Day Of The Dahlias

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English artist Sophie Mess (ig) says that this variety of dahlia “represent[s] wealth, change and creativity, a fitting symbol for the [Ballymena] area’s history: rich farmland and mineral deposits meant the town was turned into a prosperous market town” (press-release from Mid- And East-Antrim council, which sponsored the work). Purple dahlias are also said to symbolise “grace, beauty, dignity, kindness” (Saffron Marigold) or royalty (Bouq’s). So, whatever you want, really.

Mess also painted flowers in Belfast for HTN 2022.

Wellington Court, Ballymena.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Unrecognisable Britishness

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Billy Wright broke with the UVF over the ceasefire in 1994 and after being expelled (and the Mid-Ulster brigade disbanded) in the summer of 1996, formed the LVF (WP). The tarp shown above, however, is in the UVF Ballykeel area of Ballymena, which has come around to his anti-Agreement way of thinking in the current anti-Protocol environment. There is video of the speeches from which these paragraphs come; the first paragraphs can be seen in this AP report; the third paragraph (from a speech on Xitter) is followed by the claim that “democracy has been stood on its head”.

“”I am living through the death of our nation, the destruction of our way of life. I am sick of ambiguity, I am sick of the government’s lies and deceit. I will not become part of a process that is designed to ease our people into a United Ireland. They shall demand concession after concession, their small inches will soon turn to yards, then yards to miles and finally they shall have their way, your Britishness shall become unrecognisable.” – No Irish Sea border – Maintain the Union – Defending our heritage and culture.”

On top of a Covid-era “NHS thank you” board on Crebilly Road, Ballymena, next to Somme, King Billy, and VE Day pieces.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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The Crown

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Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96 and after 70 years as monarch of the UK. She was succeeded by Charles III.

“1926-2022 ERII. “Thank you” from the residents of Ballee [Ballymena]”.

The mural is by Craig “Chilli” Gilmore on Ballee Way, above UDR Checkpoint and The Lion Wears The Crown. The in-progress shot is from April.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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