“Pro tanto quid retribuamus?” – What shall we give in return for so much? – is the motto of Belfast. These instances are in Castle Street and in Fountain Place, which is “out the back of Boots” – generations of Belfasters (since 1975 – Belfast Live) have used Boots to move between Donegall Place and the Fountain area (or fountains (plural) – see Fountain Street Spirits).
(See previously: Pro Tanto on a mural of HMS Belfast | Pro Tanto on Clifton St Orange Hall.)
Warp, weave, scutch and hackle are actions in the processing of flax fibre (Ulster Linen).
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024/2023 Paddy Duffy
T03963 T03964 T03965 T03966 T03970 T02534 T02537 T02536 T02538 T02535
Jack Nicholson and Noel Gallagher have disappeared from Glen Molloy’s (ig) Corporation Street gallery, replaced by Amy Winehouse (above), who died in 2011 (Guardian), and Terry Hall (below) of The Specials and Fun Boy Three, who died in December 2022 (BBC).
For Nicholson, see God Of Madness; for Gallagher and others, see Runner & Hunter On The Wild Frontier.
Update 2024-03: Carrie Fisher, in Princess Leia guise, is being added – see final images.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T03894 T03895 T03896
T04098 T04099
There are now nine planters and ten bird boxes, with a backdrop of tropical plants and birds, at the junction of Downshire Place and Great Victoria Street (Linen Quarter BID).
Part of the ‘Great Expectations’ revitalisation of the area, including Linenopolis and the tribute to Terri Hooley and Good Vibrations.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03868 T03869 [T03867]
Here are images of the ever-growing – so far a dozen strong – band of musicians by Ciaran Gallagher (ig) in the courtyard of the Dark Horse.
Above the doorway are the Rapparees (ig), who play in the Duke Of York on Sundays.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03767 T03766 T03768 T03765 T03772 [T03197] T03769
T03198 T03199
Nilüfer At cello, Juram dobro, Ursula Burns harp, fiddle, Nicky Larkin accordion
guitar, Ray bodhrán, tin whistle, mandolin, Buzz uileann pipes, singer
piano, maracas, bazouki, ukulele, tin whistle, bongo
If you act the bollix at the Dark Horse or Duke Of York, one of the bouncers in black might let you know that you have to go. No one is exceptional – above (and on the far right of the piece as a whole), owner Willie Jack (and his MBE medal – Independent) are sent flying. The large piece showing actual bouncers (Belfast Live) is by Ciaran Gallagher (web), adding to his many installations in the courtyard of the Dark Horse – see The Undertones for links.
Below are three humorous signs for the crapper/toilets/bogs – for when you have to go.
For the musicians, see The Musicians.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03771c T03770
T03200 T03201 T03202
Here are the six pieces on the Artcetera side of the alley off Rosemary Street in Belfast’s city centre, painted for the Celebrating Autumn jam last weekend. From left to right/top to bottom: A psychedelic fox by SillyMe (ig), ‘On The Pig’s Back’ by Magdalena Karol (ig), an almost-finished chestnut season by Ana Fish (ig), a mushroom resting-place by Aoife Laverty (ig), a woman with ram’s horns by Ciarah (ig), and ‘Fómhar’ [Harvest Season] by Laidback (ig).
For the other side of the alley, see The Only Constant Is Change.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03757 [T03636] [T03758]
T03695 [T03637]
T03638
T03759 [T03639] [T03696]
T03760 [T03640]
T03697 [T03641]
Here are the pieces from the recent Celebrating Autumn jam on the side of the Artcetera alley next to the First Presbyterian church, off Rosemary Street, in Belfast city centre, with art from left to right/top to bottom by ?, @adajacooper, @contemplatingthestars, @codoartni, @tulgalkh, @hmconstance, and @joha_mune.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03698
T03699 [T03630]
T03631
T03632
T03700 [T03633]
T03701 [T03634]
T03702 [T03635]
“When it comes to punk, New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason.” – Terri Hooley in 2012’s Good Vibrations (IMDb).
The final incarnation of Hooley’s Good Vibrations record shop (Fb) closed in North Street in 2015 (BelTel). It began in October 1976 at 102 Great Victoria Street (Spit Records | Louder Than War | Spit Records) — the shop and Hooley are included, along with footage of the Undertones, Outcasts, Stiff Little Fingers, and many others — in the 1979 documentary Shellshock Rock (UK viewers can watch at BFI | Spit Records has a great write-up of events surrounding the flm’s launch).
The new murals are on and adjacent to the shop’s second location (from roughly 1984-1993), on the other side of the road, at 121 Great Victoria Street, which itself has had “Good Vibrations” signage reinstated by Zippy (ig).
In order, from left to right/top to bottom in this post: in Stroud Street we have “Big-time punk” Terri Hooley by Peaball (RAZER (ig) and NOYS (ig)); on 127 Great Victoria Street we have tartan by Rob Hilken (ig), on 125, “Alternative Ulster” by Alana McDowell (ig) — for the ‘Alternative Ulster’ fanzine, see Fountain Street Spirits; on 123, designs by NotPop (ig); on 121, “Belfast Has The Reason” and “Good Vibrations” signage by Zippy (ig). With support from Linen Quarter BID (web), Belfast City Council (BCC press release) and Daisy Chain (web).
Update 2024-10: The Terri Hooley piece has been paint-bombed
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03585 T03586 [T03587] T03611
T03561 [T03562]
T03706c [T03707]
T03590 [T03593]
T03589 [T03588]
Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
T05714 T05713
A celebration and exploration of Belfast’s most famous textile, the “linen biennale”, runs until October (web). The Linen Hall library also runs a tour of the “linen quarter” on Thursdays.
Visual Waste’s (ig) Great Victoria Street mural includes various linen quarter buildings: the Grand Opera House, the Europa hotel, and Inst., alongside the H&W cranes and the Titanic museum.
Nomad Clan’s mural in east Belfast also went by the same name.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03472 T03473
Paddy Duffy Collection 