Belfast city centre

Across Northern Ireland

Extramural Activity1 Comment

“Chest, Heart & Stroke – Improving lives across Northern Ireland since 1946.”

2026 is the eightieth anniversary of the Northern Ireland Chest, Heart & Stroke Association. It was founded on June 14th 1946 as the first Northern Irish branch the National Association For The Prevention Of Tuberculosis (previously the National Association For The Prevention Of Consumption And Other Forms Of Tuberculosis) and in 1959 became the Chest And Heart Association and in 1976 the Chest, Heart & Stroke Association. The Stroke Association (web) was formed in 1992, but there remain the NI (web) and Scotland (web) CHS associations.

The landmarks, from left to right (top to bottom) are: Carrickfergus castle, Grand Opera House, Titanic Centre, the Harland & Wolff cranes (Samson and Goliath), Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge, St Peter’s pro-cathedral, Mussenden Temple, Devenish Round Tower, Scrabo tower, the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce castle, Gosford castle, the Peace Bridge.

Painted by Visual Waste (web) on the shutters of NICHS headquarters at the junction of Bruce Street and Dublin Road. With support from Linen Quarter BID (web).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
T09498 T09499 T09502
T09243 T09240 T09241 T09239 T09500 [T09242]
[T09238]

Stay For The Craic

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Come for the music … stay for the craic.” Alana McDowell (ig) and Ana Fish (web) have been working in the city centre, converting the permanently closed (since 2012) shutters of JJB Sports, as well as the shutters of Jean Millar Bridal, into a tribute to Belfast’s music scene – see the ‘Music Matters’ plan in the entry on the UNESCO City Of Music mural – and the upcoming Fleadh Cheoıl from August 2nd to 9th (web).

Royal Avenue, replacing a number of pieces by Leo Boyd. The in-progress shots are from June 16th.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
T09454 [T09255]
[T09256] T09302
T09303 [T09257] T09258
T09304 [T09259] T09305 [T09260] T09261
T09306

Outpouring

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Riddel’s warehouse in Ann Street is the site of a new installation by Nerve Centre (web) called Outpouring, which features the large piece (shown here) by Joe Caslin (ig) in the atrium of the building, with a cinema space and a gallery of art and poetry by young people (Belfast Media). The four-storey building is a former iron warehouse, originally built in 1867 and currently being restored (Plan Belfast). Belfast Live has a gallery of images | Tom McClean took a tour of the building in 2025 on European Heritage day (youtube).

The installation is open from 11 to 4, Thursday to Sunday, until July 5th.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
T09201 [T09202] T09203 [T09204] T09205

Thai Orchid

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The national flower of Thailand is the blossom of the cassia fistula or golden shower tree but the high humidity and high heat also make the country an ideal growing location for more than a thousand species of orchids, making Thailand (one of) the world’s largest exporters of orchids (Nation Thailand | ASEAN Garden). In Thailand itself, they are a mark of respect and are given, for example, to teachers on Teachers’ Day (Thailand Now).

These orchids (perhaps Phalaenopsis Baldan’s Kaleidoscope) are on the shutters of Orchid Thai Massage (web) in Great Victoria Street, Belfast city centre.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
T09142 T09143 T09144 T09141

Here’s A Health To The Company

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Society of United Irishmen was formed at the Crown Tavern in 1791, with founder members including Thomas Russell, William Drennan, Samuel Neilson (also host to Olaudah Equiano), Henry Joy McCracken, and Wolfe Tone. The building – now called Crown House – is visible upon entering Crown Entry from High Street. These painted windows are on the side of the building, as one proceeds towards Ann Street.

The first pair are by JMK, the second pair by Wee Nuls (ig), painted in 2020, at which time FGB also painted pair that have now faded.

Crown Entry, Belfast. See also the Visual History page on The Belfast Entries.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
T09071 T09070 T09072 T09073