Belfast east

Down The Woodstock

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“Down the Woodstock” and “Up the Cregagh”. The two roads run into each other, heading north-south between Albert Bridge and Lisnabreeny in east Belfast. The Woodstock Road shops are getting a number of new streetart pieces thanks to a consortium of local businesses, including the two shown here.

The racing trap is by Visual Waste (ig) ((with support from Decowell Restoration (web), Bethany Fruit (web) and Astrl Fibres (ig)) in Willowfield Gardens and the (painted) signage by unknown artists in Oberon Street.

There is already a large mural reading “Up The Cregagh” on the road.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Carson’s Volunteers

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From the info board (barely visible but mostly out of shot to the right):

“This mural is dedicated to the men and women of Willowfield. In 1912 the 3rd Home Rule bill was introduced and passed by Parliament, and although defeated 3 times by the house of Lords it was sent for Royal assent. On 9th April 1912 over 200,000 unionists attended a rally at Balmoral including the Orange Order and Unionist Clubs which had marched from the city centre. Here they were addressed by among others, Sir Edward Carson, leader of the Irish Unionist Party. On 28th September nearly 500,000 men and women signed the Ulster Covenant. Factories and the Shipyard in Belfast were idle and silent, allowing their workers the opportunity to attend church and then to congregate at the City Hall. 3,242 men and women from Willowfield signed the Covenant, some in their own blood. They then formed into the 2nd Willowfield Battalion of the East Belfast Regiment U.V.F. commanded by Dr. William Gibson. They drilled and trained in the Willowfield Unionist Club that was situated about half a mile from this spot. With the onset of WW1 in 1914, these same volunteers stood to the fore to defend the Empire as the 8th battalion (East Belfast) in the 36th Ulster Division. Many did not return but their bravery and honour will forever be remembered.”

Ardenvohr Street, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Woodstock Rocks

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As a tribute to “the influence the local record shops had on the Belfast hip-hop and breakdancing scenes of the 80s” FGB (ig) and Katriona Designs (ig) have painted track-suited pensioners with a dual turntable setup (“Spin-A-Disc” (Technic?) and “Pensioneer” (Pioneer) brands) in Ardgowan Street at the Woodstock Road.

The documentary Bombin’, Beats And B-Boys is available on youtube. Here is an Irish Times look back at Belfast City Breakers.

See also the shelf of tapes at Portallo Street: Back On The Streets. The other new pieces in the current beautification project are: Up The Cregagh and Down The Woodstock | Up The Cregagh | Heron.

Also included below are two small pieces in Glendower Street, of a ‘Dolphin Lamp Standard’ lamp-post (such as can be seen on the Queen’s Bridge) and a fox.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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You’re Never Too Old

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The saying “You’re never too old to set another goal or dream another dream” is attributed to east Belfast-bred C.S. Lewis — shown here on the right — though we are unable to find any record of him saying or writing these words; instead it might be be a motivational speaker called Les Brown. In the rest of the poster, young people play in the grounds of Queen’s University and Belfast City Hall.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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History Girl

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Memories from the History Girl mural in east Belfast’s Thistle Court. (Close-ups below.)

  • We used to go to Church Street East Disco … It was brilliant. Dee Street Disco in the Community Centre was good too.
  • Geary’s and The Tab sold all the electrical goods. The TV rent man came on a Friday. We sometimes didn’t answer the door!
  • I loved Nabney’s, Burkes and Nellie Stewarts. Dora Burnes was a good wee shop too.
  • There was a swimming pool in Victoria Park that opened in the summer. It was always freezing though!
  • I used to buy a bag of broken biscuits and and damaged fruit as a treat, when I went to the cinema.
  • We used to get our hair cut in Sammy Sanford’s.
  • The Road was always busy – shops and bars all the way along.
  • Barlow’s hardware at the Conswater Bridge used to have all the plates and cups outside in crates for you to buy.
  • I drank in the Con Club. It was great – they didn’t let women in!
  • I came from Singapore to live here with my husband. He died and I went home, but had to come back to Belfast. I missed it too much … it’s my home now.
  • My granny had a bathroom. I thought that was great. Our toilet was in the yard …
  • I worked in the Ropeworks and love it … the craic was great.
  • I loved Joe Bump’s chippy – the pasties were great.
  • If you were late for work at the Ropeworks they locked the door and you lost your pay. Hardly anyone was ever late.
  • My grandpa took me to the shipyard and swung me on a crane in one of the workshops. My mummy was raging when she found out!
  • We used to play Kick the Tin … there were sometimes 30 of us all playing together …
  • I loved the smell of Inglis’ Biscuit Factory along the Road.
  • The was The Vulcan, The Ulster Arms, The Four and Twenty, The Clock Bar and The Armagh House. Hastings, who own all the hotels now, used to own a good lot of the bars on the Road.
  • I remember seeing a ship being launched in the yard. It was about 1976 and all the ones from Mersey Street School went. I met my daddy in the crowd of thousands.
  • You got your good shoes in Irvine’s and your gutties in Warwick’s. It’s still there.
  • My granny kept her milk in a bucket of water because she had no fridge.
  • I worked in the shipyard – left school on a Friday and started in the Yard on Monday.
  • Everyone had a net bag made in the Ropeworks. You don’t see them nowadays.
  • We followed the Glens everywhere, but a home match in the Oval was always the best craic.
  • All my mummy’s brothers were in the Army or Navy during the War … they all came back.
  • I remember Stanley Brookes. They cashed your Providence Cheques.
  • We used to go to the cinema on a Saturday morning for the Kids Club. It was always bunged!!

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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