Belfast south – Page 4 – Paddy Duffy Collection

Great Northern Railway

2024-12-262025-01-15Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Great Northern Railway joined Dublin with Belfast, Derry, and Ballyshannon, as well as many other smaller towns. It existed from 1876 until roughly 1958 (WP) and what was then called the “Adelaide & Windsor” station in south Belfast was opened in 1897 (WP) – the name was (presumably) based on the station’s proximity to local streets: the “Adelaide” streets were named for William IV’s consort (Street Names) and the “Windsor” streets were named for Windsor Castle (Street Names).

The mural shows the platform and waiting room, and a steam-powered train, and features local signal-man Charles Murtagh. Murtagh’s daughter still lives in the family home, near the station and provided the photograph from which Blaze FX (ig) reproduced (Translink).

Adelaide Avenue, south Belfast.

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Just A Minute

2024-12-262025-01-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

People with learning difficulties and autism who are carrying a “JAM” card (web) (for “Just a minute”) can use it on Translink buses and trains to let drivers and conductors know that they might need some extra time. The other symbols on the side of the train (in the third image, below) denote services for travelers who are visually-impaired, hearing-impaired, blind, or wheelchair-users.

This wall-painting in south Belfast was painted by Blaze FX (ig) with help from young people with disabilities as part of a “Can Do” project (Fb) from Leonard Cheshire (web) and Kids Together Belfast (Fb). With funding from Forward South Partnership (web), Translink, and Belfast City Council (Belfast Live).

In Adelaide Street, opposite Great Northern Railway.

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Continuing Conflicts

2024-12-012025-06-20Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The war memorial garden in City Way (Sandy Row) commemorates those from the Great War, World War II, and “Continuing Conflicts” which includes the “Troubles”. There is also a fourth, smaller, stone, with John Maxwell Edmonds’s memorial epitaph.

“The Great War 1914-1918: In memory of the fallen”, with John McCrae’s poem ‘In Flanders Fields‘.
“Second World War 1939-1945: Freedom is the sure possession of those have the courage to defend it. Their ideal is our legacy. Their sacrifice is our inspiration.”
“Continuing Conflicts: We remember those who have given their lives. The wounded and those who serve in continued conflicts around the world.”

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Action At A Distance

2024-11-142024-12-07Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The new Grand Central Station opened at the beginning of September, replacing both Victoria Street train station and the Glengall Street bus station. The artwork outside the station (shown here) was completed by Dee Craig (Fb), depicting the rail-yards and mills of old Belfast, and physicist (and Belfast native) John Stewart Bell (WP).

One knock-on effect of the new station was that the tracks begin west of the Boyne Bridge and it is due to be dismantled – see Battle Of The Boyne Bridge.

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Hotel? Motel?

2024-11-032024-11-29Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Friendly faces by Aches (web) on the side of the “Sandy Row” Holiday Inn, officially in Hope Street/Bruce Street, but more familiarly above the car-park where the Twelfth bonfire has previously taken place, starting in 2016 – see Stuff We Don’t Need – and continuing into 2024 – see News Letter.

October 20th:

October 13th:

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Battle Of The Boyne Bridge

2024-10-202024-11-06Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The railway line running between Belfast and Lisburn opened in 1839 (WP) and in 1863 a bridge was built to allow passage over it. This bridge was known as “the Boyne bridge” after the legend that King Billy had travelled across a nearby bridge (the Saltwater Bridge across the Blackstaff) on his way to meet James II in 1690. The (railway) bridge was expanded in 1936 (Read The Plaque) and the Saltwater bridge was used as the foundations for the approach road from Sandy Row to the expanded bridge (WP).

The new Grand Central Station “Transport Hub” means that trains no longer pass underneath the bridge and its demolition was included in the 2017 plans, scheduled to begin in October of this year (2024). However, protesters lodged a legal bid to stop the demolition, under the auspices of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society (BBC) but lost the case, though it is now not being “demolished” but “sensitively dismantled” and parts saved for “an art project” (Third Sector). A rally is planned for November 5th to “Save Sandy Row” (Boyne Bridge Defenders facebook group).

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Ulster’s Conflict

2024-10-132024-10-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“In proud [and] loving memory of our fallen comrades during Ulster’s conflict. ‘Some gave all, all gave some.’ South Belfast Brigade.” According to Sutton, 91 UDA members died during the Troubles (CAIN).

The text on the side-wall reads, “Death is not an honour but a sacrifice and those who gave that sacrifice are remembered by those that followed. Quis separabit.”

Replacing the mural of a UDA barricade.

Rockview Street, Village, south Belfast.

September 1st:

From The Mulch, A Loveliness Blooms

2024-10-132024-11-10Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Cherry blossoms growing out of wheelie-bins by emic (web) on the side of Fuel coffee on the Lisburn Road.

Osborne Park, south Belfast

Health & Well-Being

2024-10-132024-10-24Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This painting of a person finding help in a book about how to find help within is by Friz (web) on the side of the Windsor Pharmacy, at the junction of Lisburn Road and Windsor Road, south Belfast.