Work (above) by Ana Fish (web) and (below) English artist Roo (web) in Talbot Street for Hit The North 2025 (Seedhead Arts).
The “Danger 33,000 volts” sign is real – see Electrifying Footwork.
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This is a gallery of pieces from a HTN 2025 warm-up event at the Ulster Sports Club in High Street Court, with work by Niall OL (ig), Friz (web), Holly Pereira (web), FGB (web), Karl Fenz (web), Roo (ig), Shane Ha (web).
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Kneecap performed their Coachella sets in front of a large screen onto which messages were projected, including denunciation of the Israeli “genocide” of Palestinians “enabled” by the US (Rolling Stone).
Many cancelled gigs followed, as well as a call from Sharon Osbourne that the band’s work visas be revoked (BBC). In response, Kneecap insisted that their speech was not an incitement to violence (BBC).
The band’s visas might also be in jeopardy because the band has parted ways with booking agents IAG, which sponsored the band’s US tour (Hollywood Reporter).
Further, scrutiny of past performances revealed pro-Hamas and -Hizbollah chants, which have now led to an investigation by the UK’s anti-terror police (NME). The band also apologized for a 2023 remark that “the only good Tory [Conservative MP] is a dead Tory” (BBC).
Many artists and bands have come out in support of Kneecap – about 40 put their names to a statement posted to instagram. The band also has the support of the graffitist in the image above: “Free Palestine – silence = complicity. Seas le Kneecap [stand with Kneecap]”.
See also: I Stand With Kneecap by JMK for Hit The North.
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Here are two paste-ups from illustrator and artist DEID (web) in Belfast city centre.
Above: “Be a bastard – tag yer local electrical box.”
Below: MAGA red-hats with an upside-down Stars And Stripes bring to mind David Bowie’s 1997 song “I’m afraid of Americans” (youtube).
There are more DEID stickers and paste-ups in the Seosamh Mac Coılle collection.
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Copyright © 2024/2025 Paddy Duffy
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For Recycle Week 2021 (WRAP), Laura Nelson (ig) and Leo Boyd (web) installed a series of seven pieces (each a combination of sign-writing and paste-up) on the abandoned Fanum House, using CO2-absorbing paint (from Graphenstone) and a potato-based glue for the paste-ups. “A revolution in recycling!”
The X-Wing Land-Rover was a later addition, on top of one of the original paste-ups.
Great Victoria Street and Ventry Street, Belfast city centre
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This is work by David J McMillan (web) for Queen’s Film Theatre (web), next to Cracker Wee Spot in University Square Mews/the alley behind the cinema. On one wall, we have movie-making, with clapboard and camera; on the other, the movie is projected to an audience eating popcorn.
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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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Hit The North returns this weekend with more than fifty street artists painting in the city centre (Seedhead Arts). The main painting session will be on Sunday between 2 and 6 around the Sunflower bar at the junction of Union Street and Kent Street.
As an apéritif many local artists painted on the “Belfast Stories” hoarding along North Street in mid-April. Shown here are the fifteen pieces produced, from left to right/north to south, by …
Conor McClure (ig)
Lost Lines (ig)
Ana Fish (web)
Wee Nuls (web)
Zippy (web)
Kerrie Hanna (web)
HMC (web) who painted Shiela the elephant, who was also the subject of a piece by DanLeo
FGB (web)
Katriona (web)
Illoustrates (ig)
Jacky Sheridan (web)
All The Doodz (ig)
KVLR (web)
Kilian (ig)
Graffic Belfast (ig)
For the previous art on these hoardings, see ‘Bout Ye?
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The Bank Of Ireland building at the junction of North Street and Royal Avenue was purchased by the City Council in 2021 (Business Insider) with the intention of turning it into a visitor attraction called ‘Belfast Stories’ by 2030. The latest step in the process was a period of public consultation (BelTel). In the meantime, Leo Boyd (web) has taken over the boarded-up space that previously housed the ATM with an image of space invaders hovering over the building.
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UNI Europa (web) returned to Belfast in March (2025) for its 6th annual conference with an emphasis on collective bargaining and defending democracy (reports: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3).
This new mural is in the alley next to the ICTU building (and Jim Larkin statue/mural) in Donegall Street Place, replacing the Civil Rights board.
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For Sunday’s parade (in Belfast) commemorating the Easter Rising of 1916, Sınn Féın lined the route with placards featuring quotations from republican heroes past and present: the first Dáıl, Wolfe Tone, Robert Emmet, James Fintan Lalor, Roger Casement, the Proclamation of 1916, William Allen, the Declaration Of Independence, James Larkin (as Gaeılge), Máıre Drumm, Rita O’Hare, Martin McGuinness, Mary Lou McDonald, Bobby Sands, O’Donovan Rossa, John O’Mahony, Seán Mac Dıarmada, James Connolly, Liam Lynch, Thomas Clarke, Pádraıg Mac Pıaraıs, Maıréad Farrell, the IRB, Michelle O’Neill, Gerry Adams, Constance Markievicz, Winifred Carney, Na Fíníní.
William Allen was one of the “Manchester Martyrs” – for a link to background and the photograph used on the placard see the Peter Moloney Collection.
All of the placards include the emblem of the “Time For Irish Unity/Am Le hAontacht Na hÉıreann” campaign.
The speaker in Belfast was Donegal Sınn Féın TD Pearse Doherty; party leader Mary Lou McDonald spoke in Carrickmore, Co Tyrone; Michelle O’Neill was in Coalisland and Dublin.
See also the new National Graves Association/Cumann Uaıgheann Na Laocradh Gaedheal mural in Beechmount: Cuımhnímıs.
A Saoradh parade takes place in Belfast this afternoon (Easter Monday) in Derry – see Wear Your Easter Lily With Pride.
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Paddy Duffy Collection 