“Dream. Love. Strength. Achieve. Life can take you higher than drugs.” New (May 2026) figures from the NI Statistics And Research Agency show 251 drug-related deaths in 2024 in Northern Ireland, most of which (219) are from drug abuse (NISRA). This new wall-painting in the New Lodge encourages young people to turn their backs on drugs and engage in activities suc as aerosol art and mountain-climbing.
By Blaze FX (Fb) with support from New Lodge Arts (Fb) and the Housing Executive.
Christopher “Crip” McWilliams has been added this new version of the INLA memorial on Northumberland Street (Visual History). McWilliams was a long-time member of the IPLO and was present at the Lenadoon shout-out with the RUC in Lenadoon in which Bonanza McCann died. He joined the INLA while in prison for the 1991 killing of a snooker-hall manager (Independent) and in 1987 was the gunman in a team of three that killed the LVF’s Billy Wright in the H-Blocks (IRSN | Cory Report (pdf) | MacLean Report (pdf)).
The info board in the final image was originally mounted in 2014 to accompany the version painted on a board which featured Loughran, McLarnon, McCann, and Gallagher, and updated in 2019 for the printed version which added McElkerney.
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.
The UVF boards at the junction of London and My Lady’s roads in east Belfast have been completely replaced (compared to 2022). The hooded gunmen on the short side have been replaced by “Joy, peace, love” while a tribute to David Ervine now replaces the lettering reading “East Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force”. Ervine was a UVF member from 1972 to 1980 before turning to a career in politics. “He asked the question “why can’t I be an Irish citizen of the UK?” … “An architect of peace. An inspiration to us all.” Always remembered by his family, comrades, colleagues and friends.”
Next to Ervine is a UVF roll of honour in which Roy Walker joins Robert Bennett, James Cordner, Joseph Long, and Robert Seymour, who were previously portrayed (Ulster’s Brave). Walker was killed in a feud with the UDA in 1976. And around the corner the UVF emblem has been replaced by a board to the Ulster Volunteer Force Regimental Band, containing a controversial photograph of the band marching past the site of the 1992 Sean Graham bookies massacre (Crime World). Update: the photograph has been replaced – see the parallel entry in the Seosamh Mac Coılle Collection.
The largest panel remains a tribute to the dead of WWI, for which see again the parallel entry in the Seosamh Mac Coılle Collection.
The hobby/carousel horse on a spring carries only a pair of boots. This is work by London-based artist SATR (ig) in Crown Entry, Belfast, for Hit The North 2026.
Embedded in the Victoria Street side-wall of St George’s is a 1976 memorial to the people who had died in the Troubles up to that point, with a number for each person, from 1 to 1,500. It was commissioned by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, designed by Robert Ballagh, and made by Stephen Pearce (Belfast Live).
