windows in walls

Things Can Only Get Better

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Peter Cunnah was the singer of D:Ream, who had a number-one hit in 1994 with “Things Can Only Get Better” (youtube). He was born in Belfast but adopted by parents in Derry (BBC). This new mural was painted (by Karl Porter of UV Arts (web)) at the junction of Northland and Clarendon streets (in the Clarendon Conservation Area (pdf)), next to Cunnah’s home at 46 Clarendon Street, where he formed his first band, Tie The Boy (Derry Journal).

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Forest School

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Rathcoole Primary School & Nursery Unit, in Newtownabbey, is a “forest” school (web), meaning that children have regular sessions in woodland or a natural environment (pdf). When not in nature, students at the Nursery Unit – home to hedgehog and squirrel class (RPS&NU) – can be reminded of the outdoors every time they pass by this new mural on the school wall, painted by Visual Waste (web).

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Eyes Open

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Snow Patrol’s fourth album, Eyes Open, was released twenty years ago, in April 2006, and went on to be the best-selling album of the year (WP). The celebrate the anniversary, Jossie Pops (web) recreated the album’s cover in Bangor, home of the band’s guitarist Gary Lightbody.

Southwell Road, Bangor, replacing the Gary Lightbody art.

In-progress images from June 17th:

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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The Wearing Of The Green

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Golf Digest rated Royal County Down as the world’s number one course. Over the years it has hosted various important tournaments, including the Irish Open (most recently in 2024, won by Rasmus Højgaard).

This mural features six famous golfers, past and present. Clockwise from top: Pádraıg Harrington, Rory McIlroy (holding his Masters trophy and wearing the green jacket), Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry, and Fred Daly, who won the Irish Open in 1946 and the British Open in 1947. In the background of the mural is the Slieve Donard hotel, which is just to the south of the golf course.

Painted by Visual Waste (web) in Donard Place, Newcastle, Co Down

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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An Architect Of Peace

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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.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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HTN 2026 – York Lane

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In addition to the main festival location centred on the Sunflower bar, a small jam took place in a recently renovated courtyard next to the UU building in York Lane (compare with 2025’s Medusa).

The large piece (above) is by Ricky Also (ig) while the seven on the courtyard wall are “Bear With Me” by Curly Bap (ig), “Judith Beheading Holofernes” by JoJo (ig), a cat on the moon by Stella (ig), a wall by David Copeland (ig), big hair by Rachel Patterson (ig), an “Use It Or Lose It” by DEID (web), and Gaelic games by Fraser_9K (ig)

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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More Like Living In Revelations Than In England

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Phlegm (ig) – a Sheffield-based engraver and artist – was in town for Hit The North 2026 and painted this large piece in Corporation Street of spindly creatures teetering on the backs of the dead as they war with each other.

The in-progress images are from May 4th and 2nd.

May 4th

May 2nd

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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