Here is a selection of street art in Limavady/Léım An Mhadaıdh/”Leap of the dog” including, above, a leaping dog by London artist irony (ig).
Below, in order, are a pangram illustration by KVLR (ig), musicians by Claire Prouvost (ig), a jazz band by Matthew Knight (ig), a goat by Visual Waste (ig) for the Stendhal Festival (web), and a mental health piece by Peaball (ig).
Here is a gallery of images from the lane leading to the houses from behind the Creggan shops, with a mixture of the old (anti-drugs) and new (flowers) pieces.
This piece shows children and young people playing and relaxing in safety, joined together in a series of cogs. It is perhaps related to the former Streetreach mural.
Pearl Street, in the Willowfield area of east Belfast.
Ormeau bridge (Street View) is a stone arch bridge between the Ormeau and Stranmillis embankments of the Lagan river, designed by Charles Lanyon and opened in 1863.
This mural of the bridge is by London artist DanK (ig), commissioned by the Lower Ormeau Traders’ Association using a Vibrant Business Destinations grant from the Council, funded by the Department For Communities ‘Revitalisation’ programme (of these, only Vibrant Businesses (web) appears to have an on-line presence). The mural will be officially launched today (Saturday March 16th) as part of a Spring Festival between noon and three. (Belfast Media)
In University Street, south Belfast, looking away from the bridge.
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.
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.
“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.
Downshire Bridge over “The Cut” through the centre of Banbridge town (created in 1834; here is a NLI image from the 1900s), is locally known as “Jingler’s Bridge” on account of one or more of the sellers on the bridge jingling their coins (Geograph), perhaps among them this apple-seller, painted by Friz (ig) on the northern side of The Cut/Bridge Street.
Downshire Bridge is perhaps named for the 3rd (Arthur Hill) or 4th (Arthur Wills Hill) Marquess Of Downshire (Lord Belmont).
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.
Five steps to mental health – give, connect, be active, take notice, keep learning – and affirmations to live by, such as “This is me”, “You’re a superstar”, “I am what I am”, and “Simply the best“. Part of the Shankill SAFE (Safer Areas For Everyone) project in the Woodvale, with support from Alternatives and the Communities In Transition programme.
From the info board: “#ItsOKToTalk” “This art project was completed as part of Alternative – Safer Areas For Everyone (SAFE) project. The young people involved identified mental health as the theme for their art project and incorporated positive mental health messages & support numbers to highlight the issue. The group also identified the “Steps” area as the location for the art work, to help brighten up the area which had become unsightly, neglected and a focus for anti-social behaviour. This project also engaged with the residents through door to door surveys, provided information leaflets on support services and organised community clean ups to help improve community pride & spirit in the area. Special thanks to Jamie, Dylan, Kyle, Corey and Mason who showed positive leadership in their community, to street artist Emic & Sam from Signlink for the art work & graphics and to the local residents and young people who were involved in the clean ups. SAFE Shankill is supported by the The Executive Office through Communities In Transition programme.”
Here are two final pieces from the street-art make-over of Banbridge in 2022. Below is Holly Pereira (web)’s “Welcome To Banbridge” in Newry Street; above and immediately below is Decoy (web)’s piece in Downshire Place depicting how the town grew up around a coach stop at the eponymous “Bann bridge” on the route from Belfast to Dublin (ABC borough council). According to Connolly (Google Books) and History Ireland, a short-lived coach service c. 1740 from Dublin to Belfast stopped in Drogheda and Newry; permanent service did not begin until 1788. According to the Downshire Arms (web), a Georgian coaching inn built in 1816, Banbridge was the second stop along the route from Belfast.
The other paintings in the 2022 ‘Arrivals’ project, organised by Daisy Chain and the Council, are by Friz (The Jingler), FGB (Ernest Walton), and Rob Hilken (Damask For Dignity).
For a list of other borough council projects, see Visual History 11 on the rise of street art.
Paddy Duffy Collection 