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The Golden Apples Of Lough Erne

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In the myth of the Golden Apples Of Lough Erne (Yeats), Conn-Eda is given a seemingly impossible quest by his step-mother: to bring back three golden apples, a horse, and a hound in the possession of the king of the Fir Bolg, who lives in Lough Erne.

Little does he know that the horse that accompanies him on his adventures is the king’s brother, who has been bewitched, but who is released by self-sacrifice and Conn-Eda’s compassion, thus securing his success with the king. Conn-Eda returns riding the steed, leading the dog, and carrying the three golden apples from the king’s crystal tree.

This interpretation of Conn-Eda’s triumphant return is by Kevin McHugh (web), with support from Enniskillen BID (web), in Forthill Street, Enniskillen.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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The Green And Lovely Lakes

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Killeshandra, County Cavan, is located near the Lough Oughter system of lakes, which is home to a wide variety of fish, including the roach, tench, perch, bream, and pike (Island View Cavan pdf) featured in this Rob Hilken (web) piece in the centre of town.

With funding from Cavan Community Council (web).

Main Street, Killeshandra

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Band Width

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This entry updates 2025’s C’Mon On In, which showed the low wall with local landmarks. The new pieces on the adjacent wall, the six bollards and three pillars, have a musical theme. The wall to the side depicts a sea-horse and a wolf (from the Belfast coat of arms – see The Sea Walls) among soccer-playing lions against a backdrop of flax flowers.

As before, Carla Hodgson (ig) worked with local children to produce the art (Belfast Live).

Maryville Street, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Rhys

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Gymnast Rhys McClenaghan is a European, World, and Olympic champion, competing in the pommel horse. He has been awarded both the BEM and the MBE, as well as receiving the freedom of the borough of Ards And North Down (News Letter) – McClenaghan hails from Newtownards.

This new mural, by Jossie Pops (web), is in South Street.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Go With The Flow

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“Just go with the flow.” The river Bann rises in the Mournes and flows through the Lough and on towards the north coast. The lower Bann passes under nine bridges (WP), the oldest of which, just east of Kilrea, was built in 1783 (Derry Now). It features in this Kilrea mural, painted by Peaball (web) with local school-children at the entrance to the Maghera Street car-park in Kilrea, with support from Kilrea Community & Fairy Thorn Association (Fb) and funding from Donaghy Brothers (web).

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Cullybackey Village

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This Cullyback art is a “Shared Island” (gov.ie) project, created as a collaboration between Waterford City & County Council and Mid- & East-Antrim Borough Council. It shows, from left to right, children playing soccer in front of Buick Memorial school, the Cullybackey Pipe Band (Fb), the Railway Sleeper (Discover NI), wildlife at the Cullybackey Bridge (geograph), and Maine works.

Paint by Claire Prouvost (web), 2025-10, with support from The Walls Project (Fb) and Cullybackey Community Partnership (Fb).

Main Street, Cullybackey, between the Maine business centre and Boots.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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The Dunlop Dynasty

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This Ballymoney mural celebrates and commemorates members of the Dunlop family of motorcycle racers. From left to right we see brothers Joey and Robert and then Robert’s sons William and Michael. Joey died in a race in Estonia in 2000; Robert died in 2008 of injuries sustained in a practice session for the North West 200; William died in 2018 in a crash during practice for the Skerries 100. Michael is still alive and currently aged 36; he was Irish Motorcyclist Of The Year in 2025 (BelTel).

This mural was painted by Oliver McParland (web) in Castlecroft Square, Ballymoney.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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International Dervock

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“Our village may be small when you see it on a map but it has influenced history across the world. This is the story of two people who are proudly linked to Dervock – a President and a famous international diplomat.”

The President is “William McKinley (1843-1901) 25th President of the United States … from 1897-1901. McKinley was immensely proud of his North Antrim ancestry. His great, great, grandfather, James, left his home place in the townland of Conagher, near Dervock in 1743 and sailed for American. James eventually settled in Niles, Ohio, where the future President was born on 29 January 1843. … “That’s all a man can hope for during his lifetime – to set an example – and when he is dead, to be an inspiration for history.””

There is an extensive memorial to McKinley in Riverside Park – see From Scotland, To Ulster, To America. There is a currently a motion before Causeway council to rename Riverside Park in honour of McKinley (Love Ballymena). A quote from McKinley appears in a mural in Ballymoney.

The second figure is “George, Earl Macartney (1737-1806) Eighteenth century diplomat. Over 250 years ago, George Macartney was the landlord of Dervock and the surrounding district. He was born at Lissanoure Castle, his family estate near Loughguile, Co. Antrim, on 14 May 1737. … His most famous role was leading the First Embassy to China (1792-1794) …”

Castlecat Road, Dervock

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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