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Nerone

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Here are both the new and the old pieces from French artist (now based in London) Nerone (ig | web). The new piece is a wide arrangement of flowers in Upper Arthur Street. The older piece (shown in the final image, below) is from 2021’s Hit The North, “Life Won’t Wait” above the night-club (currently Club Lux) in Dunbar Road.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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A Planet Of Light And Heat

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The Northern Star newspaper began publication in 1792 in Wilson’s Court, Belfast, under the editorship of Samuel Neilson, to cover local news and express the views of the United Irishmen. It became so popular that it survived until 1797, despite the Irishmen being outlawed in 1793 with the declaration of war between Britain and France and Neilson being arrested in 1796. Walter Cox, editor of The Irish Magazine And Monthly Asylum For Neglected Biography) wrote a ‘Sketch Of The Life Of Samuel Neilson’ for the September, 1811, edition (p. 396 ff) and wrote that “The Northern Star, under his managment, was indeed a planet of light and heat; its influences were commensurate with its circulation and its circulation was only restricted by the ocean. It warmed the cold; it animated the feeble; it cheered the afflicted; it stimulated the intrepid and instructed all. Pernicious dogmas, false reasonings, slavish superstitions and gothic prejudices, which broke the people into different sects and marshalled them against each other, disappeared before it.” (O’Brien 1998 | History Ireland)

The mural – in Wilson’s Court, Belfast – is by Rob Hilken and called “Light And Heat”.

See previously: Olaudah Equiano | Belle Martin and the Visual History page on the Belfast Entries Project

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Under The Cherry Blossoms

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Castle Arcade is so-called because it is the site of both the original castle of Belfast, built by the Normans in the late 12th century and then rebuilt by Arthur Chichester in 1611. Chichester’s castle had “spacious gardens which extended from the river along to Cromac Woods and near Stranmillis” with “orchards, bowling greens and cherry gardens … fish ponds,” for “hunting, hawking, and other sports”. It was destroyed by fire in 1708 after which the area became commercialised as a market (ArchiSeek | Mary Lowry | BBC | Belfast Entries).

By Friz (ig) and Gerry Norman (ig).

See previously: You’ve Got The Key Of The Street.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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No Matter Try Again

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Glen Molloy’s Samuel Beckett mural in the Dundela area of east Belfast was largely whitewashed the day after it was finished (see the SMC Collection). (This was only a few weeks after the Maya Angelou mural across the street was painted and graffitied.) (Belfast Live) The portrait was restored in 2021 with blue sparkling blue eyes, and the quotation was added again last (2022) summer.

The quotation is from Worstward Ho! (not “Westword Ho!” as written on the wall just out of shot to the left): “Say for be said. Missaid. From now say for missaid. Say a body. Where none. No mind. Where none. That at least. A place. Where none. For the body. To be in. Move in. Out of. Back into. No. No out. No back. Only in. Stay in. On in. Still. All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”

Painted by Glen Molloy (ig) in Bathgate Drive, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Ffallen

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This is work by emic (ig) – with two “f”s in the title – inspired by Ciaran Carson’s Belfast Confetti, itself inspired by “a public notice from the corporation of Belfast (1678) which highlights a growing problem of Butchers and Tanners mastiff dogs attacking livestock, people, and even young children in the city” (Belfast Walking Tours). The wide shot (below) shows “3D printed floating orbs were created from recycled ocean plastics suspended over the central courtyard” (BCC).

Winecellar Entry, Belfast city centre

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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