“Free Marwan and all Palestinian political prisoners”. Marwan Barghouti, a leader of the group Fatah, has been in Israeli prison since 2002. He was seen last month in a video showing Israeli’s national security minister taunting the 66-year-old Barghouti in his cell (BBC | Al Jazeera | NPR).
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is remembered in various guises around the New Lodge Grotto. Above, and in the underpass, she takes the form of the ‘Immaculate Heart Of Mary’ (alongside St. Joseph the carpenter and St Patrick(?)).
The prayer next to the trio is a Prayer To Our Lady Of Knock: (Our Lady of Knock, Queen of Ireland, you gave hope to your people in a time of distress, and comforted them in sorrow. You have inspired countless pilgrims to pray with confidence to your divine Son, remembering His promise, “Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find.” Help me to remember that we are all pilgrims on the road to heaven. Fill me with love and concern for my brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those who live with me. Comfort me when I am sick, lonely or depressed. Teach me how to take part ever more reverently in the Holy Mass. [Give me a greater love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.] Pray for me now, and at the [hour of my death.] Amen.)
The Apparition At Knock took place on August 21st, 1879; there was a mural of the standard depiction of the event in nearby Newington (Street View).
The presentation on the “New Lodge Grotto” side-wall (alongside St Thérèse) is of Our Lady Of Medjugorje. (There was a mural with the same title not far from the grotto.)
There was also an “Our Lady Of Fátima” image on the doors, best seen in C07117.
The ‘Hail Mary’ is also given, in English (Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.) and in Irish (Sé do bheatha, a Mhuıre, atá lán de ghrásta. Tá an Tıarna leat. Is beannaıthe thú ıdır mná, agus ıs beannaıthe toradh do bhroınne, Íosa. A Naomh-Mhuıre, a Mháthaır Dé, guıgh oraınn na peacaıgh, anoıs, agus ar uaır ár mbáıs. Amen.)
Painted by Paddy McCloskey, with help from Eddie Rossbotham and others.
“Sky is not [the] limit – it’s only the beginning” – this is new mental health art from the New Lodge Youth Centre (Fb | previously seen), at the war-wall that separates Lepper Street from Duncairn Avenue, next to the (long-empty) Corner House, suggesting that young people can transcend their earthly bonds and actualise themselves in space.
Ray McCullough “the Dromara destroyer” rode 250 and 350cc bikes during the late 60s and 1970s, winning 175 races (News Letter), including seven Ulster Cups (Devitt). For McCullough’s career as a motorbike engineer, see News Letter | NI World.
This new mural is in grey-scale except for McCullough’s distinctive red helmet with a green shamrock and red hand. Painted by JMK (ig); the photo reproduced can be seen on the Triumph Motorcycle forum.
This is street art by Artista (ig) from London, along the Comber Greenway (between Tamar and Severn streets). Sponsored by the Eastside Urban Partnership and Seedhead Arts.
This is an old mural still in reasonable condition after more than a decade in existence. It is along the walkway between Tamar and Severn streets in east Belfast. The East End Homing Pigeon club was (is?) at 51 Severn Street (Belfast Forum).
For the piece in better condition (in 2011) see the Seosamh Mac Coılle collection.
This new mural below Teach Gráınne in the New Lodge features locals Anthony Duffy and Hugh Russell.
Duffy was a youth leader in Artillery and Trinity clubs (Xitter); he died in July of this (2025) year. Russell was a champion boxer in the 80s and then an Irish News photographer; he died in October 2023 (Irish Times).
Painted by young people from Artillery Youth Centre (Fb).
This is a second gallery of just some of the electrical boxes that have been painted in Newry in recent years, particularly 2024’s ‘Street Dreams’ initiative (web). (See previously Street Dreams.)
“What’s the quack?” and “Pure Class” are by Visual Waste (web), the boat made of harp and fiddle is by JMK (ig), the purple face, the covered wagon, and the draft-horse are by Friz (web), “looking at the stars” and “Queer to stay” are by FrankieB (ig), “Oh happy day” is related to the Choir Studio (Fb), and the boombox is by Aoife Gorman (ig).
