The local flute band in the Kilcooley estate is the North Down Defenders (Fb), which was formed in 2004. This new art, however, suggests that drumming and piping go back to the time of thatched cottages and stone bridges – perhaps, as the orange lilies and blankets might suggest, to the 1795 founding of the Orange Order.
In the lay-by at the top of Owenroe Drive, Kilcooley, Bangor
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This painting of soccer star George Best was painted by Ian Lowry (web) on Teddy’s restaurant (Spectator). The photograph reproduced is from a 1971 match against West Ham (Alamy). Best scored a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory for United (11v11).
May Avenue, Bangor
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This new wall-painting in Bangor encourages people to “end violence against women and girls”. It was painted by local artist Friz (web) in collaboration with young women from North Down YMCA’s “Flip The Script” programme (Belfast Live) and officially launched on August 25th (Ards & North Down).
For the Liam Neeson art on the right-hand side of the wide shot, see A Very Particular Set Of Skills.
See also: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun…damental Rights.
Hamilton Road, Bangor
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The rocks in Westwinds estate have been repainted. The poppy in the foreground was previously a YCV emblem (as seen in 2018). In the distance, Scrabo Tower overlooks the estate.
Blenheim Drive, Westwinds, Newtownards
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On the third anniversary of his death in in July 2023, a mural has been painted to commemorate Caoımhín Adams in his native Bawnmore (Belfast Media | Belfast Live). Adams died at age eight, shortly after being diagnosed with ROHHAD (rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysregulation, hypoventilation, and autonomic dysregulation), a syndrome without any cure and fatal in more than 50% of cases (WP).
By Visual Waste (web) in Bawnmore Drive, Newtownabbey.
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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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“The Park” is the name of the new beer garden/courtyard at the Hatfield on Ormeau Road in south Belfast. “Mex” (web) is a brand of flavoured tequila-based cream liqueurs, which had its Belfast launch in Thompson’s last week (Aug 8th) (ig). Mex’s symbol is the skull-painted face worn for the Day Of The Dead, on November 1st/2nd – see La Calavera Catrina.
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Fleadh Cheoıl ended on Sunday (August 9th) with a third and final day of competition and a finale by the winning céılí band at the Gig Rig (main stage) next to City Hall (BBC | Fleadh). The city centre was pedestrianised and various murals were painted, including this one by KVLR (web) in Waring Street, Belfast city centre. The event has been declared a success; over the course of the eight days, the city saw more than one million visitors (RTÉ).
August 2nd:
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The phoenix in Clowney Street was first painted in 1981 and has been repainted periodically in the same form. (For a brief history, see The Oldest Murals.) In this update, the only noticeable changes are the quotation-marks around “69” and the golden feet on the phoenix.
For the WBTA board above the phoenix (which itself goes back to at least 2012), see Alternative Transport, Alternative Location.
Clowney Street, Beechmount, west Belfast
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This is Karl Fenz’s (web) tribute to The Rapparees (ig), who will end the Fleadh (on August 9th) with a gig in Lavery’s (ig). The art is in the entry to Commercial Court, home of the Duke Of York and the Dark Horse bars. There is also a painting of the Rapparees in the Dark Horse courtyard – see The Musicians.
Also painted for the Fleadh: Stay For The Craic | Fleadh Cheoıl Na hÉıreann (in the Dark Horse courtyard) | Fleadh Fiddler.
Commercial Court, Belfast city centre, replacing the John Peel and Dali art.
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