The gas-works in Derry moved to the Bogside in 1865 (CAIN) and the site operated for more than a decade, burning coal to generate gas, and producing the smell and pollution that led Ewan McColl to write ‘Dirty Old Town’ (about the Salford gas-works), later covered by The Dubliners and The Pogues (among many others). There are images of the Derry gas-works on community Fb pages: black & white | colour | black & white. The refurbished site is now home to the Gasyard Development Trust (web) (and the Baby Jake mural).

This new street-art was painted by Peaball (web) just a little way further down Lecky Road, at the junction with St Columb’s Walk.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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This new “welcome to Boyne Square” sign was mounted in late June in preparation for this year’s Twelfth.

The dates in Roman numerals in the corners are (top) 1688-1690 and (bottom) 1914-1918. The emblems in the background are of (l-r) Clyde Valley flute band (Fb), Rangers Supporters’ Club – Larne (Fb), ABOD Walker Club Larne Branch (Fb), Boyne Defenders LOL 1297 (Fb), George A Dummigan accordion band, Constable Anderson Memorial flute band (Fb), Larne & District Great War Society (Fb), Boyne Square Bonfire Society (Fb).

Herbert Avenue, Boyne Square/Factory, Larne

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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“Not until the last pint of beer has been poured, and the last plate of food has been cooked, will the government realise we can’t eat VAT! It’s time to relax the tax on food. (paraphrased from Cree wisdom …)”

This statement is on the side wall of the Ginger Bistro. VAT on restaurant food was temporarily reduced to 5% during COVID, and this summer the same rate was used for children’s meals, but as of today are now back at the standard rate of 20%. Four famous chefs have called for the tax on restaurant food to be reduced to 10% (BBC | This Is Money).

Hope Street, Belfast, replacing the quote about creativity seen in A Bigger Picture.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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This entry updates An Architect Of Peace, which includes an image (partially obscured by bins) on a small UVF flute band board comprising three photographs of the band over the years. The second image was of the band parading past the Ormeau Road branch of Sean Graham’s bookies, where five people were killed by the UDA in 1992 (WP). Family-members of the victims objected to the display of the image (Crime World) and the photograph was replaced with the one shown above, of the band outside the Longfellow bar.

The final two images show a small vertical banner outside the Longfellow Bar in tribute to Alan “Alio” McKenzie, a barman who died in 2013, one of twenty or more people who died from taking an unregulated drug (BBC | RTÉ); the lounge of the pub is named in his honour.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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These wildlife paintings – with owl, squirrel, magpie, rabbit, fox, badger and blackbirds among a variety of flowers – is on Stranmillis Road, just south of the commercial stretch of the road but well within the city limits.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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