Paddy Duffy Collection

Craigyhill Bonfire 2023

2023-07-092026-04-15Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A mammoth bonfire in Craigyhill (Larne) is again being built this year (for last year’s 202′ effort, see Commonwealth Handling Equipment). 30,000 pounds has already been spent on pallets (Sunday World) but the attempt to build a record bonfire and have the bonfire officially declared the world’s tallest by the Guinness Book Of World Records has now been substituted by a (justgiving) fundraiser for Larne child Pia-Grace who is suffering from cancer (Belfast Live). A two-day festival begins today (July 10th) at noon and the boney will be lit after dark on Eleventh Night.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Kindred Minds

2023-07-042024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

At the beginning of Joyce’s A Little Cloud (from Dubliners), Little Chandler is sitting at his desk in the King’s Inns (law school) rather than, as written here “the King’s Inn”, which is the nearby pub outside of which this painted electrical box can be found.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Stairway To Heaven

2023-06-252024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Cuilcagh Boardwalk is a 2.8-mile trail that ends in stairs that climb to the top of Cuilcagh Mountain [Binn Chuilceach, chalky mountain] and the views it offers of the surrounding territory – hence the name “Stairway To Heaven”. The distance from boggy plain to chalky pinnacle is 700m – and eight million years of geological history (Cuilcagh Geopark). Then you walk back the same way (Walk NI).

Work by Friz (ig) in Wickham Place, Enniskillen, at the Belmore motel.

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Under The Bridge Downtown

2023-06-252024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The troll under the East Bridge in Enniskillen is friendly, offering a flower to the sprites doing “The Dance” (the official name of the piece) to the music of a satyr. Mural by Kevin McHugh (ig).

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Session

2023-06-252024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Fiddler John McManus (who died in 1987 – Fermanagh Herald) and other musicians – by Kevin McHugh (ig) on the wall of Pat’s bar in the Diamond, Enniskillen, where there’s a session each Friday at 7 (Fb).

Belfast Live report on the painting of the mural.

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Cooking With Gas

2023-06-252024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

AC-12 is based in the West Midlands of England but headed by former RUC-man Ted Hastings, who is famous for his Northern Irishisms, including “Now we’re suckin’ diesel”. (For “I didn’t float up the Lagan in a bubble”, see Mother Of God.) The Line Of Duty character is played by local Enniskillen actor Adrian Dunbar.

By Karl Fenton and Danni Simpson in Church Lane, Enniskillen.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Pike Fishing In Enniskillen

2023-06-252024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Pike are in season year-round in both Upper and Lower Lough Erne. Above, a pike by Friz (ig); below, pike fishing by Kevin McHugh (ig).

Paget Lane, Enniskillen.

Seven For A Secret

2023-06-252024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Magpies have a reputation – perhaps unfairly (BBC) – for stealing shiny things. This one is pulling the laces from an old boot.

Street art by Kevin McHugh (ig) in Pagets Lane, Enniskillen.

The Happy Prince

2023-06-252024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“High above the city on a tall column stood the statue of the happy prince.” These are the opening words of Oscar Wilde’s short story ‘The Happy Prince’, first published in 1888 which describes the selfless acts of a statue and a swallow. This mural by Karl Fenton (ig) and Jordan Shaw (ig) in Water Street was designed to fit with the “Flight Of The Little Golden Swallow” walking trail (Experience Enniskillen | Fermanagh Lakelands) in Enniskillen (Impartial Reporter).

Fluusa

2023-06-212024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

According to artist emic (ig) this is a portrayal of Fluusa. Fluusa was the goddess of flowers from the southern Italian culture of the Osci, who in Roman mythology is known as Flora (WP). The art is on the upper floor of The Grand Social (ig), in High Street, Bangor.