Here are four flags from “Ulster Carrickfergus Loyalists [Fb]” attached to the fencing at the top of Woodburn Avenue in Carrickfergus. For (limited) background on the UCL, see No Illegal Migrants.
First, “Ulster loyalist – unite and fight.” with a fiery-eyed skull (reminiscent of Eddie The Trooper).
Second, “We are united as one & united we shall remain. Never surrender.” with the flags of the “four nations” that make up the current United Kingdom.
Third, “Christ is king. Stand up to radical Islam. Islam is not a race – it’s an ideology of hate.”
“The Ulster-Scots and the making of America” is a new mural in Carrickfergus celebrating the impact of Ulster-Scots (or, Scotch-Irish) emigrants to the colonies that became the United States.
On the left and right of the main gable (above), the arrivals are shown expanding the territories as they travel in a covered wagon and as embodying Appalachian culture in the form of “old time” (fiddle and banjo) music. (For the Ulster-Scots as frontiersmen, see Ulster Sails West in Ballymoney.)
In the centre are images of space travel, the rocket (perhaps the Saturn V) is heading to the moon (shown in the apex of the wall), upon which Buzz Aldrin walked in the 1969 mission on Apollo 11.
(These are the same themes as deployed in the new mural for the 250th anniversary of the United States in the Shankill – see We Lead Across Time And Space.)
The tartan pattern is called “Ulster Scots” (Tartan Register). The emblem combining a thistle and two red hands within a circle of shamrocks appears to be original work. The Great Seal of the United States was designed by Charles Thomson from Maghera; his contribution is commemorated in his home town.
The UVF boards at the junction of London and My Lady’s roads in east Belfast have been completely replaced (compared to 2022). The hooded gunmen on the short side have been replaced by “Joy, peace, love” while a tribute to David Ervine now replaces the lettering reading “East Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force”. Ervine was a UVF member from 1972 to 1980 before turning to a career in politics. “He asked the question “why can’t I be an Irish citizen of the UK?” … “An architect of peace. An inspiration to us all.” Always remembered by his family, comrades, colleagues and friends.”
Next to Ervine is a UVF roll of honour in which Roy Walker joins Robert Bennett, James Cordner, Joseph Long, and Robert Seymour, who were previously portrayed (Ulster’s Brave). Walker was killed in a feud with the UDA in 1976. And around the corner the UVF emblem has been replaced by a board to the Ulster Volunteer Force Regimental Band, containing a controversial photograph of the band marching past the site of the 1992 Sean Graham bookies massacre (Crime World). Update: the photograph has been replaced – see the parallel entry in the Seosamh Mac Coılle Collection.
The largest panel remains a tribute to the dead of WWI, for which see again the parallel entry in the Seosamh Mac Coılle Collection.
The hobby/carousel horse on a spring carries only a pair of boots. This is work by London-based artist SATR (ig) in Crown Entry, Belfast, for Hit The North 2026.
“I ❤️ Belfast”, “Love conquers all”, “Stop war”. These are works by London pair Nathan Bowen (ig | web store) and ThisIsLostBoy (ig), in Bruce Street and High Street.
See previously in Castle Street: Pledge For Positivity which contains links to more Bowen pieces.
In addition to the main festival location centred on the Sunflower bar, a small jam took place in a recently renovated courtyard next to the UU building in York Lane (compare with 2025’s Medusa).
The large piece (above) is by Ricky Also (ig) while the seven on the courtyard wall are “Bear With Me” by Curly Bap (ig), “Judith Beheading Holofernes” by JoJo (ig), a cat on the moon by Stella (ig), a wall by David Copeland (ig), big hair by Rachel Patterson (ig), an “Use It Or Lose It” by DEID (web), and Gaelic games by Fraser_9K (ig)
From top to bottom (west to east, on the street), the pieces are by Artz (ig) + EPOM (ig), Rob Hilken (web), Erin Bradley Scott (Glasgow) (ig), NOYS (ig), Noodle (ig), KVLR (web), JAM (ig).
Paddy Duffy Collection 