“Our revenge will be the laughter of our children” – The words of Bobby Sands are illustrated on an electrical box on the Whiterock Road, Belfast, with silhouettes of children at play in nature.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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“In loving memory of our most gracious sovereign – Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022. God save the Queen.” The platinum (70th) jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, celebrated in June, 2022, was followed a short time later by her death, on September 8th. These two boards in Maldon Street, mark the two events.
Replaces a Ruby Murray board and the info board that went with the John Darren Sutton painting of King Billy in Tavanagh St.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T02737
The map in the lower left corner of this WWI commemorative mural shows the defensive lines of both the Allies and the Central Powers. As the inscription on the mural describes, the Ulster Tower is situated close to the Schwaben Redoubt, the primary objective of the 36th Division on the first day of battle.
“Ulster Tower, officially opened 19th November, 1921, by Field Marshall Sir Henry Wilson.” “This Tower is dedicated to the glory of God in grateful memory of the officers and men of the 36th (Ulster) division, and of the sons of Ulster in other forces who laid down their lives in the Great War, and of all their comrades-in-arms who, by divine grace, were spared to testify to their glorious deeds.” “The Ulster Tower stands on what was the German front line during the Battle Of The Somme, 1st July to 18th November 1916. It was erected on the site of the Schwaben Redoubt, a strongly fortified position which the 36th (Ulster) Division eventually captured. It’s opposite Thiepval Wood from where the (Ulster) Division made it’s [sic] historic charge on 1st July 1916, and within close proximity to the village of Thiepval.” “32,186 killed, wounded, missing.” “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Conway Street, Shankill, west Belfast. There is a plaque to the right (not shown) dating back to the the previous mural, painted in 2010.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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The “Shankill Boys” were the roughly 700 men of the West Belfast battalion of the Ulster Volunteers who were almost all killed at the Somme. (This board – or a previous copy of it – was previously in Carnan St.)
As with all of the Belfast battalions, West Belfast had a “USSF” [Ulster Special Service Force] – its emblem is in the top left of the second board, below. (See previously USSF and Carving Out A Place In History) The other emblem is that of the ‘Greengairs Thistle Flute Band’ (web). Although the background comes from WWI, the roll of honour lists modern-day volunteers from the UVF. Thomas Chapman, James McGregor, Robert McIntyre, William Hannah, and Robert Wadsworth are portrayed in Carnan Street – see C. Coy Street. The modern-day C Company, formed in 1974, is named after the Four Step Inn, which was bombed in September 1971 (see Four Step).
This pair of boards is next to the Vanguard Bears board in Sugarfield Street.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Work by emic (ig) in Castle Lane, Belfast, perhaps picking up a theme from Friz’s Under The Cherry Blossoms in Castle Arcade which focused on the castle and grounds in the era of Arthur Chichester. Chichester’s castle burned down in 1708 and by 1800 the castle and its grounds were vanishing under buildings akin to the nearby corn market and Belfast entries (WP).
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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T02701 [T02699] [T02700]
An 11-metre-wide set of bouquets spelling out “Belfast” has been installed in front of Belfast City Hall as the initial event of the Belfast One Business Improvement District’s campaign for 2023-2024. The calendar of events can be found here.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T02741
The Seal Folk or Selkies are shape-shifting creatures in island mythologies from Man to Ireland to the Scottish isles to the Faroes to Iceland. Seals in water, they can take off their skins and become (beautiful) humans on land. Without their skins, they cannot return, and so they can be captured by humans who hide their skins. A few tales can be found at Scotland’s Stories.
By KMG (web) in Dublin Road.
April 26th:
April 27th:
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
[T02707] T02708
T02590 [T02591] [T02620] T02621
Here is a gallery of the murals and plaques in Clós Ard An Lao/Ardilea Close in the Machaıre Botháın/Marrowbone area of north Belfast. A full repertoire of republican events is commemorated – the United Irishmen, Great Hunger, the Rising, the Troubles, the (modern) hunger strikes. What is most striking is the significant presence of religious icons, such as the Sacred Heart in the glass cases in front of the two main murals (above and last below).
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T02709 T02713 T02712 T02716 T02717 T02715 T02714 T02710 [T02711]
KVLR (ig) (and PENS?) repainted some of the walls in the courtyard of the Ulster Sports Club (where Ulster Says Yeoo). The FGB piece (in the final image) remains.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Street art by Voyder (ig) for HTN 2023 in McKibben’s Court, Belfast.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Paddy Duffy Collection 