Paddy Duffy Collection

Belfast Blitz 1941

2026-03-292026-09-17Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is a representation of the 1941 Belfast Blitz, providing a graphic companion to the large board in Enfield Street, which contains information and images, and a list of 79 people from the Woodvale who died in the blitz. (There is also a plaque on the side of the Woodvale Community Centre.) There were three separate nights of bombing: April 7th/8th, April 15th/16th, and May 4th/5th and half of the buildings in Belfast were destroyed or damaged (WP); it is not clear what particular buildings are being depicted here.

On the left, spotlights and anti-aircraft guns attempt to take down the planes dropping bombs. (For information about the anti-aircraft guns in Belfast, see York Road Civil Defence Hall.)

Painted by DanK (web) in Glenvale Street, Woodvale, west Belfast, during the same trip in which he painted a D-Day mural in Carrickfergus.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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No Illegal Migrants

2026-03-292026-08-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The only mentions of the U.C.L./”Ulster Carrickfergus Loyalists” on-line come from a Facebook page of an individual called Dean Martin. The account describes the UCL as “newly-formed” in January, 2026 but the sticker in the third images dates back to October, last year (2025): “U.C.L.-patrolled area – keeping our women and children safe.” This suggests that the group was formed following the anti-immigrant riots last (2025) summer. See also Keep Our Kids Safe | One Big Clean Up | Stop The Boats | Protect Our Children.

The flags are in North Street and the poster was in Marine Gardens, Carrickfergus.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Sword Beach, June 6th 1944

2026-03-292026-03-31Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The plaque in the bottom-right corner reads, “Dedicated to Sergeant George Arthur Horner 27/03/1927 Royal Ulster Rifles 14464865 — “Carrickfergus’ Oldest Veteran” and to all other veterans who served in HM Armed Forces.” Horner turned 99 a few days after this mural of D-Day was unveiled (on March 22nd) and he was awarded the freedom of Mid- And East-Antrim Borough (web). He served in the second battalion of the Royal Ulster Rifles, and landed on Sword Beach during the D-Day landings in June 1944 (Fb).

Painted by DanK (web) in Carnhill Walk, Castlemara, Carrickfergus, replacing 100 Years Of The Covenant.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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John Mitchel

2026-03-282026-04-14Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“John Mitchel 1815 – 1875 After twenty years in exile for the sake of Ireland he returned with honour to die among his own people and he rests with his parents in the 1st Presbyterian old meeting house green at Newry.”

Mitchel graduated from Trinity at 19 and became an attorney in Newry and Banbridge before becoming a writer and editor for The Nation (the phrase “England’s difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity” comes from an 1845 article) and then The United Irishman. After 16 editions, he was arrested and convicted of treason and sent to penal colonies in Bermuda and Tasmania. He escaped to the USA, where he was an ardent supporter of slavery. When slavery was abolished, he again took up the cause of Ireland, returned to Ireland, won the Westminster seat for Tipperary but was barred, as a felon, from taking it, and died unexpectedly at age 59 (WP).

John Mitchel Place, Newry, in front of St Colman’s Park.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Ocean Separates Land, Not Souls

2026-03-282026-04-12Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The middle of the three upper plaques in the image above, as well as the blue plaque above them (in the third image), is dedicated to Thomas Raymond Kelly, a merchant seaman who died as he attempted to rescue a third person from heavy seas in the Bay Of Biscay. He was awarded the George Cross for his efforts (Newry Maritime Association).

The other plaques commemorate the SS Upas (Irish Wrecks); the Quo Vadis fishing boats (Mourne Maritime); SS Orior (Wrecksite); the “merchant seamen from Newry And Mourne who served with courage and valour through both World Wars”; SS Clew Bay, which took part in Operation Dynamo in Dunkirk; SS Dingle; the “Carlingford Lough Disaster” in 1916 – the collision of the SS Connemara and SS Retriever with the loss of 94 lives (BBC).

River Street/Kilmorey Street, Newry

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Thomas ‘Kidso’ Reilly

2026-03-282026-08-11Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“You’ll never walk alone.” Thomas “Kidso” Reilly was brother of Jim Reilly of Stiff Little Fingers and working as road manager for Bananarama when killed on the Springfield Road on August 9, 1983. (RTÉ footage of the funeral.) Ian Thain, of the Light Infantry regiment, was convicted of his murder. He served less than three years before being released and rejoining the army (like Lee Clegg) (Guardian).

This banner (from the Celtic Supporters’ Club) is hanging on the front of Bellini’s in Merchants Quay, Newry

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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A Spaceman Came Travelling

2026-03-222026-04-02Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This jaunty spaceman was painted by Ralph Connolly (ralphatronic on ig) in Bannagh Corner, east Belfast.

All Gave Some

2026-03-222026-08-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This entry updates a similar entry from 2022 with images and close-ups of the now-faded red and orange paint in the mural on the back wall of the “36th (Ulster) Division Victoria Cross Memorial Garden”.

For close-ups of the board picturing the WWI VC winners, see The Dead We Honour Here. “‘Throughout the long years of struggle … the men of Ulster have proved how nobly they fight and die’ – King George V, 16th November, 1918”

St Leonard’s Crescent/old Newcastle Street, east Belfast

To The People Of Ireland

2026-03-222026-04-02Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The IRSP/RSYM will commemorate the Easter Rising with wreath-laying in Derry (IRSP Derry Fb | RSYM Fb) on Saturday and a parade in Belfast on Easter Sunday (IRSP Lower Falls Fb). These posters of the seven signatories to the Proclamation are on the Falls Road, at Waterford Street/Dunville Park, west Belfast.

Mercedes Gleitze

2026-03-202026-03-29Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Mercedes Gleitze was an open-water endurance swimmer who achieved various feats, including swimming the English Channel and the Straits Of Gibraltar. She also attempted to swim the North Channel eight times, starting on four occasions from Donaghadee (Brighton Museum), site of these drawings by artist Vanessa Daws (web | Swimming A Long Way Together) – herself an open-water swimmer – on a shelter on Commons Park.