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No Going Back
“For the sake if our children there’s no going back.” Twelve year-old Portadown boy Darren Murray died during the Drumcree protests of 1996 when he was knocked down in 1996, running away from a group of youths (Irish Times). Murray’s death, and the death of the Quinn brothers, have been brought back to mind by the recent standoff at Drumcree church (see No Orange Feet At Garvaghy), which perhaps ended on Friday (October 9th) when NI Secretary Chris Bryant banned the Orange Order from marching past the Garvaghy estate (Guardian | Irish Times); the Orange Order is appealing the decision (Independent).
“We stand with the Garvaghy Road residents.” These posters of solidarity with the residents of Garvaghy (and posters and dolls in solidarity with Gazan children) are on the hedge on the Glen Road side of Groves-Reilly Corner, site of the former Andersonstown RUC barracks.
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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Things Can Only Get Better
Peter Cunnah was the singer in D:Ream, which had a number-one hit in 1994 with “Things Can Only Get Better” (youtube). Cunnah was born in Belfast but adopted by parents in Derry (BBC).
This new mural was painted (by Karl Porter of UV Arts (web)) at the junction of Northland and Clarendon streets (in the Clarendon Conservation Area (pdf)), next to Cunnah’s home at 46 Clarendon Street, where he formed his first band, Tie The Boy (Derry Journal).
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Copyright © 2026 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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Journacide
Since the Hamas attacks of October 7th, 2023, IDF forces have killed roughly 260 media workers in Gaza and 28 in Lebanon. The International Federation Of Journalists in 2025 declared Gaza to be the deadliest place for journalists (Al Jazeera); the Guardian calls it “journalism’s graveyard”.
Seán Murray’s documentary “Journacide: The War On Truth” premiered in Belfast in June as part of Docs Ireland (pdf). It profiles four journalists killed this year (2026) in Lebanon: Amal Khalil (killed in al-Tayri on April 22nd (RSF)), and Ali Shoeib, Fatima Ftouni, and her brother Mohamed Ftouni (killed in Jezzine on March 28, 2026 (PBS))
International Wall, Divis Street, west Belfast, replacing the boy and phoenix from Painting For Palestine. For the poem on the ribbon, see Tell My Story.
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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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No Orange Feet At Garvaghy
A decision to ban Orangemen from marching down Garvaghy Road in Portadown in July was quashed at the end of August because the Parades’ Commission failed to follow proper procedure (BBC). Another application was made to march down the road, past the Catholic estate, and this was granted, with restrictions, for September 27th, re-igniting a dispute that has been largely dormant since 1988.
Since the 27th, there has been a stand-off between (on the one hand) Orangemen from Portadown and elsewhere in Northern Ireland and (on the other) local residents supported by leaders from the CNR community – Gerry Adams, Michell O’Neill, Mary Lou McDonald – and celebrities such as Kneecap (BBC) and Damien Dempsey. There have also been a variety of court orders and appeals. The Appeals’ Court’s session yesterday (October 5th) focused on the Commission’s use of a PSNI statement assessing the impact a parade would have (RTÉ); the court reserved judgment (BBC).
This graffiti in on the Springfield Road, west Belfast.
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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Young Newton
This Young Newton (the UYM in east Belfast) mural is an extension to the left-hand end of the fiftieth anniversary repainting of “Freedom Corner” and next to the Young Newton memorial garden. The group has had a presence on the area’s walls since 1997. See also 2005 | 2009 | 2009 at the other end of Freedom Corner. (Also 1999 in Bangor.)
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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Titanic People
“Welcome to Titanic People, a celebration of the intelligence, creativity and courage of people who define this legendary Belfast neighbourhood. The spot where you’re standing may seem like a rather unremarkable part of Belfast, but it’s the epicentre of some of the city’s most remarkable citizens and their fascinating life stories. Some famous, other relatively unknown, but each born or employed within the sound of the shipyards’ riveters’ hammers and all with compelling personal histories that continue to reverberate locally and internationally. Westbourne Presbyterian Church whose grounds play host to this exhibition, is known locally as the Shipyard Church due to its proximity to Belfast’s famous docks and the home of the world-famous ship builders, Harland & Wolff. Opened in 1880, many of the workers who helped to build RMS Titanic would have brought their families here each week for Sunday Worship. It still serves a local congregation today and the pews inside haven’t changed. When you’ve finished reading about Titanic People, you are more than welcome to come inside and take the same seats occupied by those shipyard workers more than a century ago.”
Among those profiled are James Ellis, Marie Jones, Rev. John Redmond, St John Greer Ervine, Brian Desmond Hurst, and Henry Pottinger.
At the front entrance to Westbourne Presbyterian, on the Newtownards Road, next to the new WWII memorial. See also The Yardmen on the other side of the Newtownards Road.
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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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To The Future Me
Fight Racism, Not Races
The chalk grid-lines are still visible but work appears to have ceased on the latest Kneecap-sponsored mural in Hawthorn Street. It joins the four that have been added to the facing walls, one in each of the last four years and all at the time of Féıle (see 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025). The new addition likewise accompanied this year’s performance, at the Uppa Falls concert in the Falls Park on Thursday (August 6th) (BBC).
For the Gibraltar 3 board, see X03944; for the plaque see the Peter Moloney Collection.
Hawthorn Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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For A Socialist Republic
The hammer and sickle are spray-painted on a junction box along with the colours of the Irish tricolour.
Northumberland Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Fight Racism!
In response to the rioting in east Belfast and elsewhere – see McMaster Street Remembers – various (painted) placards reading “Fight racism”, “”Ní hea” don chiníochas”, “”No” to hate”, “”Yes” to all!” were added in June to many of the murals on the International Wall, Divis Street (Visual History), including the Free Marwan mural and the remaining piece from the Painting For Palestine project – for a directory, see Looking Heaven In The Eye and (without the red ribbon), Tell My Story.
(These additions are reminiscent of the ‘Free Marian Price’ additions in 2013 – see Scaoıl Saor Marian Price in the Peter Moloney Collection.)
Also visible: Stop The Game.
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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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