A blur of a hurler (or camóg) by Dublin artist Aches (web) in Ballycastle, where the local GAA club is Mac Uilín/MacQuillan’s (web).
Previously by Aches in Belfast: Disruption | A Closer Look | Headaches
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ballycastle harbour is home to the Rathlin Island ferry and a memorial plaque to Marconi for an 1898 transmission between the town and Rathlin, and Morton’s Fresh Fish and Fish ‘n’ Chips. The mural above includes Ballycastle fishermen Sean Morton Snr, Phillip Morton, Jack Coyles, Will Henry, and Jimmy Black.
The mural is by Oliver McParland (web).
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Feıs Na nGleann is an annual festival of Irish language, arts, and crafts, begun in Glenariffe in 1904. The website has not been updated since 2019, presumably due to COVID putting a stop to activity.
The “F” makes reference to the local “Irish (Peasant) Home Industries“, while the “E” shows the harebell (bluebell) in flower. The “I” might be St Brigid as an oak or a reference to Princess Taisie/Taobhgheal of Rathlin.
Laura Nelson of Szu Szu Signs (ig).
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Local storyteller Hugh Dillon in Castle Street, Ballycastle, by JMK (Jonny McKerr). The original photograph, of Dillon in Leyland Road, Ballycastle, in 1956 and is available at Dúchas.
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Somhaırle Buí Mac Domhnaıll (Gaeılge) / Somhaırle Buıdhe Mac Domhnaıll (Gàıdhlıg) / Sorley Boy MacDonnell (English) was so-called (Buí/Buıdhe) because of his “yellow” hair. Although his family was from the islands, he was born just outside Ballycastle in 1505 and is known for establishing the Mac Donnells in Antrim and for frustrating the plantation (WP | Tudor & Stuart Perspectives).
The mural was painted by Oliver McParland (web) in North Street, Ballycastle.
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The inspiration for this piece is the Ould Lammas Fair, one of Ireland’s oldest and, some claim, biggest festivals, which is held in Ballycastle on the last Monday and Tuesday of August (Irish Culture & Customs). The piece, by emic (web), is in Castle Street which was perhaps the location of the market within the mediaeval town walls.
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Here’s one from inside the modern-day Smithfield market, showing people browsing the shops in the old market, including Havelin’s key-cutting and Hall’s book shop – both have gone out of existence.
Two previous paintings: Smithfield Market
See also this street art celebrating the old market: Old Smithfield and Like A Souk In An Hibernian Casablanca
From the new market: My Old Toy Box | Their Only Colour Was Khaki
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“Gordon ‘Galloper’ Thompson – the headless horseman of North Belfast …. The Gordon ‘Galloper’ Thompson mural has been designed and created by young people from the Tiger’s Bay, New Lodge and York/Shore Rd areas of North Belfast as part of the CIRCA project delivered by Arts for All. … According to local legend, Gordon Thompson claimed that if he died and didn’t get into heaven, he would come back to haunt his ancestral home of Jennymount. An apparition of a man on horseback (with his head tucked under his arm) is rumoured to have been seen around Jennymount Mill where it is believed he was decapitated in an accident while fixing one of the weaving machines. Often parents used this tale to encourage their children to come in before dark. Many people still remember their parents telling them to be in for a certain time or: “Galloper Thompson will get ye.” ” (The text is from Joe Baker’s Haunted Belfast. More info from Walking Tours Belfast.)
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The new Bobby Sands mural is not the only recent addition in Twinbrook. Almond – the middle of the estate – has a ‘before and after’ of the pandemic: on the left, locals sit out in the street watching children play; on the right, frontline personnel.
For the ‘Victory To The IRA’ graffiti on the left, see Who?.
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“In memory of all taxi drivers – public and private – who were murdered by loyalists/British crown forces during the conflict serving their community through transport.” This is the side wall to a larger mural to black taxi drivers which has been in place since 2001, was repainted in 2011, and is again looking in rough shape.
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Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 