painted wall

Things Can Only Get Better

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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

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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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Young Newton

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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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Fight Racism!

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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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People Make Sandy Row

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“People make Sandy Row” – community artwork in Sandy Row, possibly by ArtFill, who produced an earlier piece (with Codo). (See also: Life Is Tough.)

For tensions between the people living in Sandy Row, see Stop The Boats.

Maxwell Street, Sandy Row, south Belfast. For a close-up, see the Paddy Duffy Collection.

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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Phoenix Arose In ’81

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The phoenix in Clowney Street was first painted in 1981 and has been repainted periodically in the same form. (For a brief history, see The Oldest Murals.) In this update, the only noticeable changes are the quotation-marks around “69” and the golden feet on the phoenix.

For the WBTA board above the phoenix (which itself goes back to at least 2012), see Alternative Transport, Alternative Location.

Clowney Street, Beechmount, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Fabulous Fleadh-Mingo

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The Fabulous Fleadh-Mingo is a one-bird band, with drum, cymbals, concertina, and tin whistle. It was brought into being by FGB (web) in Dunbar Street, Belfast city centre, for Fleadh Cheoıl Na hÉıreann, alongside works in Commercial Court, the Dark Horse, Royal Avenue, and Writers’ Square.

Another street-art flamingo, by Woskerski: Flamingo Ballroom

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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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