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No Going Back

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“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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No Orange Feet At Garvaghy

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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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Titanic People

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“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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Stop The Genocide – Stop The Game

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Here are images of signs at the Derry/Donegal border expressing support for Palestine, and calling in particular for the cancellation of the forthcoming soccer matches between Ireland and Israel.

One board (shown last, below) reads, “Fáılte go Doıre. Please boycott, rally & strike to end the genocide in Palestine. RISE for Palestine.” The group “RISE For Palestine” was founded last year (2025) in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza (Derry Journal). “RISE” stands for “Resistance Inspires Solidarity and Equality”.

The other two boards read “Stop the genocide – stop the game” and “Red card Israel – stop the game”. Ireland is due to play two games against Israel in the Nations League on September 27th and October 4th. The games will in fact be played in Hungary and Serbia, and mostly without any fans (RTÉ). For more background and a placard in Belfast, see Stop The Game.

The figure shown as both “war criminal” and “footballer” is Menashe Zalka, captain of Hapoel Hadera and an IDF reservist, who was seen taking part in Israeli action inside Lebanon (Al Jazeera).

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Copyright © 2026 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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Stop The Boats

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Here are two pieces of “stop the boats” graffiti from Sandy Row in south Belfast, part of on-going protests against immigration that have been going since 2023 and which resulted in rioting in June – see McMaster Street Remembers.

See previously: the same phrase in Tiger’s Bay, north Belfast, along with No Illegal Migrants | Keep Our Kids Safe | One Big Clean Up | Protect Our Children.

The graffiti in the final image reads “SAF UYM”. When placed next to “UYM” (“Ulster Young Militants”, the youth division of the UDA), the “S” in “SAF” is likely “Sandy Row” and not “Sudanese” (as in “Sudanese Armed Forces”, which have been engaged in a war with the Rapid Support Forces since 2023, destabilising the country and driving emigration to Europe (Sudanist)). The recent riots were sparked by a knife attack by a Somali emigrant on an east Belfast local. The damage seen in the third image is to the apartments next to the Sham Supermarket, which was attacked in the June riots and is seen here boarded up with corrugated metal panels (BBC).

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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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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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Ní Saoırse Gan Óglaıgh Ar Son Na Saoırse

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“Ní saoırse gan óglaıgh ar son na saoırse [there is no freedom without warriors for freedom] – End internment!”, “Conradh Na Saoırse Náısıúnta – National Liberation League [ig charter]. CSN/NLL is an off-shoot of the Connolly Youth Movement.

In the background is an image of solidarity between Irish and Palestinian political prisoners by Carlos Latuff, which has been a mural on Northumberland Street (Visual History) since 2012.

Falls Road, west Belfast

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