Street art by Alana McDowell (ig) in Lower Cross Street, Larne, next to #LoveLarne. With support from Daisy Chain and Mid & East Antrim council.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Live, Love, Larne
Larne
Craigyhill Bonfire 2023
A mammoth bonfire in Craigyhill (Larne) is again being built this year (for last year’s 202′ effort, see Commonwealth Handling Equipment). 30,000 pounds has already been spent on pallets (Sunday World) but the attempt to build a record bonfire and have the bonfire officially declared the world’s tallest by the Guinness Book Of World Records has now been substituted by a funraiser for Larne child Pia-Grace who is suffering from cancer (justgiving). (Belfast Live) A two-day festival begins today (July 10th) at noon and the boney will be lit after dark on Eleventh Night.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Ballymena And Larne Railway
“This mosaic depicts the history of the narrow gauge railway from Larne harbour to Ballymena which ran through this site.” The railway from Larne to Ballymena operated from 1878 to 1933 (WP). In Ireland, the narrow gauge railway was 3ft in width (compared with the modern standard of 5′ 3″).
Narrow Gauge Road, Larne.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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An Astounding Achievement
There’s a new King Charles III board in Boyne Square, Larne, of a similar sort to those we have seen in various other areas and using the same “lounging” image of Charles as in east Belfast, Carrickfergus, and the Caw (Londonderry) – though the quote is different: “My mother never ceased to pray for the best times for Northern Ireland and its people” (source unknown). The celebration of the 1914 gun-running that was on the wall previously (see Amazing Night In Larne) has been moved to the side wall, replacing King Billy.
“Operation Lion – a fascinating snapshot of an historical moment. The Larne gun-running was a major operation organised in Ireland by Major Frederick Crawford and Captain Wilfred [sic] Spender for the Ulster Unionist Council to equip the Ulster Volunteer Force. The operation involved the shipment of almost 25,000 rifles and between three and five million rounds of ammunition, with shipments landing in Larne, Donaghadee and Bangor in the early hours between Friday 24th and Saturday 25th April 1914.”
“Taking its name from the S.S. Clyde Valley that landed at Larne Harbour on 24th April 1914, Clyde Valley Defenders Flute Band were formed in 1995, with several of our founding members still marching with the band today. Following several years on the raod, the band were then renamed Clyde Valley Volunteers, before later being constituted as Clyde Valley Cultural & Musical Society (Clyde Valley Flute Band). The formation of Clyde Valley was much more than that of establishing a flute band. The band’s aim is to promote the Protestant culture through the teaching of music and history, whilst proudly remembering the sacrifices made by our forefathers. The Officers and Members of CLyde Valley Flute Band dedicate this mural to the role of the men and women in the Larne Gun-Running on 24th April 1914. They were Gunrunners.”
For the plaque and the Central Antrim Regiment see Central Antrim Regiment.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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A Fighter For Our Freedom
“Sergeant John Kernohan. Service No. 7011935. The youngest of a family of ten, John enlisted with the Royal Ulster Rifles in 1932, then transferring to the Royal Inniskillen Fusiliers in 1942 serving King, Queen and Country for 22 years. The record of his service exhibits great variety, both in regimental affiliation and in location with a service record which was exemplary. John saw service in Hong Kong, Palestine, France, Belgium, India[,] Austria and Malaya, where with the R.A.S.C. for distinguished service was mentioned in dispatches, his name appe[a]ring in the London Gazette of May 1950 [May 19th, 1950, page 2489, “in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya during the period 1st July 1949 to 31st December 1949″; Royal Army Service Corps, Corporal Kerohan].”
The medals from left to right are: General Service – Palestine ribbon, 1939-1945 Star, War Medal, Burma Star, Defence Medal
Drumahoe Gardens, Millbrook, Larne.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Welcome To Craigyhill
Bullets versus bonfires in Craigyhill, Larne: the hooded gunman shown above is next to the boards shown in The Loyalist Executioner in Glenfarne Place, Craigyhill (Larne). Both it and the second image (from the top of Cairngorm Drive) have been added since we photographed the record-breaking bonfire in July, 2022. The third image is of the board that (in 2019?) replaced the controversial Craigyhill Provost Team board that showed a hooded gunman with a pistol. The final image, showing a pair of assault rifles, is in Fanad Drive.
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T = Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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The Change
Harbour Highway underpass in Larne was re-painted in late October (2022) by (in order of appearance) Alana McDowell (ig), Rob Hilken (ig), emic (ig) (Lí Ban and/as otter, which was also the inspiration for iota’s piece in the town – see Shaped By Sea And Stone), Codo (ig), and FGB (ig).
With support from Seedheard Arts (ig) and Mid- & East Antrim council (ig).
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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The Welder
This is a new (March, 2023) piece by emic (ig) in Larne on the back wall of the Main Street car wash. Get in touch if you know the inspiration.
With support from Daisy Chain (ig) and the Belfast (web) and Mid- & East Antrim (tw) councils.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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This Is Ireland
Richard Hayward was born in England but spent his childhood in Larne in a time Henry McNeill was developing the tourist industry (see previously Larne – The Original Tourist Resort and Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines) – the Black Arch on the Coast Road is shown over Hayward’s right shoulder.
He collected songs, both Orange and traditional Irish, and played the harp. He went on to record 156 records, act in at least eight movies and write 11 travel books, the most popular of which was In Praise Of Ulster, with drawings by the landscape artist James Humbert Craig – some images from the book can be seen here.
(Ulster Biography | IMDb | Atlas Obscura)
The mural, in Larne’s Main Street, was designed by emic (ig) and painted by Dee Craig (Fb). Since 2021 you can also follow a trail around Richard Hayward’s East Antrim .
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The Dress Is Yellow And Black
“Geraldine Connon [web] – Geraldine is a well renowned fashion designer based in Larne. She has created this piece inspired by the Games of Thrones and Larne’s Ulster Scots Heritage. Geraldine used Irish linen in the tasel [sic], mesh within the helmet, and created the neck cuff from black feathers representing a crow. Crows are iconic in the TV series. The yellow and black tartan skirt brings in the Ulster Scots element to the piece. The image was photographed by fashion photographer Mitchell Cahoon [ig].”
The official name of the outfit is “Valentine”. This is another of the Game Of Thrones-inspired pieces in Larne town centre – Lower Quay St in this case – sponsored by the Mid & East Antrim Council, with Larne Renovation Generation (Fb) and the Traders Forum (BelTel | News Desk | Fb video). See previously: Larne – The Original Tourist Resort | The Battle Of Ulfreksfjord | Dire Wolf.
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