Monthly Archives: August 2020

BELFAST ENTRIES

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Coronavirus has stopped a lot of things from happening the last six months, but that hasn’t stopped Street Art from appearing in Belfast.

Of course, during April and May, there were various tributes to the NHS, but most recently, Belfast City Centre has been given a makeover with the Belfast Entries Project.

The plan, is to use Street Art to brighten up entries in Belfast City Centre.

The first of those to get the treatment, was Crown Entry. If you are wondering where that is, it’s across the road from The Wicker Man.

So, I decided to head out and get some photos.

However, I would have to wait for a Sunday morning, when there’s not a lot of people about, for obvious reasons, not getting Covid and, most importantly, having the area to myself for photos.

A couple of Sundays came and went, the weather not really working for phototaking, eventually hitting on a Sunday that was dry and had daylight.

With the city to myself, I headed to Crown Entry for photos, snapping away. Due to the tightness of the area, I didn’t get the back lift I wanted, so apologies for the picture quality.

The delay in getting out allowed me to capture some more art, with some pieces appearing in Cole’s Alley in the past week, which I snapped.

There was further good news for lovers of Street Art in Belfast, as it was recently announced that there will be a Hit The North in 2020, on Sunday 20th September. Naturally, I shall be out for that.

Last year, the event moved from it’s traditional September slot to May.

The move back to September is planned to be for one year only, so all being well, it should be returning in May 2021.

There was a similar event scheduled for late April in Lisburn, which was cancelled and doesn’t look like being rescheduled.

Finally, I stumbled upon an event called Seek Dundalk, like Waterford Walls, but in Dundalk.

That’ll be something to bear in mind if I need some daytrip inspiration.

When the other entries in Belfast are painted, I shall be there getting snaps of it.

Photo Album

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MATCH – 14.5.1994

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Roy Keane is the cover star in a weekend that Manchester United face Chelsea in the FA Cup Final.

It is his fellow Corkonian and United team-mate Denis Irwin who is interviewed, getting a double page feature.

Across Manchester, Garry Flitcroft shows Match around his house, showing off his Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey CDs. His dad is a builder and has told him to invest his money in property.

Arsenal’s win over Parma in the European Cup Winners Cup Final gets a double page spread.

There is a pull out of World Cup Group A, featuring USA, Switzerland, Romania and Colombia.

David Elleray gets a profile, as he gets ready to referee the FA Cup Final, revealing that Carrow Road is his favourite ground.

Alan Moore of Middlesbrough gets a profile, being predicted as a star of the future.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – JANUARY 2000

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It’s the first month of the 21st Century, and it is Paul Scholes who is the cover star of Manchester United’s official magazine.

In news, Wes Brown gets interviewed about his recovery from injury, a rare bad moment for him in 1999, a year that saw him win the treble and make his England debut.

Steve McClaren has a column, and uses it to reveal that United are scouting for players in South America, having been impressed by Palmeiras players when they faced United recently.

George Best has a column, revealing he’s not a fan of the World Club Cup and is already putting names forward to replace Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of his proposed retirement in 2002 in the shape of Martin O’Neill or Bryan Robson.

Cover star Scholes gets a five page interview but there are no photos, so the magazine improvises and takes a cardboard cut-out on a tour of Manchester.

There are four pages covering United’s recent visit to Japan for the Toyota Cup Final against Palmeiras, and the experiences that United players had in Asia.

Andy Cole is interviewed as he prepares to release of his autobiography.

This was the first season of the World Club Cup which would eventually replace the Toyota Cup, and this tournament, which United are taking part in, gets previewed.

United have an arrangement with Royal Antwerp to loan players, and there is a feature with Kirk Hilton and George Clegg during their loan spell in Belgium.

There is a review of United’s matches in November 1999, a month saw them pick up League points, win the Toyota Cup but make a losing start to the Second Group Stage in the European Cup.

There is also a look forward to forthcoming matches, as well as a look at the programming MUTV has to offer in January 2000.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MATCH – 11.5.1985

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Andy Gray of Everton is the cover star of this edition of Match, which looks forward to Everton’s European Cup Winners Cup Final against Rapid Vienna.

As you open the magazine, there is a double page preview of that match, with Peter Reid saying that victory will “Put Everton on the map” as an international force.

Also getting a double page profile is Oxford United who have secured back to back promotions, and will be a top flight club for the first time in 1985-1986.

Match goes behind the scenes at Match Of The Day, with a double page report from their reporter Dave “The Mighty Atom” Smith.

Fact fans can rejoice in the fact that you can read about 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Kerry Dixon, with the Chelsea player’s favourite singers being Al Green and Lionel Richie.

In foreign news, Italy manager Enzo Bearzot predicts that Juventus will beat Liverpool in the European Cup Winners Cup Final at the end of the month.

The magazine ends with a sneak peek at the FA Cup Final, looking at the peak times of goals scored by Everton and Manchester United this season.

CREGAGH GLEN/LISNABREENY HILL – AUGUST 2020

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Well, I said I’d go back when the weather was better, and two weeks later I did.

Two weeks ago, blinded by curiosity, I ventured to Cregagh Glen for the first time since I was at school, to take in a walk and get some photos.

Timebound, it was only a short walk, terminating at the entrance at Manse Road, but I still managed to get a lot of photos and take in a lot of sights. However, there was still a lot more I wanted to do and see.

With a heatwave over the past weekend, this was the perfect opportunity, so I set out early morning, entering at the entrance at the top of Cregagh Road.

Despite the increased amount of daylight to work with, I wasn’t particularly happy with the photos as a lot of it was blocked out by the trees, so it didn’t worked as I hoped.

When I reached the crossroad, I ventured into the War Cemetery (as explained in my previous post, it’s no longer a Cemetery and all the bodies have been removed, but nobody bothered to change the name) for a walk.

There wasn’t much to it, just lots of grass, which is handy if you want to relax or have a picnic (tidying up after yourself of course) in the sunshine. If you are interested, there is a memorial stone at the very top of the field to commemorate that it was a former cemetery.

Having walked past it on the Rocky Road, it was good to get a chance to explore it.

The real appeal to visit came when you looked out at the spectacular views over Belfast. You can see Cavehill, Belfast Docks, as well as Samson and Goliath.

From there, I headed back into Cregagh Glen and carried on walking. When I reached the tunnel that leads to the Manse Road entrance, I didn’t go that way and took the other option. What an inspired decision that turned out to be.

I walked and I walked and kept on walking, eventually ending up on Lisnabreeny Hill, and managing to stare at an even more spectacular view of Belfast

As with my recent visits to Blackmountain and Cavehill, I encountered cows on my journey, although they were too busy enjoying water and grass to moo at me.

It was an area well worth exploring. I’m slightly annoyed at myself for not going there more often.

As mentioned in my Cavehill blog which precedes this, I’m looking at other places to go and walk and photograph.

If you have any suggestions for areas in Greater Belfast to walk up, do leave a comment. For reference, I drive, but I like to park in proper parking spaces. Being a road blocking dick isn’t my vibe.

Sometimes if you’re feeling curious and wanted to explore something a bit more, you get rewarded. This was one of those occasions.

Photo Album

Cregagh Glen – July 2020

CAVEHILL – AUGUST 2020

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I should have been walking up Arthur’s Seat.

Instead of my annual trip to Edinburgh at this time of year, i’m stuck at home. You all know why. The weather, was perfect for a walk in North Belfast.

I had planned on only doing this trek a couple of times a year, but now it’s a monthly occurrence.

I was planning on visiting last weekend if the weather was nice, as I wanted a lot of daylight to work with in terms of taking photos. It was dull when I was ready to leave so I headed out for a cycle instead. Of course, as soon as I was midway through my cycle, the sun came out.

Having checked the weather forecast, I knew it was going to be dry and daylight on both Saturday and Sunday, a winning combination. What I wasn’t expecting was fog to be thrown in as well. It did tempt me to give Cavehill a miss and photograph the early morning fog instead.

As well as photographic opportunities, another motivation for me was that this could be my last chance to do something outdoors for a while with Northern Ireland certain to be in Super Lockdown within the next two weeks because people are too stupid to not spread Coronavirus.

As with my previous visits, I headed there early to get a parking space and avoid the crowds. Arriving at around 7.30am, I got a space and avoided crowds, barely seeing anybody on the way up.

Anybody who I did see was usually accompanied by a dog. Nothing lower than a 13/10. Good doggies.

Usually, I post about how I was able to see Solitude and Windsor Park at the same time from Cavehill. Well, not this time. I was able to see Solitude, but not Windsor Park, as the view of that part of Belfast was obscured by fog.

Snap snap snap all the way up, checking out new vantage points to take photos of Belfast, while being alert to make sure I don’t fall. Thankfully, there is no such thing as The Cavehill Pusher.

Instead of heading back down when I reached McArt’s Fort, I went straight ahead and got some photos seeing as the light was on my side. And then I headed back up. It seemed like a good idea when I was planning my itinerary.

I’ll probably be back in September at some point, it might even be on a weekday.

With nothing to do and nowehere to go, I have a lot of Annual Leave that needs to be shedded.

I’ve booked a week off in mid September but I haven’t booked to go anywhere. It’s still very much a case of wait and see. I won’t be flying anywhere as it’s too much of a risk of losing my money.

If I am at a loose end and don’t go anywhere, i’ll do my monthly visit to Cavehill that week. I might even sneak in a return visit to Blackmountain.

I am looking at a few possible options.

Edinburgh is tempting me, i’ll be keeping an eye on how things are going in Scotland. Thankfully it’s well away from Aberdeen. Aberdeen, what a team, eight of them in quarantine.

If I did go, it would be by boat.

A couple of local stays within Northern Ireland are tempting me as well. To Fermanagh, for Marble Arch Caves Geopark or to Derry, for Binevenagh.

Bray and Wicklow is very tempting. Although two hours on the Enterprise feels a bit dicey.

One photo adventure I definitely want to do before the end of the year is sunrise at Cavehill. I’ll be saving that for November or December when the sunrises are later.

This week, it was announced that the 2020-2021 Irish League season will start in October, with fans present.

I am pessimistic this will actually happen, but i’m so starved of travel, i’m getting excited about the prospect of a trip to Lurgan for a turgid 1-0 defeat to Glenavon.

Photo Album

Cavehill June 2020

Cavehill February 2020

Cavehill November 2019

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – DECEMBER 1999

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It’s the end of the 20th Century, and the last edition of the century from Manchester United’s official magazine sees Jaap Stam mocked up to look like a giant, crushing opposing strikers.

United are getting set to head to Japan to take on Palmieras in the Intercontinental Cup Final, and the Brazilian side gets a profile.

United have made a new signing this month – off the pitch, as George Best joins the magazine as a columnist and he gets introduced, as if he needed to be introduced.

Cover star Stam gets a five page profile, revealing he enjoyed making tackles as much as scoring goals.

There’s a Dutch theme to this magazine, as United’s back-up goalkeeper Raimond Van Der Gowu gets interviewed.

In his column, Sir Alex Ferguson talks about new signing Mark Bosnich, describing him as “The best keeper in the country”

Which lead nicely into an advert for the next edition, which will see Bosnich’s predecessor in United’s goal, Peter Schmeichel, being interviewed.

United are through to the Second Group Stage of the European Cup, and their three opponents – Fiorentina, Valencia and Bordeaux all get profiled.

The magazine ends with a quiz between David May and Steve McClaren, with McClaren winning by a score of 7-3.