Exploring in Larne

When we visit Larne, Richard and I sometimes do the rounds of the various murals in the area; we're both interested in the ways that they have been changing in recent years.

There is still a large dose of loyalist paramilitary imagery, some of it very aggressive, to my eyes at least. Men in balaclavas, guns, flags.  But as I blipped earlier in the holiday, there are increasingly examples of community-focused murals of a different kind, alongside the older ones.

Today's blip is something we came across by accident en route to somewhere else: the area under the flyover in the centre of town. EU money has funded 'peace and reconciliation' initiatives of various kinds, and also regeneration and public art initiatives.  The mosaic in the main image dates back to 2005 and depicts the narrow-gauge railway running between Larne and Ballymena.  Look closely at the little plaque on the right; the final word has been sliced off neatly (it was 'reconciliation').  There is still no room for complacency, especially in the highly-charged context of Brexit.
The other images show the whole of the railway mosaic, and some of the painted arches. Overall, expressions of hope really.

Tonight we pack up, tomorrow we tidy up the house and spend the day with Diana, before getting the overnight ferry back.