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John Rinty Monaghan

Rinty Monaghan

Rinty Monaghan was Belfast’s first World Boxing Champion. He was the first boxer from the city to win a world boxing title becoming flyweight champion in 1948.

John Joseph Monaghan was born in 1918 and he became known as Rinty because of his love for stray dogs and after Rin Tin Tin, the famous dog actor. He had 66 fights winning 51, drawing six and losing nine.

A statue of him by Alan Beattie Herriot has recently been erected in Cathedral Gardens, Belfast, not far from where he grew up. Continue reading “John Rinty Monaghan”

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Tall Ships 2015

Tall Ship, Europa, berthed at Belfast

Well the tall ships visited Belfast again and its been reported that over the four days they were here approaching half a million people came to see them. It certainly is a spectacle and the sun came out – for most of the time anyway.

The ships and other attractions were spread over a very wide area and this seemed to help prevent the congestion that can often happen at these events. The downside was lots of walking but then i do need the exercise!

Hats off to the organisers for a well planned and executed event. Continue reading “Tall Ships 2015”

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The new lagan Footbridge

Lagan Weir Replacement Footbridge nears completion

I photographed the old lagan Footbridge a few times over the years. People had taken to putting love locks on it, like that bridge in Paris and it made for some interesting photographs.

It was only recently that I noticed that the new bridge – the official title seems to be The Lagan Weir Replacement Footbridge – was nearing completion. In fact the sign at the construction site says that work commenced in October 2014 and is due to be completed this month.  I would’ve crossed bridge twice or three times a week usually but obviously not since October 2014. Time flies indeed! Continue reading “The new lagan Footbridge”