THE BLACKBIRD'S BAND AT DROMARA STREET IN BELFAST
THE BLACKBIRD'S BAND AT DROMARA STREET IN BELFAST [DECEMBER 2025]
The Blackbird's Band: A Magical Find on Dromara Street
AtDromaraStreet
The sculpture, created by local artist Daniela Balmaverde, is a wonderful blend of industrial strength and natural whimsy. It’s a piece that demands you stop, look closer, and let your imagination take over.
A Song Carved in Steel and Bronze
The first thing that strikes you is the materials. Large, curving ribbons of Corten steel rise from the ground. This metal, with its deep, rusted orange patina, speaks to Belfast's industrial past of shipbuilding and engineering. It feels strong, permanent, and rooted in the landscape.
But perched upon and within these steel waves are delightful, figurative sculptures cast in bronze. These aren't just static figures; they are a band of animal musicians, caught mid-performance.
My photos reveal the charming details: a hare lost in the music, playing a flute; a hedgehog keeping the beat on a bodhrán drum; and another figure strumming a stringed instrument. They are playing the song of the "Blackbird of Belfast Lough."
The 9th-Century Lyrics
Cut through the steel ribbons, allowing the light and the green grass to show through, are the lyrics to their song. The text is in Old Irish, taken from a famous 9th-century poem scribbled in the margin of a manuscript by a monk distracted by a bird's call.
The inscription reads: "Int én bec / ro léic feit / do rind guip / glanbuidi..."
In English, the poem translates to: The small bird / has let a whistle / from the tip of its / bright yellow beak / it sends a song / over Belfast Lough / a blackbird from a branch / heaped with yellow gorse
The sculpture brings this ancient moment to life. The rusted steel perfectly represents the "branch heaped with yellow gorse," and the bronze animals are the orchestra for the blackbird's timeless melody.
A Hidden Gem
This artwork is a perfect example of why you should always explore side streets. It's a magical juxtaposition: an ancient poem, industrial materials, and charming animal characters all coming together in a quiet corner of the city.
Next time you are in the Ormeau area, take the small detour down Dromara Street. Find the band of bronze musicians on their rusted stage and listen—really listen—to the echoes of a song that has been part of this place for a millennium.
The Blackbird's Band: A Magical Find on Dromara Street
AtDromaraStreet
The sculpture, created by local artist Daniela Balmaverde, is a wonderful blend of industrial strength and natural whimsy. It’s a piece that demands you stop, look closer, and let your imagination take over.
A Song Carved in Steel and Bronze
The first thing that strikes you is the materials. Large, curving ribbons of Corten steel rise from the ground. This metal, with its deep, rusted orange patina, speaks to Belfast's industrial past of shipbuilding and engineering. It feels strong, permanent, and rooted in the landscape.
But perched upon and within these steel waves are delightful, figurative sculptures cast in bronze. These aren't just static figures; they are a band of animal musicians, caught mid-performance.
My photos reveal the charming details: a hare lost in the music, playing a flute; a hedgehog keeping the beat on a bodhrán drum; and another figure strumming a stringed instrument. They are playing the song of the "Blackbird of Belfast Lough."
The 9th-Century Lyrics
Cut through the steel ribbons, allowing the light and the green grass to show through, are the lyrics to their song. The text is in Old Irish, taken from a famous 9th-century poem scribbled in the margin of a manuscript by a monk distracted by a bird's call.
The inscription reads: "Int én bec / ro léic feit / do rind guip / glanbuidi..."
In English, the poem translates to: The small bird / has let a whistle / from the tip of its / bright yellow beak / it sends a song / over Belfast Lough / a blackbird from a branch / heaped with yellow gorse
The sculpture brings this ancient moment to life. The rusted steel perfectly represents the "branch heaped with yellow gorse," and the bronze animals are the orchestra for the blackbird's timeless melody.
A Hidden Gem
This artwork is a perfect example of why you should always explore side streets. It's a magical juxtaposition: an ancient poem, industrial materials, and charming animal characters all coming together in a quiet corner of the city.
Next time you are in the Ormeau area, take the small detour down Dromara Street. Find the band of bronze musicians on their rusted stage and listen—really listen—to the echoes of a song that has been part of this place for a millennium.
SCULPTURE AT DROMARA STREET