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A mural celebrating philanthropist Joseph Rowntree's contribution to York has been unveiled in a city centre park to mark the centenary of his death.

The artwork, located at North Street Gardens, was created by Art of Protest and commissioned by York BID to highlight the history of the "underused" space.

Jeff Clark, creative director of Art of Protest, called the site "one of the best locations" for the group to create an artwork.

"Delivering any project of scale has its complications but this one has come together really beautifully with really key messaging coming through it," he said.

The gardens were given to the city by the Joseph Rowntree for his factory workers to use.

Rachel Bean, from York BID, previously described the philanthropist as a "really significant figure" in York.

The Quaker businessman successfully ran his family's firm in the 19th and 20th Century, a confectionery company best known for producing Fruit Pastilles, KitKats and Tooty Frooties.

A keen social reformist concerned with inequality, he set up several charitable trusts to improve life for his employees, including the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.

He also created New Earswick, a garden village located on the outskirts of York, to give factory workers higher quality living conditions.

"North Street Gardens is such a key location because it was a gift from Joseph Rowntree to the city for his workers, offering them a space to come outside to connect with nature," Ms Bean said.

"It was all about improving their quality of life."

Art of Protest worked with Door 84, a youth and community centre, to create the piece and young people were directly involved in the decision-making process.

The mural contains references to the history of the space, including rowan tree leaves in a nod to the origin of the name Rowntree.

Gemma Waygood, senior project manager of Art of Protest, said: "There was just so much we could have talked about and that was so important – the whole history, the philanthropy, and that's what Art of Protest does as well."

Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has been given permission by the High Court to challenge plans to have Irish language signs installed at Grand Central Station in Belfast.

He was granted leave to seek a judicial review into Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins' decision to approve the £150,000 scheme at the city's new public transport hub.

A judge ruled Mr Bryson had established a case that the move was so controversial it required agreement from the entire Northern Ireland Executive.

The case has been listed for a full hearing in September.

Proceedings were issued after Ms Kimmins announced in March that Irish signage were to be installed at Grand Central and on ticket vending machines.

She said the decision was based on a commitment to promote the language and the importance of the station reflecting all citizens.

Representing himself in the case, Mr Bryson contended she unlawfully breached the ministerial code by failing to refer the issue to the Executive Committee for discussion and agreement.

Under Stormont rules any controversial or cross-cutting decision should be tabled for consideration by the full power-sharing executive.

Mr Bryson argued the test was met based on publicly expressed views by a number of senior unionist politicians.

Disputing that assessment, counsel for the minister said a TUV petition in the assembly against the dual language signage attracted no signatures of support from any other MLAs.

Tony McGleenan KC told the court the mechanism deployed by Timothy Gaston in an attempt to have the issue referred to the executive "registered a nil return".

But according to Mr Bryson, the petition could not have achieved anything more than a discussion about the planned Irish signage.

Mr Justice Scoffield was told that the issue has already been raised at an executive meeting last month.

Granting leave following submissions, Mr Justice Scoffield held that there was sufficient merit in Mr Bryson's arguments to distinguish it from other "hopeless cases".

With no planned work to install Irish language signage at the station set to begin for at least six months, the case was listed for a full hearing in September.

Speaking outside court, Mr Bryson stated: "It is unfortunate that so defiant is this Sinn Féin minister that it's going to require the court to uphold the law and her legal responsibilities which she has not complied with in this case."

He added: "The end result, it is hoped, is that Irish language (signs) will not feature at Grand Central Station."