MURALS OF BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND. PART ONE. 2013.
MURALS OF BELFAST,NORTHERN IRELAND.PART ONE.2013.
The Story Behind the famous murals of Belfast
Northern Ireland's streetscape has long been coloured by the Troubles and no more so than by its distinctive murals, the first of which was painted in Belfast in 1908.
But what place do these expressions of political and religious divisions have in a shared society? Are they a symbol of darker days or can they help to paint a brighter future?
Professor Bill Rolston, author of 'Drawing support: murals in Northern Ireland' discusses the significance, artistry and legacy of political murals in Northern Ireland.
belfast mural wall
wall of freedom murals... strong opinions...representative of northern irish religious struggle.
west belfast murals
Belfast is the biggest art gallery in the world.Enjoy these art works with we cater for small and large parties.Executive travel on request and tour guides for coaches.
WEST BELFAST BOBBY SANDS MURAL
Bobby Sands his Mural on Sevastopol Street and his story.
West Belfast murals
The murals painted on houses on the Falls Road in Belfast.
Northern Ireland's Troubles - Walls of Shame
The modern history of Northern Ireland has been dominated by one thing, 'The Troubles' - a violent, bitter conflict, both political and religious, between those claiming to represent the predominantly Catholic nationalists and those claiming to represent the mainly Protestant unionists.
But what Northern Ireland has now is not so much 'peace' as 'an absence of conflict' after the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. Far from disappearing, the walls have grown. Instead of reconciliation, there is partition - an ill-tempered stalemate of separate identities and separated lives.
Broadly speaking, the nationalists - also called 'Republicans' - want Northern Ireland to be unified with the Republic of Ireland while the unionists want it to remain part of the United Kingdom, along with England, Wales and Scotland.
This episode of the Walls of Shame series looks at life on both sides of the barriers between the warring communities.
Update: Al Jazeera returned to Belfast, almost a decade after this film first aired in 2007, to touch base with Catholic muralist Danny Devenny. As the walls of separation - or 'protection' as some view the barriers - start to come down, much of Danny and his muralist friends' work is also being destroyed, with calls to 'reimagine' their art.
The government has vowed to destroy the walls but the community is reluctant, scared and not appreciative of attempts to gloss over a difficult past.
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2003 BELFAST MURALS ULSTER NORTHERN IRELAND
FROM WHEELCHAIR NOMAD DIARY...2003 NI Robert then directed us into Belfast, first showing us Falls Road, and a large Roman Catholic housing estate, flying Irish flags and sporting murals. One mural with a man holding a machine gun bore the slogan, In Irelands darkest hour, her sons and daughters have always rallied to her call. Dont stop too long, as these areas are unsafe. Robert warned. We drove on through the safe wall dividing the Catholic from the Protestant section. The gates are now open. Proceeding down Shackles Road, we viewed union jacks from every street lamp and many houses. Large wall size murals were everywhere celebrating the Ulster Volunteer Force, stating, Ulster will always remain British, No Surrender! Keep moving, and keep watch behind us, that were not being followed, Robert warned again. A police car, actually a bulletproof land rover passed us, as did a British army patrol. On every street corner or vacant lot we noticed huge piles of wood, old packing cases, boxes, mattresses, anything flammable. These will be set alight Friday night, Robert told us, People will watch the bonfires and drink lots of beer. Its to commemorate the victory of King William IV over James at the Battle of Boyne, which ended the Catholic domination of England.
West Belfast in pictures
West Belfast in pictures, the peace line with its iron fence and high walls, murals everywhere, memorials, graves and a lot of british flags
Murals in Northern Ireland
Murals in Northern Ireland have become symbols of Northern Ireland, depicting the region's past and present political and religious divisions.
Belfast and Derry contains arguably the most famous political murals in the country. It is believed that almost 2,000 murals have been documented since the 1970s. In 2014, the book, 'The Belfast Mural Guide' estimated that, in Belfast, there were on display. approximately 300 quality murals, with many more in varying degrees of aging and decay. Murals commemorate, communicate and show display aspects of culture and history. The themes of murals often reflect what is important to a particular community. A mural therefore exists to express an idea or message and could generally be seen as reflecting values held dear to that community. In Republican communities the themes of murals can range from the Hunger Strikes of 1981, with particular emphasis on Bobby Sands; murals of International solidarity with revolutionary groups are equally common, as are those which highlight a particular issue, for example the Ballymurphy and Springhill Massacres or the McGurk's Bar bombing. In working class Unionist communities, murals are used to promote loyalist paramilitary groups such as the UDA and UVF or commemorate deceased members. However traditional themes such as King William of Orange, 1690, the Battle of the Somme and the 36th Ulster Division are equally common. Political point of view, Irish, British or International, an event or person(s), with a particular emphasis on the Troubles are clearly recognizable themes.
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West Belfast Murals
Erin visits the Peace Wall in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
BELFAST MURALS ULSTER NORTHERN IRELAND
FROM WHEELCHAIR NOMAD DIARY...2003 NI
Robert then directed us into Belfast, first showing us Falls Road, and a large Roman Catholic housing estate, flying Irish flags and sporting murals. One mural with a man holding a machine gun bore the slogan, “In Ireland’s darkest hour, her sons and daughters have always rallied to her call.” “Don’t stop too long, as these areas are unsafe.” Robert warned. We drove on through the ‘safe wall’ dividing the Catholic from the Protestant section. The gates are now open. Proceeding down Shackles Road, we viewed union jacks from every street lamp and many houses. Large wall size murals were everywhere celebrating the Ulster Volunteer Force, stating, “Ulster will always remain British, No Surrender!” “Keep moving, and keep watch behind us, that we’re not being followed,” Robert warned again. A police car, actually a bulletproof land rover passed us, as did a British army patrol. On every street corner or vacant lot we noticed huge piles of wood, old packing cases, boxes, mattresses, anything flammable. “These will be set alight Friday night,” Robert told us, “People will watch the bonfires and drink lots of beer. It’s to commemorate the victory of King William IV over James at the Battle of Boyne, which ended the Catholic domination of England.
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Unionist and loyalist in Northern Ireland Murals
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Twinbrook Mural - Carol Anne Kelly
I wanted to explore the Belfast Murals from the point of view of arts in conflict. The conflict in Belfast created an extraordinary city wide installation of murals from both traditions. As research, I made a number of short documentaries exploring the stories behind individual murals. I completed a number of sketches to develop a larger project.
In this the week when the world is remembering Maggie Thatcher I'm remembering Carol Anne Kelly. Long may she smile over Twinbrook and her brave sister, Eileen.
22 May 1981 (12) Catholic
Status: Civilian (Civ), Killed by: British Army (BA)
Died three days after being shot by plastic bullet while walking along Cherry Park, Twinbrook, Belfast.
Street Murals Of Northern Ireland
music by Choir Of Young Believers
The Murals of Northern Ireland
Murals have been painted in Northern Ireland for over 100 years. In this documentary, leading murals historian Bill Rolston explains how they adapt to a changing political climate and the changing attitudes of republican and loyalist communities. William Jackson, grandson of one of the first muralists, discusses the sense of identity that murals instill in communities. Others look at murals as a tool for conflict transformation. Jeanette Warke, manager of a youth centre in Derry~Londonderry, describes how they can have a positive impact on younger generations.
Video by Huw Spencer
Music
Orlok - ‘Rebirth’ and ‘Scar’
King Krule - ‘Out Getting Ribs'
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Belfast and the Best of Northern Ireland
Rick Steves' Europe Travel Guide | We start in bustling Belfast's City Hall and Ulster Museum, then head out to Northern Ireland's favorite resort: Portrush, along the Antrim Coast, where we taste-test Irish whiskey, scramble over some six-sided geology in the Giant's Causeway, drop in on a world-class golf course, and stomp our feet to some traditional music.
© 2004 Rick Steves' Europe
BELFAST MURALS ULSTER NORTHERN IRELAND
BRITISH COCK ROACH PASTOR TERRY JONES, LISTEN MURALS FROM NORTHERN IRELAND. PROTESTANTS KILLED INNOCENT ROMAN CATHOLICS. DO YOU ,ASHAMED BEING PROTESTANT.
FBTCC mural Shankill & West Belfast
Families Bereaved Through Car Crime is cross community campaign group to highlight the scourge of car crime and the need for change in the law to tackle this issue.
0016 BRITISH SOLDIER WEST BELFAST