Murals of Belfast

 

I recently went to Belfast, Northern Ireland for a day and, more than the Titanic museum or other historical sites,  what I was interested in seeing the most  was their famous (or infamous) political murals. As it was a spontaneous visit, I was not able to book the well known "Black Cab" tours of the murals, wherein the driver / tour guide brings you to several locations and explains the history of each mural along with that period of conflict between the Nationalists/ Republican  (Catholics) and Loyalists (Protestants) known as 'The Troubles'.  Therefore, on the train up from Dublin, I researched  online the various streets and neighbourhoods of where they were and set out to spend a long day of walking many kilometres.  

From the train station, the first and probably most famous mural I headed to was that of Bobby Sands, in the Catholic district of Falls Road.  I remember his story when  I was in high school at the time, his hunger strike in the H block prison that ultimately led to his and nine others death in a same protest. 

 

 

The Peace Wall, dividing the Loyalist neighbourhood of Shankill Road with that of Nationalist Falls Road.  Erected by the British Army after fierce sectarian violence and bloodshed that erupted in 1969, the wall is over 800 meters long. There was talk of taking it down a decade ago but locals prefer that it remain. As well, it has become a huge draw for tourists. 

     

   

Several murals  are trying to steer away from the violent past. 

Shankill Road 

The Catholic side has always referenced other liberation struggles be it from
S. Africa, Catalonia and more recently Palestine. 

 

Falls Road

"King Billy" (King William of Orange) is depicted in several Loyalist murals 
as he defeated the Catholic James II at the Boyne in 1692.

There are many murals in the working class neighbourhood of East Belfast, on Newtownards 

road, most of which depict a powerful representation of the history and culture of the

loyalist community during the conflict. 

Here, a young boy dressed in UDA military garb,  at a checkpoint in 1972. The mural depicts how 
everyone, young and old, had their part to play in defending their community in the time of
conflict. 

Some murals have given way from  being hand painted to  large printed canvases that are then 

attached to walls. 

A few more optimistic murals in East Belfast. 

This awesome mural, not about the "Troubles" but rather an ode to the
working classes that built the Titanic. 

A few more murals not related to anything political.