Archive reviews Page 2 of Northern Ireland Murals

Write a Review about the murals in Northern Ireland.

Page 2 Archived Comments For Belfast & Northern Ireland Murals

Bring Back The kribbys

I have lived in Belfast my whole life and these murals are a part of Belfast. Tourists and other people who visit here seem to be facinated by these and they should stay as they bring colour to the walls of our city. Also we should paint our kribbys again!

Submitted by Shauneen from Belfast

Murals must be preserved

Preservation of the murals are of great importance to the future of northern Ireland. History must never be forgotten and the people and organisations presented in the murals are a reminder of the sacrifices made for a better future of the region. To remove them would not only be disrespectful but also foolish. When certain historical events or eras are ingored it could lead to future disruptions..

Submitted by Mike from Netherlands

Murals

As much as i would like to see the secterian ones go, they do bring trade and tourism into the city, i have no problem them being retained for historical merit of how we lived but that is all, i dont want to see any new ones, i dont wan to see flags, or kerbstones still painted, that can go, personaly i really like the historical ones, and the ones that convey poitical but not violent messages. As much as i think the politics of our countries devolved into comletle petty nonsense (although in saying that, polticans in mos tother countries seem little better), i think its an expressive and original way to convey ones feelings, and as a politics student it keeps the message in mind and heps prevfent apathy
.
Submitted by James from Belfast

Disturbing

When I see the Belfast tour buses stopping at the Murals around the city I understand that foreigners are interested and facinated by a culture so very different their own. I am very disturbed, though, when I see people standing next to murals getting their picture taken. This seems to glorify what the murals portray. Murals in Belfast are not just historical images of what has happened, and what is happening now in the city. They are also encouragments and blatent non-verbal ways of telling the communities who is in control of the area. New paramilitary murals are continuing to be painted with the obvious encouragment of tourists. It's disturbing and disgusting. Children are growing up in the middle of these images thinking that they are good, right, and the guns and balaclavas are the only way to deal with opposition. Unfortunately, these murals have become images of what Northern Ireland is to the world. Looked at this way, people are missing out on the reality of what Belfast and all of Northern Ireland really is, a beautiful country not solely in conflict and violence. Murals depict simply a twisted perspective that cannot be looked at as glory. Would "Irish American" tourists consider standing next to Palestinian terrorist slogans and images if they were "Palestinian Americans"?
.
Submitted by Eilís from Northern Ireland

Rev

Murals This mural on the Woodstock Road in East Belfast is part of a local effort to replace paramilitary murals

Excellent review
I have grown up with the troubles and with the murals in Northern Ireland. Although there are some murals I can accept gladly as just representative of culture and history, my general feeling is that they are symbolic of the pain and cancerous bitterness in our province.

It is not, however, only the city murals on the tourist trips around Belfast which reflect that pain. It is very much part of the country-side also. I am presently ministering in congregations in the South Armagh region (Armagh county, not city) - what was once known as 'bandit country'. So many in the congregations where I serve suffered at the hands of the IRA. Just yesterday, I conducted the funeral of someone whose uncle (who had helped to rear him) had been murdered by them. Then today I had occasion to be in the town of Crossmaglen. I saw a mural of tribute to the volunteers who had been killed, i.e. IRA men intercepted on terrorist operations.

My feeling is that whereas I find most murals dreadful, those put up to glorify the terrorists (of whatever political affiliation or 'religious' hue) are particularly so. I welcome every mural which says something positive about our culture instead - of tribute to the Belfast born writer C.S. Lewis, footballer George Best or whatever
.
Submitted by Brian Alexander Hugh Wilson from Northern Ireland

Angela from London

Murals

Excellent review
My tour of the Belfast murals was both a moving and an upsetting experience. Moving because I felt the murals were a vivid expression of how people felt on both sides. Upsetting because they represent a terrible time for the people of Northern Ireland. I don't think they should be removed, however. They are part of the history of Belfast and they are works of art belonging to the people. There are still plenty of empty walls, and the awful blank face of the peace line itself, where people could paint images of reconciliation and peace reflecting how things are now and how they could or should be in the future.
.
Submitted by Angela Upton from UK

What about the next generation

Murals Northern Ireland

Excellent review
I recently toured Belfast and Derry with a group of academics studying the peace process. Seeing the murals provided a stark contrast with the messages of optimism we kept hearing from politicians and academics. I found the murals fascinating, disturbing and eye-opening, but I kept coming back to one question: for disaffected young people growing up in urban poverty with limited economic prospects, it seems to me these murals, on both sides, make joining paramilitary groups seem very brave and/or romantic; so as long as the murals stay up, how will there ever be a REAL end to sectarian violence in these cities? And yet, to paint over them does whitewash history, in a sense. For me, this is a major dilemma that I felt very strongly as I participated in the commercialization of the conflict by going on the tour. I wouldn't have missed seeing the murals for the world, but wish that no one had to grow up surrounded by messages of hatred and violence.
Submitted by Lara from USA

Murals

Located: Belfast, Northern Ireland

You cant deny that the murals have an historical value and have become a sort of culture in northern ireland, but I think the problem is thier content. They are so often just recruiting tools or or forms of imtimidation. They basicly say "remember we are in control here and you dont need anyone else." Really I think they have become a part of the terrorists groups struggles to survive. They need to promote they idea that they have support or sell some fake ideology. I dont think we will see any romantic muralls depicting the brave rebels of the IRA robbing the Northern Bank or breaking a kids legs because he has a drug problem, or loyalists sitting in some club dripping in gold chains out of thier heads on Es and coke, or breaking some kids legs for not buying his drugs from the right people.
But saying that, there has been a move recently to replace (rather than remove) some of the murals with historical and cultural subjects, and this is quite a positive thing. Instead of seeing a man with a gun telling them to be afraid of the other side, the new generation can see images of thier history and a positive side of thier culture, something in thier past to learn from, be proud of and be aware of. This type of understanding can be a positive thing and it keeps the culture of the murals alive without the poisonous propaganda.
Heres a few facts that have been forgotten over the years. At the start of last Century Sinn Fienn were a party who wanted an independent Ireland within the UK and loyal to the King! Wolfetone was a Presbyterian! The armed struggle for a free Ireland which was the beginnings of our problems over the last 100 years was started by protestants! Take a look at your REAL history people its not as black and white, protestant/ catholic as you may have been led to believe!

Submitted by: D from Northern Ireland

Belfast Historical murals

Located: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Belfast Murals
My wife and I visited Belfast this summer through a bus tour and were especially interested in the murals. We were told that each community has the option of erasing or deleting their historic murals. I realize that there is mixed emotions in Belfast about the murals but from a tourist standpoint the murals are interesting and an attraction to see. The murals hold historic value and hope they are retained.

Submitted by: Scott Bell from USA


		Write a Review about the murals in Northern Ireland. Page 2 Archived Comments For Belfast & Northern Ireland Murals Page 1 \| Page 2 Page 3 Bring Back The kribbys I have lived in Belfast my whole life and these murals are a part of Belfast. Tourists and other people who visit here seem to be facinated by these and they should stay as they bring colour to the walls of our city. Also we should paint our kribbys again! Submitted by Shauneen from Belfast Murals must be preserved Preservation of the murals are of great importance to the future of northern Ireland. History must never be forgotten and the people and organisations presented in the murals are a reminder of the sacrifices made for a better future of the region. To remove them would not only be disrespectful but also foolish. When certain historical events or eras are ingored it could lead to future disruptions.. Submitted by Mike from Netherlands Murals As much as i would like to see the secterian ones go, they do bring trade and tourism into the city, i have no problem them being retained for historical merit of how we lived but that is all, i dont want to see any new ones, i dont wan to see flags, or kerbstones still painted, that can go, personaly i really like the historical ones, and the ones that convey poitical but not violent messages. As much as i think the politics of our countries devolved into comletle petty nonsense (although in saying that, polticans in mos tother countries seem little better), i think its an expressive and original way to convey ones feelings, and as a politics student it keeps the message in mind and heps prevfent apathy . Submitted by James from Belfast Disturbing When I see the Belfast tour buses stopping at the Murals around the city I understand that foreigners are interested and facinated by a culture so very different their own. I am very disturbed, though, when I see people standing next to murals getting their picture taken. This seems to glorify what the murals portray. Murals in Belfast are not just historical images of what has happened, and what is happening now in the city. They are also encouragments and blatent non-verbal ways of telling the communities who is in control of the area. New paramilitary murals are continuing to be painted with the obvious encouragment of tourists. It's disturbing and disgusting. Children are growing up in the middle of these images thinking that they are good, right, and the guns and balaclavas are the only way to deal with opposition. Unfortunately, these murals have become images of what Northern Ireland is to the world. Looked at this way, people are missing out on the reality of what Belfast and all of Northern Ireland really is, a beautiful country not solely in conflict and violence. Murals depict simply a twisted perspective that cannot be looked at as glory. Would "Irish American" tourists consider standing next to Palestinian terrorist slogans and images if they were "Palestinian Americans"? . Submitted by Eilís from Northern Ireland Rev Murals Excellent review I have grown up with the troubles and with the murals in Northern Ireland. Although there are some murals I can accept gladly as just representative of culture and history, my general feeling is that they are symbolic of the pain and cancerous bitterness in our province. It is not, however, only the city murals on the tourist trips around Belfast which reflect that pain. It is very much part of the country-side also. I am presently ministering in congregations in the South Armagh region (Armagh county, not city) - what was once known as 'bandit country'. So many in the congregations where I serve suffered at the hands of the IRA. Just yesterday, I conducted the funeral of someone whose uncle (who had helped to rear him) had been murdered by them. Then today I had occasion to be in the town of Crossmaglen. I saw a mural of tribute to the volunteers who had been killed, i.e. IRA men intercepted on terrorist operations. My feeling is that whereas I find most murals dreadful, those put up to glorify the terrorists (of whatever political affiliation or 'religious' hue) are particularly so. I welcome every mural which says something positive about our culture instead - of tribute to the Belfast born writer C.S. Lewis, footballer George Best or whatever . Submitted by Brian Alexander Hugh Wilson from Northern Ireland Angela from London Murals Excellent review My tour of the Belfast murals was both a moving and an upsetting experience. Moving because I felt the murals were a vivid expression of how people felt on both sides. Upsetting because they represent a terrible time for the people of Northern Ireland. I don't think they should be removed, however. They are part of the history of Belfast and they are works of art belonging to the people. There are still plenty of empty walls, and the awful blank face of the peace line itself, where people could paint images of reconciliation and peace reflecting how things are now and how they could or should be in the future. . Submitted by Angela Upton from UK What about the next generation Murals Northern Ireland Excellent review I recently toured Belfast and Derry with a group of academics studying the peace process. Seeing the murals provided a stark contrast with the messages of optimism we kept hearing from politicians and academics. I found the murals fascinating, disturbing and eye-opening, but I kept coming back to one question: for disaffected young people growing up in urban poverty with limited economic prospects, it seems to me these murals, on both sides, make joining paramilitary groups seem very brave and/or romantic; so as long as the murals stay up, how will there ever be a REAL end to sectarian violence in these cities? And yet, to paint over them does whitewash history, in a sense. For me, this is a major dilemma that I felt very strongly as I participated in the commercialization of the conflict by going on the tour. I wouldn't have missed seeing the murals for the world, but wish that no one had to grow up surrounded by messages of hatred and violence. Submitted by Lara from USA Murals Located: Belfast, Northern Ireland You cant deny that the murals have an historical value and have become a sort of culture in northern ireland, but I think the problem is thier content. They are so often just recruiting tools or or forms of imtimidation. They basicly say "remember we are in control here and you dont need anyone else." Really I think they have become a part of the terrorists groups struggles to survive. They need to promote they idea that they have support or sell some fake ideology. I dont think we will see any romantic muralls depicting the brave rebels of the IRA robbing the Northern Bank or breaking a kids legs because he has a drug problem, or loyalists sitting in some club dripping in gold chains out of thier heads on Es and coke, or breaking some kids legs for not buying his drugs from the right people. But saying that, there has been a move recently to replace (rather than remove) some of the murals with historical and cultural subjects, and this is quite a positive thing. Instead of seeing a man with a gun telling them to be afraid of the other side, the new generation can see images of thier history and a positive side of thier culture, something in thier past to learn from, be proud of and be aware of. This type of understanding can be a positive thing and it keeps the culture of the murals alive without the poisonous propaganda. Heres a few facts that have been forgotten over the years. At the start of last Century Sinn Fienn were a party who wanted an independent Ireland within the UK and loyal to the King! Wolfetone was a Presbyterian! The armed struggle for a free Ireland which was the beginnings of our problems over the last 100 years was started by protestants! Take a look at your REAL history people its not as black and white, protestant/ catholic as you may have been led to believe! Submitted by: D from Northern Ireland Belfast Historical murals Located: Belfast, Northern Ireland Belfast Murals My wife and I visited Belfast this summer through a bus tour and were especially interested in the murals. We were told that each community has the option of erasing or deleting their historic murals. I realize that there is mixed emotions in Belfast about the murals but from a tourist standpoint the murals are interesting and an attraction to see. The murals hold historic value and hope they are retained. Submitted by: Scott Bell from USA
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