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Write a Review about the
murals in Northern Ireland.
User Reviews For The Northern Ireland
Murals
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There are three pages in total
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Page 3
History should be
preserved
A friend of mine from Belfast pointed me here, and
explained how there are some really painful memories associated with the murals.
He went on to say they were being painted over. I can see how you wouldn't want
a constant reminder of that part of your history, and I'm glad you've preserved
the murals for everyone to see, long after they're gone.
Submitted by Ricky from
US
Please don't remove the
murals
I am visiting your country this year mainly because
I want to see your murals. They represent your history and after reading many
books on "The Troubles" I believe that self expression on the walls ect will
only further remind people of how it was and encourage the tourist to want to
explore. When I chose to make Nth Ireland a must see destination I thought,
green country, friendly pubs & history.
The Murals may have started off as a symbol of
religous hatred but surely now a reminder of the history. Please don't remove
them.
Submitted by jeannied from
Australia
The Murials are part of the Irish identity and
should stay
I visited Belfast for the first time in 2005 and
was humbled and traumatised by the experience. So much so I wrote a poem in
which the Murials played an enormous part. The poem can be found at the back of
my first book entitled 'Her Eight of Cups' The Murials seem to both divide and
unite Northern Ireland. The divisions are political and separate her people but
the passions unite her people. Every visit to this great and beautiful city
shows me how things can change and are changing but what is that change built
on? On past troubles, and it is those past troubles which also unite the people
of Northern Ireland, troubles which inspired the artwork and now continue to
educate and inform all those who visit.
Submitted by Leah Derry from
Australian living in England
Belfast Murals
My mother and father were born in Northern
Ireland. They immigrated to America in the early 1960's. I have visited
Northern Ireland many times. I have witnessed the beauty and
brutality. I have many fond memories of Belfast. I believe some of
the murals should not be removed becuase of the historical
significance
Submitted by Steven Shaw from
United States
Yes, The Murals Must
Go
My Grandparents are both from N.I. The
'troubles' have thus far kept me from visiting their homeland. I am now in my
early 50's and feel that maybe I will make it there after all.
I knew
that as a tourist,I would always stay clear of 'the murals'. I don't like them,
they make me feel anxious and sad * I am sure they effect your citizens much the
same way. To have them staring you in the face every day is unimaginable to
me. The history will not be forgotten if the murals are painted over or
replaced. I think it would give the people who live there a sense of a
refreshing newness. I think because times are changing for the better, the
political murals should go.
I can see advertisements for the Belfast Zoo
or the Botanical Gardens, murals depicting historical industries, maritime
themes,
etc.
I don't think this welcoming change would affect tourism.
There are many towns in my province of British Columbia that have beautiful
murals which attract many people every year. Some depicting history and lots
showing the beauty of our nature. The water, the forest, the sea
life.
Pleasant themes that will put happy thoughts in minds of your
people & all visitors for generations to come.
Submitted by Padraigan Hughes from
western Canada
Should The Murals
Go?
I've seen the murals being used as the backdrop to
interviews and features in TV news reports - both during and after the
troubles.
To my mind, they should stay because they act
as a powerful reminder of Northern Ireland's troubled past and why it should
never go back to it.
Submitted by Rob Woods from
UK
Let Them Stay
I was in Belfast in 2005 and was fortunate to see
some of the murals in Belfast. They are a part of history and
should definately stay.
We learn from history so let the next generations have the knowledge of
how the past should never happen again.
Submitted by Trish from New
Zealand
Provocative and Angry Murals Are
Changing
Living here through the troubles I have seen
the effect of the murals change over the years. Where they were once provocative
and angry, they are now seen in a different light by many. They are part
of our history, whichever persuasion you are. I understand the need to
move onto better things but I do not think they should all be eradicated.
I
am concerned however, that tourists are going away with the wrong impression,
since there is so much emphasis on the terrorist angle
Submitted by Anonymous from
Belfast
A Mistake to Paint Over the
Murals
I have just returned to the USA after a
visit to Belfast and other parts of the UK. I took a Mural
Tour while I was in Belfast. I thought that the murals gave me a
better understanding of the history of the conflict and the passions of the
people involved. I think it would be a huge mistake to paint them
out. However...they do record and perhaps incite violence.
Submitted by Cathleen Daly from
United States
I Would Hate To See Them Destroyed
I visited Belfast several years ago and
spent quite a bit of time viewing the murals. I was profoundly changed by
what I saw and would hate to see them destroyed.
That being said, who am
I to say what would be the best decision for Northern Ireland / Belfast in terms
of creating and maintaining peace? The mural tour was one of
the most impactful things I've ever experienced and I have strongly recommended
it to many people. But at what cost do the murals stay up? The
people of Belfast / Northern Ireland need to weigh the potential for tourist
dollar income with the potential that painting over the murals will help bring
an end to the violence that shadows their lives.
The people living there
are the only one's who should get to decide if the murals stay or
go
Submitted by Connie from
USA
Dont Paint Over the Murals
They are a reminder of the past and now show
just how far we have come...lets keep them ...also tourist bring money to the
local businesses..
Submitted by Steve from
UK
Part of the History of Northern Ireland
Saw the murals for the first time last month
and shall return in December to photograph them. They are extraordinary,
and part of the history of Northern Ireland. Just as there must
surely be someone who is collecting the oral history of those who lived through
Belfast's historical past, these murals are a pictorial historical document
which should be preserved. If your history is left to only the historians
it becomes diluted with no sense of the passion and feelings of those who left
their creative 'voice'during those times. I hope someone sane enough has
the courage to do something to preserve these intimate statements, political or
individual, else there will come a time when there is regret for the foolishness
of those with power in your city who are unable to see their value
Submitted by Rita Purvis from
South Africa
Past and Present
Having just returned from my first visit to
Northern Ireland for a holiday I wish to say what a beautiful and diverse
country it is. I toured the "mural sites" during my visit to Belfast and was
surprised to see how contemporary the murals are. I believe they should remain
as witness to the feelings of the people who designed, funded and agreed with
them. Although, I am assured, things are changing for the best I found it
difficult and painful to fully comprehend the necessity for the peace wall and
gates. New murals are already appearing depicting more happier themes, which is
an encouraging sight, thus highlighting the contrast to the evil and impotence
of terror, bloodshed and hatred. Although I was disturbed by the murals, I was,
by far, more encouraged to see Belfast go about its business like any other
modern European city. Keep the static murals as testament to times past in
contrast to bustling activity of a modern,dynamic and successful city of
today.
Submitted by Ann Marsh
from England
Danger (?)
Stop Making Belfast so dangerous. Government want
to redecorate the murals to be more pleasant? Stop it! That's the real, natural
way. I don't find it intimidating, but beautiful and full of truth. It shows the
real history, so let's not change it!
Submitted by Kuba
from Poland
I Feel the Murals Should Stay
I feel the murals should stay. It is a reminder of
what these people had to go through in order to achieve a peaceful co-existence
between Catholics and Protestants. I someday plan to visit West Belfast. I want
to see for myself the murals that signify the struggles these people went
through. My grandparents came to America from Ireland as teenagers and often
spoke of the troubles. I know that today they are in heaven smiling because
there is peace in Northern Ireland. I'm also in the process of writing a story
based on the struggle and in particular the "War for
Independence"..
Submitted by David Heger Jr. from
USA
Murals on Both Sides Should be Kept
I am a man who
lives in this stained part of ulster and also a true republican.but I think
that the murals on both sides should be kept.
Submitted by belfast bhoy from
Belfast
Please keep all the murals
 I visited Belfast as part of a
tour of Ireland in April and May this year. I found the murals, which are
unique, extremely moving, and believe they should remain and even be preserved
where possible. They form such an important part of the record of Northern
Ireland's tragic history. While some of them may illustrate violence and
divisive sectarian views, the history should not be forgotten. I arrived the day
that Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley sat together. I believe that this time
the work has been done and peace and prosperity will continue to grow in
Northern Ireland. But the past should remain in place as a reminder to
participants in government, to citizens of Belfast, and to visitors. I also want
to comment on the boost to the economy that tourism brings. Many thousands
(millions?) of people like myself, from places such as Australia and the US, had
ancestors from both sides of the sectarian and political divide in Ireland and
want to visit the whole of Ireland, North and South to experience their own
history. The Belfast murals are so important for this reason also and should
definitely remain!
Submitted by Carolyn Hirsh (Nee
Murphy) from
Australia
History / Art or Art / History
 I'm Thierry, from France.
I visited Northern Ireland several times, for work and pleasure, and I think
murals should be kept as they are. When I was over there and first time I saw
the murals, I felt like history was punching me (in the good way ; striking me),
and there is still this power art can provide us.
Northen Ireland is
moving on, and the last thirty years should be a lesson learned, thanks, amongst
so many other things, to the murals.
Submitted by Frossard
Thierry from
France
Murals Must Be Kept
 I have just returned from
holiday in Belfast, and drove around both the Falls and the Shankhill Roads, and
numerous other parts of Northern Ireland, these murals must be kept as they are
part of Northern Irelands past, and the history that goes with it. I would also
like to express how welcoming the people of Northern ireland were to me and my
wife on our visit, we will be back!!!
.
.
Submitted by Paul
Godfrey from UK
Please keep the murals
 My sister and
I just returned from a trip to Northern Ireland. One of the reasons we wanted to
visit was because of the history of the troubles and the murals. Without these
murals I am sure Northern Irelands tourist income would decrease. We had a
wonderful time in Northern Ireland and will return. Please keep the
murals.
.
Submitted by Creighton/Crayton
sisters from California, USA
Never remove
 To me the
Murals should be kept as a reminder of what was and what can be.they tell the
Culture and histroy of the North. We must learn to respect each other and we can
learn from the murals .
Submitted by Patrick
from Ireland
Dont wash away the murals
The murals in northern ireland show us what our
history is all about and that we do have history as an individual country and
that we all have our own views,i attend parades and each year the derry day
parade when you see all the murals painted on the walls it gives you a great
feeling that we arn't always hiding under englands shadow and yea maybe they do
show acts of terroism but they show that you got to fight
for what you believe in and now that the troubles are over we will get
murals to signafy peace.
Submitted by Ana
from N. Ireland
Keep them
 Excellent reviewI personally think the murals should be kept.
They're part of our past whether we like it or not. They can teach alot of
people about what's happened in Northern Ireland. Even though they do show
terriorts activities, we cannot paint over them and pretend like that part of
our history never happened. And to be fair, some of them are great pieces
of art. I think in the future, if more murals are to be painted they
should be of peace, but do not paint over the old ones. It's our history,
part of what we are as a country.
Submitted by Katie Hutchinson from
Northern Ireland
Murals Should Stay
 The murals should
stay for if we remember history we are less likely to repeat it. Each mural
depicts either a liberator or a terrorist depending on one's view. Let history
remain a fact.
Submitted by Micheal
Corcoran from USA
Are the Murals Being Erased
 I'd like to know if it's true that politicians
are aiming to get rid of Belfast's murals. Is this true? I saw a
recent documantary on Johhny Adair, and even after 3 years, when he returned, he
said that lots of them had gone. I know I may sound dumb, but I'd love to
come and see ALL the murals before they go. I do hope that doesn't sound
patronising, and if it is to the residents, I'm truly sorry but it is
fascinating. I'd love to come and see them.
Submitted
by Paul Jardine from
England
Please Keep Them!
These murals are an integral part of history and to paint over
them would be painting over the past century of vital irish history. people need
to understand these issues
Submitted by lyndsey from
UK
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