Murals in Northern Ireland facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Murals in Northern Ireland are like giant outdoor paintings. They show important parts of the region's history and how people feel about politics and religion. These amazing artworks are often found in cities like Belfast and Derry.

Many people think these cities have some of the most famous political murals in Europe. Since the 1970s, almost 2,000 murals have been recorded. In 2014, a book called The Belfast Mural Guide said there were about 300 good quality murals in Belfast alone. Many more exist, but some are old and fading.

Murals help people remember things, share ideas, and show off their culture and history. The pictures and messages often show what is important to a community. So, a mural is a way to express a message or idea that a community really cares about.

In areas where people support Irish republicanism, murals might show the 1981 Irish hunger strike. They often focus on Bobby Sands, a leader of that strike. Murals also show support for other revolutionary groups around the world. Some highlight specific events, like the Ballymurphy Massacre or the McGurk's Bar bombing.

In areas where people support Ulster loyalism, murals often show groups like the Ulster Defence Association and Ulster Volunteer Force. They also remember people who died from these groups. Other common themes include William III of England and the Battle of the Boyne. You might also see murals about the Battle of the Somme and the 36th Ulster Division.

Exploring Northern Ireland's Mural History
Types of Murals: Examples to See
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Northern Ireland's Mural History

Murals are like a visual diary of political changes. They have been painted for over a hundred years. They show important historical and political events through unique wall paintings. In 1908, Ulster loyalists began painting pictures of William III of England on a white horse. This was to strengthen the Orange identity of Ulster Protestants.

Irish republican wall paintings started later, in the late 1970s. These murals showed the feelings of a social movement. This movement became more active after the IRA started fighting for more political power and a United Ireland.

Most murals are in working-class areas of Northern Ireland. The main cities for murals are Belfast and Derry. One of the most famous murals is of Bobby Sands. You can see it on the side wall of Sinn Féin's office on Falls Road.

Another well-known spot is 'The International Wall' in Belfast. It has many murals about Irish republican and international themes. In Derry, Free Derry Corner is very famous. The words "You Are Now Entering Free Derry" were painted there in 1969. This was shortly after the Battle of the Bogside. Some people don't call Free Derry Corner a true mural because it only has words, not pictures.

Free Derry Corner has inspired other murals in Northern Ireland. For example, "You Are Now Entering Loyalist Sandy Row" in Belfast was a response to the republican message. There's also "You Are Now Entering Derry Journal Country," which is an advertisement.

Not all murals in Northern Ireland are about politics or conflict. Some remember events like the Great Irish Famine (1845–1849). Others show moments from Irish history. Many murals feature images from Irish mythology. Sometimes, these mythical images are even part of political murals.

A few murals avoid Irish topics completely. They might focus on things like preventing litter. Or they might show scenes from the C. S. Lewis novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Murals about peace and tolerance are becoming more popular. School groups often design or paint these murals near their schools.

Some groups who were once involved in conflict are now doing community work. This has led to a trend of changing some of the more intense murals. However, this trend can reverse when tensions rise. In 2007, the Bogside Artists were invited to Washington, D.C. for the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival. These three artists were asked to recreate murals on the Washington Mall.

Types of Murals: Examples to See

Republican Murals

A mural in Belfast showing support for the Provisional IRA
A mural in Belfast about the Easter Rising of 1916
A mural in Belfast remembering the Great Famine
A mural in Belfast showing the Ballymurphy Massacre
A mural in Belfast about the 1981 republican hunger strike
Another mural in Belfast about the 1981 hunger strike
A mural honoring Bobby Sands, a republican hunger striker
A mural in Belfast dedicated to Cumann na mBan
A mural in Belfast honoring IRA volunteers who died in Operation Flavius
A mural in Belfast about secret cooperation between British security forces and Ulster loyalist groups
A mural in Belfast showing the Manchester Martyrs
A mural in Belfast about British censorship
A mural in Short Strand saying "Slán Abhaile" or "Safe Home" to British troops
Murals in Belfast showing support for Basque nationalism and the Cuban Revolution

Unionist Murals

A mural in a loyalist area of Derry
A loyalist mural in Belfast
A loyalist mural in Belfast
Loyalist murals on Thorndyke Street, Belfast
A UDA/UFF mural in Bangor
An Ulster Volunteers/UVF mural in Bangor
A Red Hand Commandos mural in Bangor
A mural in Belfast, remembering William III and the Battle of the Boyne
A mural in Belfast showing William III of England
A mural in Belfast showing support for the Portadown Orangemen
A mural in Newtownards showing the Ulster Special Constabulary and Ulster Defence Regiment
A mural in Belfast showing republican killings
A mural in Belfast showing republican killings
Mural dedicated to James Joseph Magennis in east Belfast.
Edward Carson
Loyalist mural in Ballymacarrett Road, east Belfast.
Ulster Volunteers mural in Newtownabbey
Ulster Volunteers mural in Belfast
Ulster Volunteers mural in Belfast
A mural in Belfast showing Oliver Cromwell
World War I mural in Newtownabbey
Loyalist mural in Newtownabbey
A loyalist mural in Belfast remembering the Battle of Talavera
A loyalist mural in Belfast honoring deceased UDA member Stephen McKeag
A loyalist mural in Belfast that is critical of the Good Friday Agreement

Other Murals: Beyond Politics

A mural in a republican area dedicated to George Best.
A mural about the sinking of RMS Titanic.
A mural about the Northern Ireland association football team.
A mural in the Village area marking Linfield's contribution to the Northern Ireland team
Mural remembering US President James Buchanan
A mural by Liam Gillick