Re-imaged mural on the Lower Shankill, Belfast.
The Lower Shankill Road’s political and sectarian murals were once infamous – they were among the most gruesome and violent of Northern Ireland’s murals. They were shown around the world to signify the worst of Northern Ireland’s segregation and sectarian intimidation. Designed to intimidate, they succeeded in keeping many people away from the area.
But where the notorious Grim Reaper mural could once be seen is now an artwork which showcases a child’s right to play. Designed and created by members of the local community - of all ages – the new mural is one of ten developed through Belfast City Council’s involvement in the Re-imaging Communities Programme. Ian McLaughlin of the Lower Shankill Community Association explains:
“Ten years ago we couldn’t even have had a discussion about replacing these murals but the community has changed. Changing the murals isn’t just about more attractive artwork. It’s symbolic of how much we’ve moved forward as a community in the last few years and of a fresh sense of hope in the area."
Among the many images depicted on the new murals are an A-Z of the Shankill Road’s history, the Belfast Blitz and local sporting heroes. The sites for each of the new murals were chosen in consultation with local residents who were also involved in their design in partnership with local artists. Ian McLaughlin attributes the lack of graffiti on the new murals to the community’s sense of ownership of them.
And lest the progress which the community has made be forgotten, each new mural bears a plaque explaining its origins and showing the sectarian, violent image it has replaced. Ian also points out that this helps to explain the changes to confused tourists.
Ian explains: “For years, the Lower Shankill was in the news for all the wrong reasons. Our commitment to the Re-imaging Programme has raised the profile of the area for very positive reasons. It has had an impact on the community’s self-confidence and willingness to embrace further change. It has also made the whole area more welcoming to visitors.
“The success of our initial work has encouraged us to apply again for further funding and we’re now ambitious about changing more of our existing murals. And now the tourists who visit the area are getting a more balanced picture of life on the Shankill.”
