Granite stone columns designed by renowned artist Ross Wilson, which feature in the new garden of reflection at King Street, Tullycarnet in East Belfast

A new garden of reflection and sculpture commemorating and highlighting the fallen from both World Wars and other global conflicts is to be unveiled at King Street, Tullycarnet in East Belfast on Saturday 5th June at 11.00am.  The £75,000 project funded by the Arts Council led Re-imaging Communities Programme has been developed by Charter NI, Tullycarnet Action Group Initiative Trust (TAGIT) in partnership with Groundwork Northern Ireland.

Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Chair of the Shared Communities Consortium, said: “The Re-imaging Communities Programme is committed to building a shared future for Northern Ireland that is founded on partnership, equality and mutual respect. Since undertaking this project in October 2008, the resident’s of Tullycarnet have worked together with local artist Ross Wilson to develop a series of artworks, as well as a new shared space in the heart of the community. The benefits of that arts-led approach are clear for all to see and the completed works are a result of the community’s hard work and dedication.”

The residents of Tullycarnet have worked with artist Ross Wilson to create a new-shared space, which will rejuvenate the local area and make it a more welcoming environment for all.

Phase one of this innovative project commenced in 2008 with in-depth community consultations facilitated by Groundwork NI with members of the local community to discuss their needs and plans for the removal of two paramilitary murals, re-landscaping at the front of the shops in King Street and the addition of a new seating design for locals. In 2009 the residents witnessed the creation of two new community murals, one highlighting the dangers of drugs to young people another on litter awareness.

The second phase of this Re-imaging project has witnessed the landscaping of the garden with reflection with new artwork in the form of five granite stone columns designed by renowned artist Ross Wilson. The columns are dedicated to remembering the various individuals including local people from East Belfast who sacrificed their lives in the both World Wars and other global conflicts.  Also featured on the stone columns is a selection of war imagery of men and women who fought and died serving their countries overseas. East Belfast man Lieutenant-Colonel Blair Mayne who was a founder member of the Special Air Service (SAS) is also included in the sculpture.

Sylvia Gordon – Director, Groundwork Northern Ireland said: “This Re-imaging Project has seen significant input from our organisation and we are delighted to see this new garden of reflection for the residents of Tullycarnet finally come to fruition.  The community can now enjoy the new streetscape and community murals but more importantly they now have a space for contemplation in the very heart of their community”

The text that has been incorporated into the stone columns is taken from the hymn The Mansions of the Lord written by film director Randall Wallace. The renowned film director gave his permission to the artist Ross Wilson to have his lyrics for this hymn used as an integral aspect to the finished artwork and the text has been integral to the entire creative process. This acclaimed hymn was first performed as the closing music for President Ronald Reagan's national funeral in June 2004.  Wallace wrote the Academy Award winner Braveheart and the blockbuster Pearl Harbor. He also wrote, directed, and produced the critically acclaimed We Were Soldiers and The Man in the Iron Mask.

Local artist and sculptor Ross Wilson commenting on the project said: “I had made a visit in 2009 to Thiepval in Belgium and witnessed this unique hymn first hand at a commemoration ceremony to fallen soldiers, this hymn resonated with me. It came into my mind as I initially embarked on this artistic journey with members of the community in Tullycarnet, I was keen to weave key text from this hymn into the very fabric of the new garden of reflection and sculpture”

The artist Ross Wilson incorporated a strong visual narrative into this sculpture and the selected images highlights the futility of war and the tragic waste of human life.

One of the other event highlights for attendees will be a unique performance by members of the highly renowned New Irish Arts Choir who under the artistic direction of Jonathan Rea will perform ‘The Mansions of the Lord’ and ‘Steal Away’ for this public opening which will take place on Saturday 5th June at 11.00am, King Street, Tullycarnet. 

Frankie Gallagher, Charter NI & Chairman of TAGIT said: “We are moving to a new and better place in Northern Ireland and Tullycarnet is to the fore in that transition. Our community have a long way to go and some hard times still to face but this project is proof that we can do it.”

The Re-imaging Communities Programme is funded through the Shared Communities Consortium, led by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and includes the partners OFMDFM, DSD, DCAL, Community Relations Council, PSNI, SOLACE (Society of Local Authority and Chief Executives), Department of Justice, International Fund for Ireland and NI Housing Executive.

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A new garden of reflection and sculpture commemorating and highlighting the fallen from both World Wars and other global conflicts is to be unveiled at King Street, Tullycarnet in East Belfast on Saturday 5^th June at 11.00am.  The £75,000 project funded by the Arts Council led Re-imaging Communities Programme has been developed by Charter NI, Tullycarnet Action Group Initiative Trust (TAGIT) in partnership with Groundwork Northern Ireland. 

Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Chair of the Shared Communities Consortium, said: “The Re-imaging Communities Programme is committed to building a shared future for Northern Ireland that is founded on partnership, equality and mutual respect. Since undertaking this project in October 2008, the resident’s of Tullycarnet have worked together with local artist Ross Wilson to develop a series of artworks, as well as a new shared space in the heart of the community. The benefits of that arts-led approach are clear for all to see and the completed works are a result of the community’s hard work and dedication.”

The residents of Tullycarnet have worked with artist Ross Wilson to create a new-shared space, which will rejuvenate the local area and make it a more welcoming environment for all.

Phase one of this innovative project commenced in 2008 with in-depth community consultations facilitated by Groundwork NI with members of the local community to discuss their needs and plans for the removal of two paramilitary murals, re-landscaping at the front of the shops in King Street and the addition of a new seating design for locals. In 2009 the residents witnessed the creation of two new community murals, one highlighting the dangers of drugs to young people another on litter awareness. 

The second phase of this Re-imaging project has witnessed the landscaping of the garden with reflection with new artwork in the form of five granite stone columns designed by renowned artist Ross Wilson.  The columns are dedicated to remembering the various individuals including local people from East Belfast who sacrificed their lives in the both World Wars and other global conflicts.  Also featured on the stone columns is a selection of war imagery of men and women who fought and died serving their countries overseas. East Belfast man Lieutenant-Colonel Blair Mayne who was a founder member of the Special Air Service (SAS) is also included in the sculpture.

Sylvia Gordon – Director, Groundwork Northern Ireland said:

“This Re-imaging Project has seen significant input from our organisation and we are delighted to see this new garden of reflection for the residents of Tullycarnet finally come to fruition.  The community can now enjoy the new streetscape and community murals but more importantly they now have a space for contemplation in the very heart of their community”

The text that has been incorporated into the stone columns is taken from the hymn The Mansions of the Lord written by film director Randall Wallace.  The renowned film director gave his permission to the artist Ross Wilson to have his lyrics for this hymn used as an integral aspect to the finished artwork and the text has been integral to the entire creative process. This acclaimed hymn was first performed as the closing music for President Ronald Reagan's national funeral in June 2004.  Wallace wrote the Academy Award winner Braveheart and the blockbuster Pearl Harbor. He also wrote, directed, and produced the critically acclaimed We Were Soldiers and The Man in the Iron Mask.

Local artist and sculptor Ross Wilson commenting on the project said:

“I had made a visit in 2009 to Thiepval in Belgium and witnessed this unique hymn first hand at a commemoration ceremony to fallen soldiers, this hymn resonated with me. It came into my mind as I initially embarked on this artistic journey with members of the community in Tullycarnet, I was keen to weave key text from this hymn into the very fabric of the new garden of reflection and sculpture”

The artist Ross Wilson incorporated a strong visual narrative into this sculpture and the selected images highlights the futility of war and the tragic waste of human life. 

One of the other event highlights for attendees will be a unique performance by members of the highly renowned New Irish Arts Choir who under the artistic direction of Jonathan Rea will perform ‘The Mansions of the Lord’ and ‘Steal Away’ for this public opening which will take place on Saturday 5^th June at 11.00am, King Street, Tullycarnet.  

Frankie Gallagher, Charter NI & Chairman of TAGIT said 

“We are moving to a new and better place in Northern Ireland and Tullycarnet is to the fore in that transition. Our community have a long way to go and some hard times still to face but this project is proof that we can do it.”

The Re-imaging Communities Programme is funded through the Shared Communities Consortium, led by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and includes the partners OFMDFM, DSD, DCAL, Community Relations Council, PSNI, SOLACE (Society of Local Authority and Chief Executives), Department of Justice, International Fund for Ireland and NI Housing Executive.