Belfast's Murals: Politics, Memory and Street Art
Northern Ireland's painted walls are among the most famous murals in the world. Where the tradition came from, what the murals show, and how they are changing.
By The Outsider Artist editors, Editorial team, Website Studio
Updated
· Last reviewed · 3 min read
In short
- Northern Ireland's political murals are painted walls expressing the identities, histories and politics of loyalist and republican communities.
- Loyalist murals began around 1908, when painters marked the Twelfth of July with images of King William III and the Battle of the Boyne.
- Republican murals began after the 1981 hunger strike, in which ten prisoners died.
- Themes have shifted over time, from military imagery to history, memorial, culture and international causes.
- Belfast also has a thriving contemporary street art scene, boosted by the Hit the North festival since 2013.
What are the Northern Ireland murals?
Northern Ireland's murals are large paintings on gable walls and other surfaces, mostly in working-class areas of Belfast and Derry. They express the beliefs, history and politics of the communities that paint them: broadly, loyalist communities, who support the union with Britain, and republican communities, who seek a united Ireland. They are one of the most famous mural traditions in the world, and many visitors take tours to see them.
They are also part of a living and sensitive political landscape. This guide describes the tradition; it does not take sides.
When did the loyalist mural tradition begin?
The research of the sociologist Bill Rolston, published by the CAIN archive at Ulster University, traces loyalist murals to around 1908. Each July, house and coach painters in loyalist areas painted large murals as part of the celebrations of the Twelfth, the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, often showing King William III, "King Billy", on a white horse. After the creation of Northern Ireland in 1920, murals, marching and flags took on added political weight.
From the 1980s, King Billy images became less common and were replaced by flags, symbols such as the Red Hand of Ulster, and increasingly by military images of loyalist paramilitary groups, especially after the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985.
When did republican murals begin?
Republican murals began in 1981, during and after the hunger strike in which ten republican prisoners died. Young nationalists painted walls in support of the prisoners, and the tradition grew quickly. Republican murals have dealt with prisoners, armed struggle, repression and resistance, elections, Irish history and language, and solidarity with international struggles.
How have the murals changed?
Since the peace process of the 1990s, many murals have changed. Some paramilitary images have been replaced with murals about local history, culture, sport, famous people and memorials. Others remain overtly political. Murals continue to be painted and repainted in response to events, which makes them a living record of the community's concerns.
What about Belfast street art?
Alongside the political murals, Belfast has a vibrant street art scene, especially in the Cathedral Quarter and city centre. The Hit the North festival, organised by Seedhead Arts since 2013, brings artists from Ireland, the UK and further afield each spring. Many artists deliberately avoid sectarian themes and focus on characters, colour and the city itself.
How can you see the murals respectfully?
- Take a local tour, ideally one that includes voices from more than one community.
- Remember these are people's homes. Be considerate when taking photographs.
- Read up on the history beforehand; Ulster University's CAIN archive is an excellent starting point.
- Visit the street art too, for a sense of how Belfast is changing.
Where to go next
Read the wider history of graffiti in the UK, or see UK street art festivals.
Sources and further reading
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