A unique mural unveiled this week gives the history of the Ulster Scots people and unionist culture in their own words – part of two huge works commissioned by an American businessman, philanthropist and art collector intended to show both sides of the coin in Northern Ireland.
Peering back more than a millennium and half into the past, the mural covers the full sweep from early Scots crossing the sea to the Protestant Reformation and the Ulster Plantation, and on through the centuries to the Somme and the Belfast Blitz, to the tragedies of the Troubles and modern peace.
Major historical figures are represented such as King William III, Edward Carson and James Craig, while notable twentieth century politicians Ian Paisley, David Trimble and David Ervine mark recent developments.
It also highlights important elements of unionist culture including bonfires, marching bands and the Orange Order, plus landmarks such as the Ulster Tower.
From noted mural artist Dee Craig, the work was shown to the public for the first time in east Belfast’s Ballymac Friendship Centre.
In a statement that accompanied the mural unveiling, Dee said he’d been in touch with American art collector Darius Anderson, who had “seen the scale and impact of murals across Belfast, but what stood out was his genuine curiosity about both sides of the community.”
The US businessman had visited Northern Ireland several times, he said, and challenged both unionist and republican Belfast mural artists to create a full size piece on canvas instead of a gable wall.
He stated: “It wasn’t something you’d have seen much of in the past, parallel works from different traditions created as part of the same exhibition, but that was exactly what made it interesting.
“Mural art has always been central to how our community expresses its history, culture and sense of place.
“[The exhibition] places different narratives side by side, allowing people to see, reflect and maybe understand a bit more about the histories and identities that shape this place.”
According to historical consultant Quentin Dougan, both the unionist and nationalist murals are intended to tour the US as a pair, showing the long histories and perspectives of both communities.
Stated Quentin: “Some time ago a California-based collector of art from ‘conflict zones’ commissioned a piece of art in the form of a mural, representing an Irish republican perspective of history. Usually that’s where Americans and Ulster end – not this time, he wanted the loyalist side too and for that engaged Dee.
“An amazing piece, there are over 40 different scenes and individuals from across Irish history featured. Each was deliberately picked to try to best tell the story of a people, giving their perspective on their origins and evolution into what we are today.”
The touring murals will be accompanied by a book detailing some of the tales behind the featured figures and events.
