The Bogside Artists Light Up Their Famous Murals

Derry City Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, January 31, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The Bogside Artists of Derry, Tom Kelly, William Kelly and Kevin Hasson have taken the proverbial bull by the horns and lit up two of the murals that comprise The People’s Gallery in Derry, N. Ireland. These famous murals are visited by thousands of people each year. They tell the story of the three decades of conflict preceding the Good Friday Agreement of April 1998 that brought an end to the open conflict between the Unionists and Nationalists of the North of Ireland. Lighting the murals has been seen by some as a political firecracker, and although measures were put in place six years ago to illuminate all twelve along with other historic sites in the city, for some reason no forward move was ever taken since the strategy was okayed early in 2007.

A statement released by The Bogside Artists explained their situation as follows:

“The lighting strategy was actually commissioned in September 2005. In April 4th 2007 we were informed by 'our' council that the 'conceptual strategy' for lighting the city had been completed and fully signed off. The murals were listed among 24 other designated sites in the city to be illuminated. Money for the project was to come from the NITB (Northern Ireland Tourist Board) under the Integrated Development Fund and the EU Peace and Reconciliation Programs. All the bumph from Equation Lighting who were brought over from England to cost the job was sent to NITB for 'independent economic appraisal' as councilspeak put it. That seems to be where the wheels fell off. We were later informed that the funds had been 'frozen,' meaning stopped dead. Well, rather than sit twiddling our thumbs we decided to light them up ourselves with respect to the people of the Bogside whose history we have painted and our own families and relatives who fought long and hard for civil rights. We are convinced that the dumbing down of the Bogside where the troubles all began over forty years ago is a political ploy that pays no attention whatsoever to the will of the people. Political games are what pass for government in the six counties. Serving the people and taking care of their interests seems to take a back seat to political chess and arcane backroom manoeuvring. We will light all of our murals in due course so that The People's Gallery we have created will stand as a universal witness to a people's courage and suffering. Our thanks to all who gave their time and energy into doing something positive for the people of The Bogside who in our view deserve more respect than they are accorded by the people they put into political office."

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