Peintures murales de Belfast (document en anglais)

Belfast Murals:

Bobby Sands, (9 March 1954 to 5 May 1981), was an Irish volunteer for the Provisional Irish Republican Army and member of the United Kingdom Parliament who died on hunger strike while in HM Prison Maze.

He was the leader of the 1981 hunger strike, in which Irish republican prisoners protested against the removal of Special Category Status. During his strike he was elected as a member of the United Kingdom Parliament as an Anti H-Block/Armagh Political Prisoner candidate.

We can see on the mural a big chain which encircles Bobby’s face, it may represent the British oppression in Northern Ireland. The birds which break the chain might symbolize the liberty from Republican and the phoenix, on the top left, which rises from ashes may symbolized Ireland’s rebirth.

Bobby Sand’s face is on the first plan, probably to represent him as the liberator of Republicans.

On the painting, there is a quotation from him “Everyone, Republican or otherwise has their own particular role to play, our revenge will be the laugher of our children” which make Bobby Sand a hero because of his will of peace and not revenge. The word “children” also gives hopes, alongside with “Republican” which show that they are involve in the fight for independence.

To conclude, we can say that this mural pays tribute to Bobby Sand and makes him a hero and the symbol of resistance against British in 1981.

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