TAKE IT DOWN FROM THE BELFAST CITY HALL WALL IRISH TRAITORS

Niall Ó Donnghaile
Lord Mayor of Belfast Belfast City Hall, Donegall Square Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 5GS

lordmayorsoffice@belfastcity.gov.uk



As the artist who created the poster to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the United Irishmen of 1778, I was deeply offended to see it hanging in your parlor in Belfast City Hall. Your stated purpose in hanging it was to help achieve parity for all those of various “cultural identities” that reside in Belfast. But, Lord Mayor, Belfast City Hall is the home of British government, not an art museum, and the United Irishmen of 1778 were not trying to promote a cultural identity, but were committed to liberating Ireland from British Rule. Hanging that poster in an office controlled and paid for by the United Kingdom makes a mockery of their efforts.

The quote by Wolfe Tone, at the bottom of the poster, could not contain a clearer message:

‘To subvert the tyranny of our execrable government, to break the connection with England, the never-failing source of all our political evils, and to assert the independence of my country – these were my objects. To unite the whole people of Ireland, to abolish the memory of all past dissensions, and to substitute the common name of Irishman in place of the denominations of protestant, catholic and dissenter – these were my means.’

When the Belfast City Hall is located in a united Ireland, not the United Kingdom, I would be honored to see my artwork displayed. Until then, I request that it be taken down. Moving the picture of the Queen of England from one wall to another does not in any way make Belfast part of a United Ireland. I object to my artwork being used to pretend otherwise.

Sincerely,



Brian Mor O’Baoigill


This is the video.

http://www.u.tv/News/SF-mayor-removes-royal-portraits/fe350e0d-c997-4d00-b387-2d9b9b98b31a