HOW MURALS ILLUSTRATE NORTHERN IRELAND'S POLITICAL AND SECTARIAN CONFLICT THROUGH POLITICAL AND NON-POLITICAL MESSAGES

Abstract

Belfast, Northern Ireland murals have become a significant form of expression in their community over the past few decades and reflect historical tensions between Loyalist and Republican communities in the region (Jarman, 1998). This study examined how murals in Belfast serve as visual representations of the political and sectarian conflict, particularly focusing on Loyalist, Republican, and non-aligned murals. Using a purposive sampling method using the ‘Murals of Northern Ireland’ collection from ‘The Claremont Colleges Digital Library’ database (Crowley, 2021), 93 murals (Loyalist n=30, Republican n=31, and non-aligned n=32) are sampled. To ensure intercoder reliability, two independent coders coded these murals to find common themes, symbols, and messages. The location of each mural was contrasted to the ratio of Catholic representation in specific regions, using the ‘Religious Distribution in Belfast’ map (Johnson, 2001). Based on the location of the mural, this study found that there was fairly consistent representation of political and non-political messages in highly Catholic and highly Protestant areas. The key findings of this study revealed that Loyalist murals predominantly focus on British identity and Northern Ireland’s union with the United Kingdom while Republican murals focus on their strong connection to the Republic of Ireland, emphasizing resistance and commemorating fallen members. In contrast, non-aligned murals address broader themes of peace, reconciliation, and cultural expression. This research demonstrates that murals in the city of Belfast serve both as a reflection of Belfast’s historical divisions and a medium for post-conflict reconciliation, with a clear movement toward reducing overtly political content in favor of more inclusive, peace-oriented messages.