AN artist has painted a mural of murdered journalist Lyra McKee in Belfast's city centre.
Emma Blake, and 21 other artists, took part in the annual Hit the North street art festival over the bank holiday weekend, blanketing most of Kent Street in new paintings.
Blake's mural of the tragic 29-year-old Belfast author, who was shot dead by dissident republicans during rioting in Londonderry last month, has already been drawing visitors today.
People have been stopping to take pictures with the mural, which also features words from a powerful letter she wrote to her 14-year-old self.
The letter, which has gained worldwide prominence since her death, spoke of her struggles as a gay teenager in Northern Ireland.
It contained the words: "It won't always be like this. It's going to get better".
Adam Turkington, the organiser of the festival, said Blake had been moved by McKee's death and wanted to pay tribute.
"Street art is always dialogue," he said.
"Writing on a wall is always political, whether you realise it or not.
"I think what's been really interesting is how you've seen that the aftermath of Lyra's death has played out in art on walls - whether it's the bloody hand prints on the office walls or whether it's people painting over the IRA murals in Derry. That's activism.
"Street art has its roots in activism and in anti-establishment-ism, but also in finding ways to communicate with each other about things that really are hard to talk about.
READ MORE: David Pratt: We must hope the world becomes a safer place for journalists
"It's about aesthetic, it's about place-making. And especially in the context of Northern Ireland, where we have these very divisive murals, street art for me in this context is all about building a shared space and finding a place that people can co-exist.
"It's a very natural thing in a way that Lyra has been represented in this way at the festival and long may it continue."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel