An electoral portrait of Sınn Féın candidate Gerry Adams, against a background of green, white, and orange.
The mural was the first one (bar a children’s mural at a school) painted by Mo Chara Kelly (with Hector Heath). He recalls the moment as follows: “At that particular time [1987] the media were constantly, as is their role, demonising our community. The Catholic Church was in support of the SDLP because they wanted the voice of the so-called moderate nationalist to be heard and they too were constantly criticising and demonizing republicanism. … We were told constantly that republicanism had no support. That was rammed down your our throat constantly by the British and Irish media and press. One day I thought to myself — it just came to me out of the blue — “Get up, and start to paint. Be public about it!” So I painted a Gerry Adams mural for the election that was coming up.” (Painting My Community/An Pobal A Phéınteáıl – English-language version available for free.)
Adams successfully defended his Belfast West seat in the UK general election of 1987.
Westrock Drive, west Belfast
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1988 Paddy Duffy
T00078
Paddy Duffy Collection 