Have you seen Belfast's loyalist Shankill and its controversial political murals?

[@SwanRonsonDonnyJepp]

I'm an Englishman but I'm fascinated by Irish history, the troubles etc. I could watch these videos all day 👍💪

[@nakedireland]

Please do watch them all day Donny, that’d be great!

[@aengusomalley2649]

Danny can I ask how Haa your opinion changed since you first started watching them

[@pauldunneska]

​@@aengusomalley2649he didn't answer you because you called him Danny when his name is Donny.

[@simonwiggins8570]

Lower Shankill used to have some good and very political murals. Most are now gone or replaced since J Adairs C Company were forced out. There are better examples of murals in other areas.

[@MarkPollard-yx8qg]

I like the video but the music is creepy

[@conormirgan8917]

Jesus that is drabness interspersed with horror sprinkled with weird cartoons like inside of a Romanian orphanage.

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

😂

[@friotaiocht101]

Murals speak louder than words.... the artwork is amazing....

[@nakedireland]

Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for watching.

[@GaryGSF]

I took a taxi tour around a lot of the murals and you can be impressed with the artwork on all of them. I do feel a sadness of all that has gone on in both sides of the divide, but I am encouraged by the rise of the murals depicting hope for the future. There will always be setbacks but both communities have more in common than what divides them. I hope they all work on that. Let's not build on history just build on the future.

[@nakedireland]

Yeah exactly Gary.

[@garrybroadbent8297]

The mural at the side of Stephen Mckeag is eerie….the guns pointed by the paramilitary soldiers follow as you walk around…truly striking image.

[@nakedireland]

Thanks for your comment and for checking out the film Gary.

[@josoapification]

Shankill road has applied to the Road service for more lampposts to hang the UNION FLAG. They ran out of lampposts all over the north of Ireland this year. It’s only called a union jack when it is being flown from a ship.

[@davethepitt]

Thanks for this video. I'm fascinated by the murals of NI and would love to visit the murals across the divide but also know how sensitive an issue it is. Is it possible to visit and to be "respectful"? If you know what I mean. The changing murals leave me conflicted. Is NI losing some history by having these murals removed? Or is it better for community cohesion? I am in no way qualified to comment. What is the general consensus? Thanks again

[@nakedireland]

People will no doubt chip on here Dave. I think if murals are generally sectarian and expressing bigoted sentiment then they should go. There’s no place in our society for that and the past illustrates what madness that way leads. Where you draw the line on what is sectarian or bigoted, I guess that is the problem. And yes, it’s perfectly possible to visit the murals, there are even tourist tours that take you round if that’s your thing. But my advice is just go to each area and walk round.

[@jonathanwilson4016]

I met the nephew of the man depicted in the 2.05 mural in 2017 when I wandered about taking some photos he accosted me and said come abd look at my uncles one and walked me round the block to show me it I later read about him on Wikipedia and he'd done a few murders his name is/was Steve mckeagh aka top gun and I found it a very bizzare surreal experience

[@nakedireland]

Not exactly a run of the mill tourist experience Jonathan!

[@jonathanwilson4016]

@@nakedireland weird town

[@nakedireland]

Congratulations!

[@deehamilton2728]

Blew himself up .

[@aviationiceman9549]

@@deehamilton2728 with Coke 🤣

[@ragingpagan8847]

Fed up to the Ankle so I’m moving to the Shankill 🇬🇧😀

[@PK-fk7bm]

The Shankill is a Dump!

[@nakedireland]

An eloquent critic.

[@no-nh8rn]

I'm an Englishman, but I'm fascinated by Northern Irish history so i am, the troubles, why they think england wants them, why they are killing their own countrymen for a country that just laughs at you and thinks youre all irish. I could laugh at these videos all day 👍💪

[@nakedireland]

Hi No, well I take your point that perhaps ‘England doesn’t want us’ as you say. But the truth is people here don’t really care what the English want or don’t want. If I can speak for everyone in the north then I’d say, loyalists consider themselves British, not English! And Irish nationalists probably see you as even further removed from their experience - you might as well be French or German! So, laugh away my good friend. As it happens we are currently making great progress with our various problems. What about England? How’s it doing? Sorted that EU thing yet? Well done.

[@jimmysimms2399]

The Loyalist people in Northern Ireland are British not Irish. Not a single atom in my body is Irish. Northern Ireland has supported the UK in every conflict they have fought. On the first day of the battle of the Somme 5,000 Northern Irish volunteers gave their lives in support of the British War on Germany. Ulster soldiers died in the second World War, Korea, Iraq and every other war. We stood up to brutal IRA and INLA campaigns of violence seeing our friends, and families being murdered. Sometimes the victims were women and children and people praying in a small church were shot dead by scum who have the audacity to call themselves Christians. We did this because we didn't want to be part of the Irish Republic where protestants have been driven out to such an extent that the protestant population can't even be counted anymore as its so small. If we are denied British citizenship then we will fight on for Northern Irish independence

[@nakedireland]

Nice one Jimmy, pick and choose your history. Quote republican murders but ignore loyalist and state murders. Quote the unionist war WW1 effort, but ignore the fact that many nationalist and people from the republic fought too. This is the kind of single sighted nonsense that caused the Troubles in the first place. Man, you’re full of hatred, time you started thinking. I mean thinking.

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

​@@nakedirelandHa, ha, ha... neither does Scotland or Wales.. Ulster scots. Do you speak Gaelic or Gaeilge? What crown are you loyal to?

[@nakedireland]

Sorry Saoirse, no idea what you're on about?

[@paulkenneally789]

Are the murals ever removed by the authorities? Do the artists ever do cross- community work?

[@nakedireland]

Hi Paul, yes as far as I’m aware there are cross community works that artists are involved in. Murals are sometimes removed, but usually as part of a positive re-imaging process and in consultation with the communities involved.

[@fishface20077002]

The cops won't even take a flag down in case there's a riot.

[@15thlobbies]

i was driving past the newtownards road a while back and a young girl of about 16 years of age was touching up a mural

[@jimmyburkeirishgoodfella5720]

Yes there is a few lads from opposite sides that would have been seen as enemies back in the troubles but now work together doing murals and have became good friends

[@joprocter4573]

Do they get removed by other UK councils?

[@bpd1111]

The loyalist in the mural has the upper part of the head missing. It would explain so much.

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

Never got past remedial class, Peadar, Siobhan agus Padraig an madra! 9Peter, Jane & Pat the dog never mind art class!🤣🇨🇮💚

[@pauldunneska]

​@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910 that's the Ivory Coast flag. This is the Irish flag 🇮🇪.

[@arfermo853]

My dad Ron perry was from shankill and relatives out there? He left to join the army and lived in England after marrying and had six children 3 boys 3 girls any help?

[@nakedireland]

I’m sure someone reading your comment will recognise you dads name. Do you know when he lived on the Shankill?

[@absolutelywiseman556]

0:30 - 1:35 = NORTHUMBERLAND St. / BEVERLEY St. - loyalist/protestant section.

[@TrixieBoo]

This was my home for 29 Years. Denmark Street. I was so happy when the day came I got to leave.

[@nakedireland]

Perhaps you still have the odd fond memory of the place?

[@TrixieBoo]

@nakedireland Nope. Surrounded by paramilitaries and the oppressive mindset were deeply depressing.

[@nakedireland]

Fair comment, we’ve grown up in hard times.

[@TrixieBoo]

@@nakedireland Where did you grow up?

[@nakedireland]

Belfast.

[@OfficeHyena]

Always found these things very interesting but unnerving, I'd like to hear an Irish perspective of the British far right and its association with loyalism, thoughts on it etc

[@nakedireland]

That’s an interesting idea - bound to be controversial though. Thanks for watching.

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

In the opinion of this Irishman, it’s the last sting of a dying wasp. The world is a more equal place now (at least on these islands) and people who are used to their privilege are going to have to learn to share power, political, economic and judicial.

[@nakedireland]

It’s true.

[@eddiestaunton514]

The sinister music is apt

[@nakedireland]

Many thanks Edward.

[@masonboyne5074]

Top Gun Mckeag mural is absolutely beautiful

[@benmacdui9328]

The murals in the "wannabe English" areas are nothing but cringeworthy scribbles of drug dealing gangsters. Best checking out the Irish murals.

[@masonboyne5074]

@@benmacdui9328 You think only loyalist paramilitaries sold drug's? Nice bit of revisionist history pal😂 You should get a job with the SNP in Scotland 😂

[@masonboyne5074]

@@benmacdui9328 Ps What Irish mural's you recommend? Provisional IRA commander Brendan Ruby Davison one? You know the Paedophile Davison,that one? Or Gerry Adam's who hid behind a terrified young boy at Milltown cemetery and used him as a human shield? That mural? Nah pal I'll pass

[@terrymcparland2922]

Go read a book or do some studying on who topgun was and how he died ,,,

[@g-dcomplex1609]

war art is cool, but peace art is better for young minds to absorb

[@nakedireland]

Yeah, if only it were that simple.

[@g-dcomplex1609]

@@nakedireland i don't doubt that either, good video, i enjoy watching it, regards.

[@nakedireland]

comment troll supremacist, thanks a lot, and check the other mural videos I have on the Naked Ireland channel.

[@g-dcomplex1609]

@@nakedireland i shal check them out, i do collect images of murals for my own personal viewing, thank you naked ireland, regards

[@nakedireland]

My pleasure!

[@dozer1323]

You definitely saved the best for last, the anti drug mural is top notch.

[@nakedireland]

It’s good stuff

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

All the while the house the gable end it is "painted on" are dealing!

[@goalltheway-pm8xs]

Ffs the music? Wtf!

[@nakedireland]

Gws!

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

Níl piobairi Uilleann acu, níl bodhraín acu... i ndiáiríre níl fu**in cliú acu!🇨🇮💚

[@pauldunneska]

​@@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910Irish flag please. Not the Ivory Coast one.

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

@@pauldunneska Tá brón orm, bhí mé ar meisce!🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪💚💚💚💚

[@pauldunneska]

@@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910 Go raibh maith agat.

[@formhubfar]

The troubles died in 1996 when both sides accepted The British Bribe, its a great shame that those who fought for us didnt rule over us.., Peter Robinson standing there holding an AK-47 in Israel like he was standing on the streets of Ulster.

[@nakedireland]

The Troubles dying, that’s a good thing, right? What was the bribe? I don’t think I want anyone to ‘rule over us’ (least of all someone brandishing an AK47!) I’d rather just be represented in a democracy.

[@georgemurphy9128]

What’s with music??.. Dreadful

[@nakedireland]

You mean ‘what’s with the music’ ?

[@georgemurphy9128]

@@nakedireland sorry, you are right. I was semi-conscious at the time with the dreadful background music

[@nakedireland]

Fair enough George.

[@dvrn86]

Independent thought is a scarce thing in Belfast.

[@nakedireland]

It exists, but like everywhere else, you have to look for it!

[@i_know_youre_right_but]

No need to be condescending to a group of people who’ve been through things most people in England, Scotland, Wales and ROI wouldn’t see in their worst nightmares. And that goes for both sides of the community.

[@g-dcomplex1609]

subscribed 🤗

[@deehamilton2728]

Ulster prods still living in 1600s mentality, sad but true , non identity.

[@15thlobbies]

aye its the prods still living in the past yet catholics still vote for convicted murderers

[@deehamilton2728]

@@15thlobbies so do prods mate cuts both ways in this shithole called belfast. Full of touts , sell ya out in a heartbeat the dirty rat scum on both sides.

[@ulsterinfidel9897]

And republicans does the exact same but then plays the victim game. Pathetic taig scum

[@Drifty40]

Irish Catholics....still living in the 12th or 17th century.....attempting to hold people in the 21st century, responsible and accountable. Do you see the hypocrisy in your comment.

[@WHU63]

Protestants in the Northern counties of Ireland trace their origins to Scottish Covenanters and some English planters in the 16th century. But theyre hardly living in the 16th century. They celebrate their history involving William of Orange and their part in the troubles. Go to the Falls road and it's the 1798 rebellion, Easter rising in 1916 and the Republican slant on the troubles. If one side is living in the past then both are.

[@ChavezBlueHair]

Is it safe to visit

[@nakedireland]

Yeah, in fact there are organised tours of various parts of West Belfast, which is prob a good idea if you don’t know the area. But yes it’s fine to walk around these murals during the day.

[@drinkingup2157]

Quite safe to visit. One of the Belfast tour company's operates a self guided walking tour of the Falls and Shankill Rd areas featuring the Peacewalls murals , sites of interest. I did it over two afternoons with a couple of refreshment stops along the way.

[@nakedireland]

Glad you mentioned the walking tours, they will no doubt be of interest to our viewers - thanks for watching and for your useful comment.

[@f.b508]

They can’t paint faces that’s why it’s all hooded men they paint

[@willross5263]

Cant understand why they have adopted support for either palestien or israel when they have so much of there own problems to sort out.

[@nakedireland]

I think it’s a case of associating their struggles with those in other parts of the world and sympathising with causes that they see as connected in some way.

[@ryanSLF]

Irish folk act like they are persecuted on the same wave as Palestienians, its crazy

[@rabc1558]

The balfour deceleration 🤔🤔

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

Bloody Balfour.

[@dannywlm63]

According to your title these are controversial why?

[@nakedireland]

We’ll Danny, as you’re probably aware. In NI all political and particularly paramilitary symbolism is controversial. Controversial, as regardless of whether the images are republican or loyalist, they cause offence to those with diametrically opposing views. For example, an image of an IRA man wielding an gun on a gable wall is controversial? Wouldn’t you say?

[@dannywlm63]

@@nakedireland a Union Flag is never offensive

[@nakedireland]

Hi Danny, not sure if you fully read the title? It says ‘controversial political murals’ NOT controversial Union Jack. I hope that answers your question. If not sure let me know and I’ll see if I can explain more clearly. Thanks for watching.

[@dannywlm63]

No I don't think so controversial means controversial in my mind and you featured several murals with the Union Flag

[@mob3144]

@@dannywlm63 A union flag is always offensive even to wipe shite off your arse.

[@saampam894]

I think a mural celebrating terrorist should be taken down. Let's start with the Bobby sands mural

[@ulsterinfidel9897]

The taigs won't do it because they won't allow it, loyalists has gone soft and allows our history to be taken out of the history books. Our side needs to grow a set and stick together

[@Dheuedbv]

Don’t fedkcinn say his name

[@mob3144]

Take your mother down, everyone else did.

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

​@@mob3144😂

[@phillipkeppinger4049]

✊👍💯☝️

[@michaelmcmullan2300]

Go check out the sectarian filthy murals on the falls road

[@nakedireland]

What?

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

Oh you mean te ones to commemorate the hunger strikers, from whose sacrifices loyalist prisoners also benefitted from or the beautiful ancient celtic artwork. Are you on glue?🇨🇮💚

[@Eggnoodlesandketchup3]

The new murals are 🐂💩

[@nakedireland]

Maybe, then, there should be no murals? Just paint them all over with black paint? What d'ya reckon?

[@danarose6314]

Weird

[@roymckie4330]

Painting over history... shame on yous.

[@joprocter4573]

Should be grateful the disgraceful mess Bristol of would be graffiti artists tell no story but rabble

[@nakedireland]

I don’t understand?

[@ryanSLF]

What about the Irish controversial murals right around the corner from these ones. They celebrate terrorists and murderers. Madness

[@nakedireland]

What about them? This film is about the Shankill. Those murals are covered in other films. Thanks for watching.

[@ryanSLF]

@@nakedireland what about them? They are more controversial than the ones on the Shankill Road.

[@nakedireland]

Hi Ryan, the film you watched is about the Shankill Road. Why would republican murals feature in a film about the Shankill?

[@ryanSLF]

@@nakedireland i am just making a counter claim about the other murals which in my eyes are sick.

[@nakedireland]

I think we can agree that all the paramilitary murals are sick.

[@thebrick4357]

They are not controversial at all.. this is our country our culture.. persecuted by the Catholic's since they took the land from the Vikings.. . Ethnic cleansing of protestants from time began.

[@nakedireland]

So the catholics took the land from the vikings!!!! Wow Brick, I did not know that! Every day’s a school day.

[@gloin10]

@The Brick "...persecuted by the Catholic's since they took the land from the Vikings..."? Let us analyse this palpable nonsense, shall we? The Viking era is basically agreed to date from the earliest recorded raids by Norsemen in 793 until the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It is utterly impossible to talk about 'Protestants' until, at the very earliest, the day Martin Luther is alleged to have nailed his '95 Theses' to the door of 'All Saints' Church' in Wittenberg, on October 31st, 1517. There is about 450 years between the end of the Viking era and the beginning of Protestantism.... England did not start to become Protestant until the late-1530s. Until Protestantism became established in Europe, NO-ONE used the term 'Catholics'. The only split was between Eastern, or Orthodox, Christianity and Western Christianity. Both groups describe themselves as 'Christians'. No, the Catholics did NOT take "...the land from the Vikings.." The Vikings were, initially, nothing but a collection of seasonal raiders from Scandinavia. They later built permanent settlements, which became trade centres. This process of settlement began in the early-830s. The Kingdom of Dublin was the earliest Irish Viking kingdom, and the longest lived. The Vikings settled in port towns around the Irish coast and on major rivers. They intermarried with the Gaelic Irish Christians, and by the time of the Battle of Clontarf, in 1014, most Irish Vikings would have been Christian. By that time, they had become integrated into Irish society, and were known as 'Norse-Gaels'. "Ethnic cleansing of protestants from time began"? This is historically illiterate nonsense, nothing but bespattered moonshine. Back in reality, the Plantation of Ulster began in 1609. It was an exercise in ethnic cleansing of the native Gaelic Irish population. It failed, but the effects of this failure still affect everyone on the island of Ireland today... It is basically impossible to talk about Protestantism in Ireland before this date. There had been some attempts at plantation earlier in Laois, Offaly and Munster, but all these had failed by 1590.

[@nakedireland]

Ahh gloin10, now you’ve gone and burst The Brick’s bubble!

[@gloin10]

@@nakedireland "Ahh gloin10, now you’ve gone and burst The Brick’s bubble!"? Ochone, ochone o! It is a terrible, terrible thing I have done....

[@dilbobbaggins2880]

The british persecuted the Irish for 100s of years you plonker and if you were a Catholic you were persecuted and couldn't even get a Job so what are you smoking

[@johnhughes1190]

No surrender

[@mob3144]

Your queen surrendered for you. Did nobody tell you?

[@bpd1111]

You did surrender. You're sitting on your arse surrendering right now

[@cathaloshea1242]

Ewwww