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Belfast Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
DUP accuses other parties of Irish language ‘carve-up' after Belfast Council spending agreement
The DUP has accused all non-unionist parties in Belfast Council of an Irish language 'carve-up' after it was agreed at City Hall this week the bulk of last year's underspend will go to a new Gaeilge strategy. At the July meeting of the full Belfast Council, held on Tuesday evening elected representatives agreed a Sinn Féin proposal on how to use the £2,940,000, underspend from last year's net expenditure budget.
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Removal of Michael D Higgins' portrait at Belfast City Hall by DUP Lord Mayor angers Sinn Féin
A portrait of President Michael D Higgins was removed from display in Belfast City Hall and placed in storage at the request of DUP Lord Mayor Tracy Kelly, Belfast City Council has said. It emerged at a council meeting on Tuesday evening that the picture of the President, which used to hang alongside a similar portrait of King Charles in the Lord Mayor's parlour, was no longer there. In a statement, Belfast City Council said the 'decoration of the parlour is a matter for each individual Lord Mayor throughout their term in office'. 'The photographic portrait of President Michael D Higgins has been safely stored at City Hall, at the request of the current Lord Mayor, while she considers options for this space during her mayoral term,' the council said. READ MORE Ms Kelly has been a DUP councillor in the Botanic area of South Belfast since 2019 and was elected Lord Mayor of Belfast last month. DUP Lord Mayor of Belfast Cllr Tracy Kelly. Photograph: Matt Mackey At the council meeting, Sinn Féin Cllr Ryan Murphy asked Ms Kelly, 'where is that portrait, and what kind of message does it send out to the people in this city who hold the president of Ireland in high regard?' 'Thank you, that's been noted,' Ms Kelly replied. Cllr Murphy, who was lord mayor of Belfast from 2023-2024, said that when Sinn Féin representatives had been lord mayor of Belfast, 'there were certain things that we never took off the walls, there were certain things that we felt were off-limits. 'And so when we were offered the royal portrait of the British King Charles, we accepted it and we put it up, and we put it up alongside the [portrait of] Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins and we marked it with a small event in the Mayor's office 'I think for us, it's concerning that we've seen in recent weeks that that portrait is no longer there.' Asked why the portrait had been removed and if there were any plans to reinstate it, the DUP said in a statement that the 'decoration of the Lord Mayor's parlour is not yet complete. There will be further artefacts to be added in the next few weeks.'
Irish Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Sinn Féin 'concerned' at removal of President Higgins portrait in Belfast
The DUP has yet to reveal the whereabouts of a portrait of President Michael D. Higgins that was removed from a wall in the Belfast Lord Mayor's City Hall offices. Sinn Féin now say they are 'concerned' at the removal of the portrait, which hung on a wall beside a portrait of King Charles in a room on the first floor of City Hall used for meetings and receptions. The location of the artwork is yet to be revealed, Belfast Live reports. The party has now asked the new Belfast Lord Mayor, DUP Councillor Tracy Kelly where the portrait is, as well as 'what message' was being sent by removing it. Back in 2011, Sinn Féin stirred controversy after removing pictures of the Queen and Prince Charles during their tenure as mayor, erecting a portrait of the United Irishmen and an image of the 1916 Easter Rising Proclamation of the Irish Republic instead. Former mayor and Sinn Féin Councillor Ryan Murphy, spoke at the meeting, held on Tuesday night, of the full Belfast Council. After congratulating the Lord Mayor on the birth of his child, Councillor Murphy said: 'I want to commend you on the first weeks in office, I think we have seen you hit the ground running. 'You have been out in all four corners of the city of Belfast, even representing the city at an international level in the New York New Belfast events. The role of the mayor really is an important one for the city - it is able to highlight worthy causes. 'But it is a role that is held in very high esteem and high regard from the citizens of Belfast. That is felt no more so than in our ethnic communities, and I want to commend you on the events you took part in Refugee Week, when you went to the Big Picnic. 'To see that taking place, especially in the aftermath of the attacks, where a lot of ethnic minorities across Belfast were targeted, that has been welcomed.' He added: 'But at the same time, the role of Lord Mayor is one that the Belfast people take ownership of. It's a position where all the people feel you are the person that represents them. 'That is done in your deeds, when you are out in the city, but also when you are in the offices. And the Mayor's offices, for me it was about opening them up to the city of Belfast, and letting the people know it was theirs, that it was somewhere where they belonged, that they could also feel part of. 'That was even done through the stuff that was on the walls. When our representatives have been in the position of Mayor, there were certain things we never took off the walls. There were certain things we felt were off-limits. 'And so when we were offered the royal portrait of the British King Charles, we accepted it, and we put it up alongside the Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael and we marked it with a small event at the Mayor's office. For us it is concerning that in recent weeks we have seen that portrait is no longer there. 'And we would ask, where is that portrait? And what kind of message does it send out to people in this city who hold the President of Ireland in high regard?' 'That has been noted, thanks Ryan,' the Lord Mayor then replied. A DUP spokesperson later said: "Decoration of the lord mayor's parlour is not yet complete. There will be further artefacts to be added in the next few weeks."
RTÉ News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
'No rationale' for removal of President Higgins' portrait at Belfast City Hall
Belfast City Council has said that a portrait of President Michael D Higgins has been safely stored at City Hall while the newly-elected lord mayor "considers options" for the space. The portrait's removal from the mayor's parlour was raised by Sinn Féin at a council meeting last night. In June, Councillor Tracy Kelly became Belfast City's first female lord mayor from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Last year, while serving as mayor, Sinn Féin Councillor Ryan Murphy unveiled the portrait of President Higgins, which was displayed in the parlour alongside an image of Britain's King Charles. Cllr Murphy has called for an explanation as to where the artwork has gone. He said: "The Mayor of Belfast has a responsibility to promote respect and tolerance for all traditions in our city. "A large section of the community in Belfast have a deep respect for Uachtarán na hÉireann and that was reflected in the presence of the portrait in City Hall. "It was put up alongside the royal portrait of the British King Charles and marked with a small event. "There is no rationale behind the removal of this portrait. What message does it send out to people in this city who hold the President of Ireland in high regard? "Sinn Féin wants to work with all parties to build a city based on equality and ensure Belfast City Hall is reflective of all its citizens," Mr Murphy added. Asked about the portrait's removal, a DUP spokesperson said: "Decoration of the Lord Mayor's parlour is not yet complete. There will be be further artefacts to be added in the next few weeks". Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Belfast City Council said the decoration of the parlour is a matter for each individual lord mayor throughout their term in office. "The photographic portrait of President Michael D Higgins has been safely stored at City Hall, at the request of the current Lord Mayor, while she considers options for this space during her mayoral term," they added. The lord mayor's parlour is a formal room on the first floor of Belfast City Hall that is used for meetings, receptions and special occasions.
The Journal
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Portrait of Michael D Higgins removed from office of DUP lord mayor of Belfast
THE LORD MAYOR of Belfast was unable to offer an explanation when she was quizzed on the whereabouts of a portrait of President Michael D Higgins. For over a year, portraits of Britain's King Charles and President Higgins have sat side by side on a wall in the lord mayor's parlour in Belfast City Hall. Former lord mayor and Sinn Féin councillor Ryan Murphy pictured last year in the parlour, with both portraits visible in the background Ryan Murphy Ryan Murphy The parlour is a formal room on the first floor of Belfast City Hall and is used for meetings, receptions and special occasions. Last week, the current lord mayor and DUP councillor Tracy Kelly posted a picture to social media of her hosting members of 'Orangefest' in the parlour. However, only the portrait of Charles was visible and the portrait of President Higgins was removed. Tracy Kelly with members of 'Orangefest' in the lord mayor's parlour Tracy Kelly Tracy Kelly Kelly became lord mayor of Belfast last month. In doing so, she became the eight woman to hold the role and the first woman from the DUP to be elected to the office. At a Belfast City Council meeting last night, former lord mayor of Belfast and Sinn Féin councillor Ryan Murphy praised Kelly for her work in the role so far. 'You've been out in all four corners of the city,' said Murphy. Advertisement He also praised Kelly for taking part in Refugee Week and remarked that this was 'really welcome'. However, he added that the lord mayor has to 'represent' everyone and that this is done 'by your deeds when you're out in the city, but also in terms of the mayor's office'. He said people need to 'feel part' of the mayor's office and that this is 'even done through the stuff that was on the walls'. 'When our representatives have been in that position, there were certain things that we never took off walls, certain things that we felt were off limits,' said Murphy. 'When we were offered the royal portrait of the British King Charles [In March 2024], we accepted it and we put it up alongside Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins, and we marked it with a small event in the mayor's office. 'It's concerning that we've seen in recent weeks that that portrait is no longer there. 'Where is that portrait and what kind of message does it send out for the people in this city who hold the President of Ireland in high regard.' However, no explanation was forthcoming of what had happened to the portrait, with Kelly responding: 'Thank you, that's being noted.' A DUP spokesperson told The Journal that the 'decoration of the lord mayor's parlour is not yet complete' and that 'further artefacts' will be added 'in the next few weeks'. It is not the first time there has been controversy over portraits in the lord mayor's parlour. In 2011, then Sinn Fein lord mayor of Belfast Niall Ó Donnghaile removed portraits of then Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth. These were replaced with the 1916 proclamation and a portrait of the United Irishmen. And last October, the PSNI investigated damage caused to a portrait of former DUP Lord Mayor Wallace Browne at Belfast City Hall . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
