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Extra.ie
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Sinn Féin demand explanation as portrait of President is removed
Sinn Féin called on the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Tracy Kelly, to explain the decision to remove a portrait of President Michael D Higgins from Belfast City Hall. Following a social media post by Ms Kelly, Sinn Féin councillors were quick to notice that a portrait of Mr Higgins had been removed from a reception parlour in the building. Sinn Féin has now called on Ms Kelly to explain the decision to remove the portrait. Lord Mayor of Belfast Tracy Kelly. Pic: Belfast City Council The portrait had been placed in the reception room by Sinn Féin's Ryan Murphy when he was lord mayor. The picture was put up after Mr Murphy received a portrait of King Charles and decided to place the two side by side. This was then followed by a formal event to mark the occasion. The portrait's disappearance prompted Mr Murphy to question its whereabouts in a council meeting on Tuesday. Belfast City Council confirmed that the portrait, despite no longer being on display, is being safely stored at City Hall, 'at the request of the current lord mayor'. President Michael D Higgins. Pic: Joe Giddens –In a council meeting on Tuesday, Mr Murphy praised Ms Kelly on her work so far as the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) first female Lord Mayor of Belfast before raising concerns surrounding the removed portrait. In a transcript of the meeting released by the BBC, Mr Murphy said: 'When our representatives have been in that position of being the mayor, there were certain things that we never took off the walls. There were certain things we felt were off limits.' The council defended the decision, saying decoration of the City Hall was 'a matter for each individual lord mayor throughout their term in office. Former Lord Mayor Ryan Murphy. Pic: Belfast City Council Mr Murphy said there was 'no rationale behind the removal of this portrait', asking, 'What kind of message does it send out for the people in this city who hold the President of Ireland in high regard?' The DUP said that 'decoration of the lord mayor's parlour is not yet complete' and that 'there will be further artefacts to be added in the next few weeks'. Mr Murphy described the initial placement of the portrait as a symbolic means of representing the many communities of Belfast, saying, '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'. He told 'The mayor of Belfast has a responsibility to promote respect and tolerance for all traditions in our city.' This isn't the first time controversy has arisen surrounding the placement of portraits in Belfast City Hall. In 2011, Sinn Féin lord mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile upset unionists after removing pictures of the Queen Mother and Prince Philip from the reception parlour. He replaced them with the 1916 Proclamation and a portrait of the United Irishmen, sparking outrage from DUP councillors at the time. Last October, there was controversy after the PSNI opened an investigation into damage caused to a portrait of former DUP lord mayor Wallace Browne at Belfast City Hall. The PSNI would later declare it a hate crime. A Sinn Féin employee from Stormont later came forward to the party's chief whip, admitting to causing the damage and later tendering their resignation.
The Journal
02-07-2025
- 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
Belfast Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Row at Belfast City Hall after Irish president's portrait removed from lord mayor's parlour
The new Lord Mayor of Belfast has refused to explain why a portrait of the Irish president Michael D Higgins has disappeared from the reception room at City Hall. The lord mayor's parlour, used by Tracy Kelly, previously featured both portraits of King Charles and the Irish head of state side by side. But at a council meeting, Sinn Fein said the portrait is no longer there. The party questioned the lord mayor as to where the item has gone. Other councillors have also noticed the missing portrait, the BBC reported. Last week, on June 26, Ms Kelly posted images of her meeting with Orange Order representatives, teenage mothers and the US consulate. Sinn Féin councillor Ryan Murphy asked the lord mayor about the absence of Mr Higgins' portrait. 'When our representatives have been in that position of being the mayor, there were certain things that we never took off the walls,' he said. 'There were certain things we felt were off limits. "And so, when we were offered the royal portrait of the British King Charles [in March 2024], we accepted it, and we put it up. "And we put it up alongside Uachtarán na hÉireann [President of Ireland] Michael D Higgins, and we marked it with a small event in the mayor's office. "It's concerning that we have seen in recent weeks that that portrait is no longer there, and we would just 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?" The lord mayor thanked Mr Murphy for bringing up his concerns, and said the issue was noted. However, she refused to comment further. News Catchup - July 1st 2025 When questioned about the issue, a council spokesperson said it was a matter for Mrs Kelly. Meanwhile, a DUP spokesperson stated that the decoration of the lord mayor's office 'is not yet complete'. 'There will be further artefacts to be added in the next few weeks,' they said. It is not the first time there has been controversy over the lord mayor's parlour. In 2011 then Sinn Fein mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile removed images of then Prince Charles and the Queen Mother. They were replaced with the 1916 proclamation and a portrait of the United Irishmen.
