The resident, who did not wish to be named, told Belfast Live the mural would devalue homes in the area
An angry resident has hit out at a decision to paint a mural on what has previously been described as “Ireland’s ugliest bridge”, claiming it would devalue homes in the area.
The resident, who did not wish to be named, questioned the decision to approve the mural on Finaghy Bridge in South Belfast when some residents had previously objected to a similar proposal for a ‘street art’ mural on the bridge.
Speaking to Belfast Live, the resident also hit out at the colour chosen for the mural background, describing it as “Sinn Féin green”.
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“The bridge has been a long-running issue and back in 2023 a public meeting was held in the Devenish, which I attended alongside a number of other residents, but it never got to properly start as there was uproar at the very suggestion that graffiti art would be used as a solution,” she said.
“Two weeks prior to that meeting, they had painted graffiti on the electric boxes on the crossroads, and they were painted a vibrant pink, and one had a butterfly, and the other had a bird.
“This got people talking, and we were worried about what we were going to be left to live with. We don’t want a Berlin Wall, we don’t want a peace line.”
The resident agreed that while it does look better than the bridge being covered in graffiti tags, they did not feel that it was an appropriate solution, as residents didn’t agree to it.
“Someone else pointed out to me that the green that they have used is the same green as the Sinn Féin logo. It is Sinn Féin green. They could have opted for a botanical green or a natural green,” she added.
“This is something that has been championed by Sinn Féin, and it is a Sinn Féin minister in DFI. It is just too much of a coincidence for a wee resident walking down the street, shaking his head in disgust.
“This massive graffiti art devalues homeowners’ properties in an area where 99 per cent are homeowners living in their properties who work and pay taxes. We are not an area that needs help.
“The art brings a scourge to the area and is not a solution. We are sick and tired of the dishonest feedback being given and disappointed that we have no real representation. As there will always be bigger issues in other areas of poverty that need addressing first, which no one denies. Yet residents waiting patiently for over 15 years are now being forced to live with Sinn Féin’s solution.”
Natasha Brennan, a local Sinn Féin councillor for the area, said that while it is a short-term solution, they will never be able to please everyone.
“The bridge has previously been dubbed ‘Ireland’s ugliest’, and as a local resident myself, the bridge is awful. It was put in place after safety concerns, and it was not designed in partnership with the local community,” she said.
“We have been working with the Department of Infrastructure for a number of years and we know what the Executive’s budget is like. It would cost in the guts of £600,000 to replace the bridge so we have been asking them to look at the lifespan of the bridge and the All-Island Rail Review to see if we can redesign the bridge in partnership with the local community.
“I had a lot of ideas, but some of them just weren’t doable from a maintenance point of view, such as a living wall and different things.”
Last year, a task force was established to look at ideas for the bridge, and it was agreed that a floral mural would be painted on it with the plan also including planting real flowers along sections of the bridge to improve the look.
Cllr Brennan described the mural as a “massive win” and said that feedback from residents had generally been positive.
“We’re not going to please everybody and I think we have to be realistic about that. Maybe not everyone will love it, but I think this is something really positive that we’re doing.
“We managed to get Belfast City Council and DFI around the table and I did a leaflet drop with lots of volunteers to let everyone know it’s happening.
“We have had two consultations over the years, and I have to give credit to Geraldine McAteer, who has done a lot of the work during her time on Council. I am just getting it across the line.
“It is one of those things where we are never going to please everybody, but I don’t think we could wait any longer. It is about trying something out and let’s see how it goes. But I think it looks amazing so far.”
Belfast City Council and the Department for Infrastructure have been contacted for comment.
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