The Housing Executive has facilitated a new peace mural at the Ebrington Centre in Derry~Londonderry this week.
The ‘Spirit of the Dead Soldiers’ mural was completed and unveiled in conjunction with Diamond Ladies Social Club, the International School for Peace Studies (ISPS) and funded with Community Cohesion funding from the Housing Executive.
The mural is a culmination of learning that Diamond Ladies Social Club undertook to gain a greater understanding of World War 1 history, and to find out more details about family or friends who were involved in World War 1.
The International School for Peace Studies delivered a series of workshops and presentations to the group, as well as involving a genealogist to help the group trace information about men who were killed or injured. They also worked together to come up with the idea of the mural, which depicts soldiers walking No Man’s Land with the Island of Ireland Peace Tower.
What was once a wall covered in sectarian graffiti outside the Ebrington Centre is now a talking point for local people to remember key historical events, as are several of the walls in the Ebrington Centre car park. The quality of the work by the artists is also gaining attention.
Jackie Barr from the International School for Peace Studies is delighted with the result. She said:
“It’s been a pleasure working with the Diamond Ladies Social Club. They were interested in the history of the soldiers from Ireland and got an education on the impact the sheer numbers of war dead had in the decades after the war on life here.
“They also enjoyed discovering friends and relatives in the genealogy searches.”
Adeline Ward was one of the ladies from the Diamond Ladies Social Club who participated in completing the mural. She said:
“It’s been a great experience learning with the Peace School and having an input into the mural that we see now.
“I’m delighted to have been part of this project, and want to thank the Housing Executive for providing Community Cohesion funding to our group.”
The mural can be seen when you enter the Ebrington Centre car park and is one of several that have visually improved the whole area. Worth a look the next time you’re passing.
