New 'Sunday' mural unveiled in Glenfada Park ahead of 42nd anniversary march
ONE of Ireland’s leading artists has spoken of his pride after a new version of his most famous works was unveiled in the Bogside yesterday as part of this year’s Bloody Sunday March events.
Robert Ballagh’s acclaimed anti-war painting, ‘The Third of May – After Goya’, has now been erected at Glenfada Park after the artist gave permission to the Bloody Sunday March Committee to adapt the work ahead of the 42nd anniversary of the event.
The painting depicts the massacre of Spanish civilians by French soldiers in 1808, updated to include a number of landmarks overlooking the Bogside where British Army Paratroopers shot and killed 14 civilians on January 31, 1972.
The artist attended the event yesterday, where he told those in attendance of his honour at being approached by the March Committee, and his support for those who wish to continue to highlight civil rights abuses around the world through the annual Bloody Sunday commemorations.
“I’m delighted to be associated with the Bloody Sunday campaign, wish them well in the future,” he said.
“I think it (the march) is terribly important, because even though we had the Saville Inquiry and some satisfaction that way, I think we owe the world a responsibility to keep campaigning on these issues.
“The things that were happening way back in the 1970’s strategies that were being pursued by the British military and political establishment in the north, this counter insurgency, are still being pursued in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, and that’s an abuse of human rights.”
Mr Ballagh also learned yesterday that the new mural is the second time one of his works has appeared in the Bogside.
“We were just looking at a book there the museum and in 1994 somebody painted the Slán Abhaile at Free Derry Corner, so it’s nice to see your work in a public arena, out where people can actually see it,” he added.
Liam Wray, whose brother Jim was one of the victims on Bloody Sunday, added: “It’s amazing that 42 years on from Bloody Sunday that someone like Robert Ballagh has done this for.
“It’s very pertinent, and this mural had been erected just yards from where my brother was murdered.
“It shows you the support there is for the Bloody Sunday campaign outside of the city, and if it wasn’t for this kind of support we wouldn’t be where we are or achieved what we have.”
Kate Nash, whose brother William was killed on Bloody Sunday thanked Robert Ballagh for his contribution, while Eamonn McCann said that the painting was relevant to Bloody Sunday due to its depiction of a ‘people who dared rise up and defend themselves against an oppressive force’.
This year’s anniversary march takes place on Sunday, February 2 at 2.30pm, at the Creggan shops.