A series of murals depicting familiar faces and scenes have been painted in the New Lodge area of north Belfast and Maeve Connolly spoke to muralist Ed Reynolds about the reaction from residents
IN one mural on North Queen Street a bride stands proudly, flanked by her two bridesmaids. In another a well-known New Lodge resident peers out his front door while a third shows a cluster of children who were painted on the spot "because they had the courage to ask" and then "giggled and laughed" as Ed Reynolds worked.
He spent several weeks painting scenes and faces familiar to the people of the New Lodge.
Among them are boxers Paddy Barnes and Hugh Russell, North Queen Street in the 1930s and Tilly Moreland with bridesmaids Adelaide and Margaret.
Bernie Caughey works in North Queen Street Community Centre and appears on the wall as a child of 18 months in the arms of family friend Anne Magee.
She thinks Mr Reynolds has done "a marvellous job".
The first mural was of Charlie McWilliams at the front door of his Straethern Street home who she said was recognised "right away and people were ringing his daughters and they were delighted".
"Tilly Moreland is the bride, she's been down with her sons to take photos".
Residents enjoyed watching whose face would appear next and Ms Caughey said it had given the community a sense of pride and belonging.
Mr Reynolds said he was delighted so many people had come forward with photographs, including a woman who brought one of her parents taken in the 1950s that had been displayed in her childhood home.
"I painted it while she was with me and we were chatting the whole time about the picture.
"She said `all our lives we would look up at the picture and ask our parents `what were you two talking about?''
"I like that sense of wonder that a picture can bring. You can interpret it in your own way."
Another woman told him he had painted her father who died 18 months ago and who "would have been honoured and thrilled."
Cecilia Heron from New Lodge Arts said the group was "absolutely thrilled" with the community mural.
* OFF THE WALL: Aodhan O'Donnell (above) and Iliza Jenkins (left) in front of the murals on North Queen street in Belfast
Pictures: Hugh Russell