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GAA club denounces painting over of iconic mural

The Ardoyne Kickhams club logo is restored to the wall where an iconic mural had been painted over
The Ardoyne Kickhams club logo is restored to the wall where an iconic mural had been painted over The Ardoyne Kickhams club logo is restored to the wall where an iconic mural had been painted over

AN iconic GAA mural close to a north Belfast interface has been partly restored after being painted over for an anti-PSNI banner.

There was an outcry when the Ardoyne Kickhams mural showing club members playing Gaelic games was painted black ahead of weekend events marking the anniversary of internment.

The black wall became the backdrop for a banner bearing a picture of a blindfolded man and carrying slogans criticising policing.

There followed a bitter war of words on social media and the banner has since been replaced with an image bearing the club's crest.

The changes were first noticed on Friday, when the furious club issued a statement on its Facebook account accusing Belfast Republican Network for Unity (RNU) of covering the mural with black paint.

Greater Ardoyne Residents' Collective (GARC) then became involved, saying the change had been made "without any form of consultation with the club" and committee members "contacted GARC as soon as they became aware of this development".

Garc insisted it was "in no way connected with this action" and said "while the mural was in a state of disrepair, plans were underway to restore it, including a tribute to those Gaels killed as a result of the conflict".

They went on to insist that "Greater Ardoyne Residents' Collective, Republican Network for Unity, no residents group or other republican organisation was involved".

However, RNU replied from its Twitter account, claiming: "We spoke with members of your committee this morning who ensured us that there would be no problem with erecting a temporary political policing mural while GAA gathered funds for updated GAA mural."

This was hotly denied by the club which continued to insist "there was no permission or consultation sought to deface the club mural".

An official statement was then issued on Facebook by the committee and members of the Ard Eoin club.

"The committee and members of Ard Eoin CLG are both disgusted and insulted by the actions of those responsible for painting over our club mural without any permission or consultation.

"We have asked them personally tonight when our mural will be restored and are awaiting their response which we will update to all once received."

Members and supporters also took to social media to voice their disgust at "the disgraceful destruction of the club's mural, which can only be described as vandalism", accusing those responsible of having "dishonoured the good name of our members who lost their lives during the conflict and indeed the GAA in general".

Meanwhile, Ardoyne Boxing Club sought a practical means to restore the mural.

"Just a thought - after the removal of the GAA mural yesterday - why don't we all stand together as a community and raise the money to get it put again? We will make first donation £50. To kick it off," they posted on their Facebook page.

This was hailed as "a fantastic gesture" by Gaels who added: "This is what our community is all about, generosity of spirit. A community united will always come out on top."

Unveiling the new image, they told supporters: "Let's keep Ard Eoin CLG at the heart of our community. We have certainly felt the support of our immediate and wider GAA community over this weekend."