The People's Gallery

Art as social justice. This is such a worthy walk just outside the cityside walls in the bogside area. The murals are painted on everyday buildings and have green signs near each describing what you are seeing. Very powerful and moving. Some are stunning in their intent. They are all pictured here already, I'll add the one that shows them all.

If you can only see one thing in Londonderry/Derry, the People's Gallery (or Bogside Murals) are a must. Situated in the heart of the Bogside (across from the Free Derry corner, the Bloody Sunday Memorial, and the Hunger Strike Memorial), the murals show different images of events during the Troubles. Created by three artists, the murals illustrate everything from civil rights protests to the hunger strike events, violence and hope.

My wife and I visited the murals in September 2013, and I feel the best time to view them is at night. There are lights shining on all of them, and signs showing the name of the piece of art and some with historical information. Most all of them are very beautiful (though extremely sad in their depictions). Sadly when we visited the "Peace" mural (one showing hunger striker Raymond McCartney of the H-Block of Maze Prison), someone recently had splashed a bucket of paint on part of the face of Raymond McCartney.

Other murals -- such as "Petrol Bomber" (the person with a gas mask on) which is probably one of the most famously shown -- and "Bernadette" (image of Bernadette Devlin talking with the crowds of the Bogside with bullhorn in hand) are beautifully done, and show you a harsh glimpse of what reality was like in the Bogside area so many years ago.

I highly recommend this for both its historical significance and artistic creation.

The boy in the gas mask is probably the most striking of the republican murals, and can be found behind, and just to the right of Free Derry Corner. The image portrays a young boy holding a petrol bomb during the battle of the Bogside in 1969, and is wearing a gas mask to protect himself from the effects of CS gas which was fired at the rioters by the RUC.

These murals are a must see in Derry.The art is simply amazing.The history behind each mural tells the story of how Life was for residents of the Bog Side during the troubles.Each corner you will see a mural depicts a scene from the struggle for freedom.People who died in the fight for freedom and heroes who help make it happen.

The People's Gallery is so detailed; our city guide was able to explain each one, and put the topics in context. A worthy stop.

Every Mural has it's own story to tell, what a tragic place this "Bogside" the Paratroopers have still so much to answer for and certainly the Powers in Westminister have so much to answer for.

The murals tell a story and the best way to get that story is by the Mural artists. Check out their walking tour if you can.

The real haunting aspect of this and other murals here is their strange and terrible familiarity. I have seen similar work all over the world from Vietnam to Australia, from China to France. Why is it that the face of violence becomes the image of truth so often in so many places - here it is both powerful and sad.

Went down to city to get some work done ,I had to get a few repairs done to my heart ,the people down there are the best I have ever met .I met a man down in the heart ward .Danny mac, I only new him for 36 hours we bonded he told me if I was every down in the city to call round to his house .later on I made ask abut him I found out that he passed away it was round the same time that Gerry Anderson was called .RIP ,Liam from Ballymena.

These murals are not just something to see if you come to Derry, they're something you should make a trip to Derry specifically for. The history behind them is moving, and the art is absolutely beautiful. Worth a slow walk to take time to read, to ponder, and to contemplate the lives of those who went through the Troubles. Also worth checking out the People's Gallery near Guildenhall!!!