£25k council funding for Bogside murals

Derry City Council have agreed to pay £25,000 to maintain The Bogside Artists’ murals.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Derry City Council’s development committee on Tuesday.

Councillors were also told that the Housing Executive has agreed to provide £20,000 for the upkeep of the paintings.

The Bogside Artists had previously asked for £240,000 for the task but Council said they did not have funds to meet such a request.

Sinn Féin Councillor Eric McGinley said Council has already provided considerable resources for the maintenance of the murals and added that they do not belong to any group.

“They are not the property of any one individual and they are not the property of The Bogside Artists. They belong to the people of Derry,” he said.

Colr. McGinley also questioned the sums of money requested for the maintenance of the murals. “In proposing acceptance of the recommendations which clearly demonstrate Derry City Council’s commitment to the long-term security of the murals we are now challenging The Bogside Artists to demonstrate where their commitment really lies.

“Is their commitment to the history of the city and the people who made that history - some of whom lost their lives in the process - or is their commitment merely to themselves?” he asked.

SDLP councillor John Boyle welcomed the funding and asked if Council could be doing anything else to support The Bogside Artists.

Two of The Bogside Artists were in the public gallery and asked to address the meeting but were told their request was denied by the committee chairperson, SDLP Councillor Brenda Stevenson.