Lower Shankill Angels

This mural titled "Lower Shankill Angels" celebrates a group of young people from the Lower Shankill community. The imagery and text suggest a positive and aspirational message aimed at youth empowerment and community pride. Here’s a breakdown of its components:

Title and Message:
The title, "Lower Shankill Angels," is prominently displayed in large, bold text at the top, indicating a sense of pride and identity associated with the Lower Shankill area.
Below the title, there’s an inspirational message:
"You must have dreams and goals if you are ever going to achieve anything in this world."

This message encourages the youth to aspire for success and follow their dreams, promoting positive values and self-belief.

Group Portrait:
The mural features a large group portrait of young people from the community, each posing confidently and casually. This inclusive portrayal showcases diversity within the youth of the Lower Shankill and emphasizes a strong sense of community and belonging.
Each individual’s personality is reflected in their pose and attire, making the mural more relatable and lively.
Names and Credits:

At the bottom of the mural, there’s a list of names in smaller text, crediting each individual involved in the project. This list includes:
Names of the individuals featured, possibly those in the photograph.
Director: Lesley Cherry
Producer: Lower Shankill Community Association
Executive Producers: Northern Ireland Housing Executive
The credits add formality to the project, suggesting that it may be a part of a community initiative or youth project supported by local organizations.

Design and Colors:
The mural has a bright orange and yellow background with sunburst rays emanating from the center, symbolizing hope, energy, and a bright future.
The design is modern and eye-catching, which likely appeals to the younger demographic and aligns with the mural’s uplifting theme.

This mural serves as a positive affirmation for the youth of Lower Shankill, promoting community pride, aspiration, and self-confidence. It reflects a supportive environment and a message of encouragement for young people to pursue their dreams and goals.

Lower Shankill Angels

The Lower Shankill Angels Youth Group came together to create their very own, movie-style poster, celebrating the strength of their group, their aspirations, and their love and respect for the community. They also wanted to highlight how they, as young people, are often misunderstood.

Artist Lesley Cherry led the photographic workshops, drawing out stories about the group’s hopes and fears for the future and how some wanted to stay in the area while others wanted to travel and see the world. All agreed that the Lower Shankill would always have a special place in their hearts. This artwork celebrates their ambition and optimism at this stage in their lives.

This artwork was funded by the Housing Executive, working in partnership with the Lower Shankill Community Association. The artwork replaces a UDU/UDA and the Freedom 2000 mural, which featured HM Maze Prison.