Lyra

This piece is a memorial to Lyra McKee the young journalist killed by the New IRA while observing a riot in the Creggan area of Derry in 2019. There is a long tradition of memorialising people through mural art in NI, it can be seen as a way of documenting, or sometimes playing out the conflict on walls. After Lyra’s murder, her family and friends challenged the strength of paramilitary and associated political groups in Derry, by leaving red handprints on murals and office walls in the area. ESTR’s mural received a lot of attention when it was painted, featuring in media coverage across the globe. It was also valued by friends, family and those shocked by her murder in Belfast, with many leaving small tributes in front of it.

@emmaleneblake