Mural returns for 1916 celebrations

THE iconic mural commemorating the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising that was emblazoned on The Towers pub in Ballymun for years will be back in the area before Easter.

The pub called ‘last orders’ for the final time in September 2014 but thanks to the efforts of locals the mural was removed and kept in safekeeping.

It has now been restored and will take pride of place in the Civic Centre for Ballymun’s 1916 Centenary Celebrations.

Ballymun Sinn Féin Councillor, Noeleen Reilly, said she was delighted the mural was making a welcome return.

“When the Towers pub suddenly closed there was a lot of concern among residents in Ballymun about what would happen to the mural, which has been part and parcel of the community for decades,” she continued.

“I asked the council to remove the mural and keep it in safekeeping until it was decided what was going to happen to it. To the council’s credit, this was done within days.

“As the landscape of Ballymun has completely changed and all the tower blocks named after the signatories of the Irish proclamation have been demolished, it is great that we can have this one small piece of history kept within the heart of the community.”

The mural, by artist Muriel Brandt, depicts James Connolly, Patrick Pearse and other signatories of the 1916 Proclamation alongside ordinary Dubliners.