The painting which is 6ft by 4ft includes drawings and writing from local primary schools in Belfast, an expression of how they view Belfast and irish culture. The painting by definition is a mixed media piece which designed and printed paper embedded and sealed into stretch canvas. After layers of special acrylic based glues, UV filters and matting films the piece is over painting in thick impasto but translucent oil paints. The upper and lower panels are painted in a discreet marbled effect using oils, designed to make them look a little like an old worn but well polished wall. The writing in these upper and lower panels along with the Irish capitals were painted using oils and the saying is an old Irish proverb. Thank you to Pádraig Ó Tuama who suggested the line to me.

The painting runs chronologically through time and the majority text behind each portrait is a historical narrative of that person’s life. For example a copy of hand penned musical score lies behind Edward Bunting’s image as well as an old laundry list which he wrote. We appreciate QUB for giving permission to use the images which were photographed by the artist at the University’s Special Collections Department.

Also included in the painting are little “Belfast notes” which tell something of the history of the City and Ireland during the period to which they relate. It was possible to secure reasonable images of all those depicted except for John McKay. The only known photograph in existence of him is of a very poor quality where dark shadow has made many of his features unclear and there appears to be some distortion in the image as well. For that reason the artist has had to re-imagine him a little while trying to keep similarity to the original image - not really an easy task - as the ‘recognisable image’ is unpaintable.

During the course of the painting the artist was given incorrect photographs for Alice Milligan and Edward Bunting. Thankfully interviews with experts on both people immediately exposed this error. May I also record my thanks to Catherine Morris (University College Dublin) whose book "Alice Milligan and the Irish Cultural Revival" will be published in 2011 and whose exhibition about Milligan will be at the National Library of Ireland later this year. Also thanks to Dónal McAnallen (Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Memorial Library) the leading architect of research on John McKay.

The painting hangs to the right of the Chief Executive’s Office in Belfast City Hall which is in the corridor on the left of the main doors just as you exit reception on the way to the Coffee shop.