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Irish president's portrait 'vanishes at City Hall'

Mark Simpson
BBC News NI communities correspondent
PA Media Michael D Higgins is bald on top with wispy white hair at the sides and black-framed glasses. He is wearing a dark suitPA Media
A portrait of Michael D Higgins usually hangs beside a picture of King Charles

Sinn Féin say a portrait of Irish president Michael D Higgins has disappeared from a reception room at Belfast City Hall used by the unionist lord mayor.

The party has asked the mayor, Tracy Kelly of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), to explain where it has gone.

When directly challenged on the issue by former Lord Mayor Ryan Murphy at Tuesday night's council meeting, Mrs Kelly offered no explanation.

Portraits of the Irish and British heads of state, President Higgins and King Charles, had previously been side by side on a wall in the lord mayor's parlour.

Two portraits hang side by side. One is of King Charles II and the other is of Irish President Michael D Higgins
Portraits of the Irish and British heads of state, President Higgins and King Charles, had previously been side by side on a wall in the lord mayor's parlour

Mrs Kelly posted a picture on social media of a meeting in City Hall last week with Orange Order representatives.

Other councillors noticed that only the King Charles portrait could be seen.

At Tuesday's council meeting, Mr Murphy praised the DUP mayor for how she had carried out her public duties during her first month in office, then raised the portrait issue.

The Sinn Féin councillor said: "When our representatives have been in that position of being the mayor, there were certain things that we never took off the walls. There were certain things we felt were off limits.

"And so when we were offered the royal portrait of the British King Charles [in March 2024], we accepted it and we put it up.

"And we put it up alongside Uachtarán na hÉireann [President of Ireland] Michael D Higgins, and we marked it with a small event in the mayor's office.

"It's concerning that we have seen in recent weeks that that portrait is no longer there, and we would just ask where is that portrait? And what kind of message does it send out to people in this city who hold the president of Ireland in high regard?"

Mrs Kelly responded: "Thank you, that's being noted. Thanks Ryan."

Belfast Lord Mayor Tracy Kelly wearing her ceremonial robe and gold chain of office in Belfast City Hall. She has short, bobbed blonde hair and is smiling at the camera. A number of people are standing behind her watching inside the hall.
Tracy Kelly became the DUP's first female lord mayor in Belfast last month

When asked about the matter by BBC News NI, a spokesperson for the council said it was a matter for the lord mayor.

A DUP spokesperson said: "Decoration of the lord mayor's parlour is not yet complete. There will be further artefacts to be added in the next few weeks."

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It is not the first time there has been a dispute at City Hall over portraits in the parlour.

In 2011, Sinn Féin's Niall Ó Donnghaile upset unionists by removing pictures of the Queen Mother and Prince Charles.

An image of the 1916 Proclamation and a portrait of United Irishmen were introduced.

Last month, Mrs Kelly became the DUP's first female lord mayor in Belfast.

The parlour is a formal room on the first floor of City Hall, used for meetings, receptions and special occasions.

Before her death, there was a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip.

The portraits of President Higgins and King Charles went up last year when there was a Sinn Féin mayor.

They remained during the next term of office - the Alliance Party's Micky Murray.

He posted on X a picture from the parlour that included the portraits in the background.