The next phase of the Behind Walls project included two events in Derry that brought communities, people with lived experience, artists and local organisations together to explore cancer, health, resilience and the role of art, culture and sport in opening up conversations.

Exploring Derry’s Mural Culture

In September, Behind Walls hosted a walking tour of Derry’s murals, bringing together people with lived experience of cancer, artists, and cancer researchers. Led by Donal O’Doherty of Peaball, the tour explored the stories and ideas behind public artworks across the city, with a particular focus on Hive Cancer Support’s We Carry On mural.

The tour began in Derry’s Ebrington Square at the site of the old Army barracks, at the A Vision Of The Future mural painted by Fintan Magee. The mural reflects the topical matter of Derry’s mural culture, and Donal discussed how it displays a shift from Trouble’s related artwork to peaceful times in Derry; mirrored by current street art in the city. A Vision Of The Future features an orca, a nod to the whale nicknamed ‘Dopey Dick’ who swam up the River Foyle in the late ‘70’s. Donal recalled that the artist included this detail as a testament to an event that brought people together from all sides of the city without hostility. 

The tour then continued across the Peace Bridge along the Strand Road with discussion on Torn by ACHES who will be designing and painting the murals in Derry and Waterford for Behind Walls. The mural depicts pressures endured by young people partly exacerbated by the collapse of Stormont at the time of painting. This prompted conversations about the ongoing mental health crisis in the city. 

The tour finished at Hive Cancer Support’s We Carry On where mural Jacquie Loughrey of Hive shared the concept and research behind the mural, offering an insightful perspective on how art can create space for conversations around cancer, support and resilience.

The tour was followed by a private lunch at The Coffee Tree Cafe, where the group continued the conversation and shared their own experiences, reflections and ideas. These thoughtful discussions will help to inform the development of a new mural by artist Aches in Derry later this year.

Sport, health and resilience

That evening, at Lavey GAA Club, we hosted a community session exploring the connections between sport, health, wellbeing and resilience. The session began with a talk from expert strength and conditioning coach Tommy Stevenson, who spoke about resilience, overcoming challenges and the importance of support in times of need. 

Participants then took part in a sport-based engagement activity led by Dr Áine McGill of Ulster University, creating an opportunity to explore these themes through movement, participation and connection. Participants shared their thoughts on how openness and communication in relation to health has improved in recent times. There were, however, themes that stigma and shame persists in the context of cancer in rural communities. Small gestures making a big difference to people’s lives was a recurrent conversation, as well as the impact of education; particularly in younger people. 

Together, the two events created opportunities for people to connect, share experiences and explore different ways of talking about health and cancer. The ideas and perspectives shared will continue to shape the development of the Behind Walls project and another mural by artist Aches in Derry later this year.

The events were also documented by filmmakers Éanna Mac Cana and Rabie Mustapha as part of the wider Behind Walls project.