Social media posts have shown that the portrait has been removed.
The office of the DUP lord mayor of Belfast has removed a portrait of Michael D Higgins.
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Tracy Kelly, was unable to explain why the portrait was removed when she was quizzed about the matter.
For more than a year, portraits of the President sat alongside a portrait of Britain’s King Charles in the lord mayor’s parlour in Belfast City Hall.
The room is used for meetings, receptions, and special occasions.
The Lord Mayor posted a picture to social media last week as she hosted members of ‘Orangefest’ in the parlour, but only the portrait of King Charles was hanging on the wall.
Last night, at a Belfast City Council meeting former lord mayor of Belfast and Sinn Féin councillor Ryan Murphy praised Kelly for her work in the role.
“You’ve been out in all four corners of the city,” said Murphy.
However, he added that the lord mayor must ‘represent’ everyone ‘by your deeds when you’re out in the city, but also in terms of the mayor’s office.’
He continued to say that people need to ‘feel part’ of the mayor’s office and that this is ‘even done through the stuff that was on the walls.’
“When our representatives have been in that position, there were certain things that we never took off walls, certain things that we felt were off limits.
“When we were offered the royal portrait of the British King Charles [In March 2024], we accepted it and we put it up alongside Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins, and we marked it with a small event in the mayor’s office.
“It’s concerning that we’ve seen in recent weeks that that portrait is no longer there.
“Where is that portrait and what kind of message does it send out for the people in this city who hold the President of Ireland in high regard,” he stated.
No explanation was given by Kelly who replied: “Thank you, that’s being noted.”
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