Controversial Repeal the 8th mural finds a new city home

Deirdre Duffy of ICCL and Andrea Horan of Hunreal Issues at the unveiling of two replicas of the Repeal the 8th mural Photo: Collins Dublin

Tomas Heneghan

A contentious "Repeal the 8th" mural has been given a new home after it was removed from a building in Temple Bar in a planning dispute.

The blue, white and red mural, which calls for an amendment to the Constitution to allow for abortion, was originally unveiled at the Project Arts Centre.

It has been reproduced and now hangs from the windows of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) headquarters at Blackhall Place, Dublin.

Temporary

ICCL said that, unlike the Project Arts Centre installation, planning permission is not required as they are "temporary signs".

Executive director Mark Kelly said the move was based on the State's obligation to "respect, protect and fulfil the right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity".

The original mural, by artist Maser, was painted over after Dublin City Council issued a warning saying it violated planning laws.

A number of complaints were received by the Project Arts Centre about the mural before it was removed.

Since it was painted out, the wall on which it appeared was spray painted with the same message.

Another mural inspired by the Project Arts Centre image was painted on a wall in Arklow by 23-year-old artist Dara Kenny.

A new range of T-shirts bearing a variation of the Mazer mural has also been released by the HunReal Issues site which originally commissioned the installation.