One of Belfast's most notorious interfaces is to become the site of Europe's largest mural, it has been revealed.
Artists from around the world are being lined up to paint giant sections of the loyalist side of the west Belfast peaceline running from Cupar Street to Lanark Way.
A total of 166 panels covering a distance of about 700 yards are to be transformed into vibrant works of art.
The plan was introduced at the annual general meeting of the Springfield Intercommunity Development Project (SICDP) yesterday (Friday).
SICDP, which represents voluntary community activists on both sides of the peaceline, supports efforts aimed at de-escalating tension and offers respite to people living along interfaces.
Loyalist community worker William Smith said he planned to bring international artists to Northern Ireland to transform the peaceline into a giant work of art celebrating the Shankill area.
Mr Smith met with representatives of mural arts programmes in Philadelphia and Los Angeles before unveiling his plans for Belfast.
About 250,000 people visit the Cupar Street interface each year and write messages of support on the wall. Those messages have been recorded in journals as they will soon be painted over by the mural.
Mr Smith said a community centre was also planned in which visitors could leave their support messages on computers.
It is also hoped that 12 people aged between 18 and 25 will be employed to assist with the scheme.
"We want to turn murals from a negative to a positive. Children on the Shankill walk past at least 10 murals with gunmen in them every day. We are trying to demilitarise the community and this scheme is part of that," he said.
"There will be no paramilitary murals and no sectarian element to this.
"We will be bringing international artists over.
"We see this as a positive element that will maybe turn the community around. It will also have a positive impact on the peace process."
A Northern Ireland Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the plans for a mural and we have no objections."
