Activists – 'Banksy' mural to highlight desecration of Moore Street

A GROUP OF activists have spoken exclusively to An Phoblacht to explain why they erected a mock Banksy mural re-imagining the famous photo of Easter Rising leader Pádraig Pearse surrendering to British General Lowe.

In the piece which appeared on Moore Street on Thursday, Pearse is depicted surrendering to two developers wearing hi-viz jackets.

After mounting speculation, famous English graffiti artist Banksy denied he was behind the piece in which his name appeared.

The group responsible says their creative stunt was aimed at drawing attention to the plight of Moore Street:

“We decided to do this to highlight the ongoing desecration of Moore Street, the last headquarters of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic during the 1916 Easter Rising. This area is of magnificent historical importance and should be cherished as a battlefield site and preserved and restored for future generations.

“It is simply unthinkable that an other country would treat a site so closely associated with the its freedom struggle with such contempt as allowing much of it to be bulldozed into a shopping mall.

“We are calling on all Irish people who are appalled by the destruction of our history to support the Save Moore Street campaigners who have been battling for decades to see this site  protected.”

• Watch: Activists work on Pádraig Pearse 'Banksy' mural