Most visitors to Belfast come to see the famous murals. But, once here, many are surprised at just how many have little, or no, political allegiances.

West, North and East Belfast have the political edge, with many murals in and around the Nationalist Falls Road bearing an Irish historical theme to underline its all-Ireland ethos. The Falls' International Peace Wall is another big tourist draw where large works of art depict George W. Bush's Iraqi War, the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Spanish Civil War and other global campaigns, past and present. The Shankill and Newtownards Roads have the most visited Loyalist murals reflecting those communities' pro-British stance.

If, however, you want to see some supersized daubs of an (almost) apolitical bent, check out these chic bricks...

Football Murals: Local legend George Best can be spotted at several outdoor spots including the Sandy Row in Man Utd strip, Windsor Park - NI and Linfield's football ground off the Lisburn Rd. - and East Belfast's Woodstock Rd. and Cregagh Estate where he grew up.

NI hero David Healy can be seen scoring the winning goal against England on a wall at the Albertbridge Rd. near For Cod and Ulster Chip Shop.

Celtic FC’s greatest ever player, Jimmy ’Jinky’ Johnstone, is immortalised in a Falls Road mural.

Titanic: There is a few in the city, but by far the best is a striking black and white painting showing Captain Smith flanked by the cranes and overlooking the ill-fated liner. Find it on the corner of East Belfast's Dee St and the Newtownards Rd.

CS Lewis: The Belfast-born writer is depicted on two East Belfast 'Narnia’ murals that also feature scenes from his seminal work The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Find them off East Belfast's Dee St. (near the Titanic mural) and Ballymacarrett Rd. - themselves both off the Newtownards Rd.

Art Alley
Based mainly on Tuatha de Danann and the Battle of  Nuada, our vibrant Feb-March 09 cover star (pic) features on this revamped creative space at the top of West Belfast's Whiterock Rd. The ancient battle scene first appeared on a nearby gable wall twenty years ago, but was lost due to housing redevelopment. The new location, at the Top of the Rock Junction, provides an ideal canvas for eye-catching art, helping to promote the area in a positive and uplifting way.

Teenage Kicks All Through The Night: Derry punk gods The Undertones' most famous lyric  stretches along a wall beneath the M3 flyover at Bridge End, city centre east. The words John Peel 1939-2004 RIP were added after the Radio 1 DJ's, and Undertones uberfan's, death.

US President: 15th U.S. President James Buchanan looms large on this Shankill Rd. artwork commemorating his Ulster-Scots ancestry.

For a comprehensive database of NI past and present murals - both political and apolitical - check out this unrivalled website.