Tom's Blog

Welcome back my Kitty Lovers ! I hope that every single one of you is doing exceptionally well today. And if not, Pumpkin, Spooky and I are going to bright your day.

During my last holidays, we went to Northern Ireland into a cute little city called Derry. Well, cute thanks to it's wonderful people there but not that cute because of the complex history that this city is facing. Anyway, I spent a week with my cats in a hotel (it was very beautiful to be honest).

After settling in, we took a walk around the Bogside area, one of the most historic parts of the city. That’s when we stumbled upon this striking mural...

This is "The Rioter," one of the most famous pieces from the Bogside Artists, a group dedicated to preserving the history of the Troubles through street art.

At first glance, the image is haunting. It shows a young man, dressed in dark clothing, gripping a makeshift weapon in his hand, while in front of him, an armored vehicle looms in the smoke. But what makes this mural so unique is the use of a metal grid that partially covers the rioter, creating a ghostly effect. It feels as though he is trapped between the past and the present, between memory and reality.

This mural represents the countless young men and teenagers who took to the streets during the Troubles, a period of conflict that lasted from the late 1960s to 1998. Many of them felt compelled to fight against what they saw as oppression, often throwing stones or petrol bombs at the heavily armed British forces. The scene is raw, emotional, and deeply symbolic of the struggle that defined Derry for decades.

Standing there, I felt a strange mix of emotions—sadness, respect, and an overwhelming sense of history. It’s one thing to read about the Troubles in books, but it’s another to stand in the very place where these events unfolded. And while my trip was mostly about relaxation (and, of course, spending quality time with Pumpkin and Spooky), this mural was a powerful reminder of the resilience of the people here.

Derry isn’t just a city with a painful past, it’s also a city of hope and strength. Today, these murals serve to pay tribute to all the people who died during this bloody period of history.

Of course, after all that history, we had to lighten the mood! We found a cozy café where I sipped on some of the best Irish coffee I’ve ever had while scrolling through the latest cat memes. Because no matter where you are in the world, cats always make things better, don’t they ?

What do you think of "The Rioter" mural ? Have you ever visited a place where history feels alive around you ? Let us know in the comments !

See you next time  .