Mayor Officially Unveils Bangor's 'Girls Just Wanna... Walk Home' Mural
Released: Tuesday 25 August 2026
Ards and North Down Borough Council Mayor, Councillor Craig Blaney, has officially unveiled Bangor's newest public mural, funded through The Executive Office's Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Strategy.
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Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Craig Blaney, Ryan Somerville, Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Directorate - the Executive Office, Artist - Friz, and Caroline Hill, North Down YMCA.
Mural unveil
Located in a prominent town-centre location, the mural carries the powerful message "Girls Just Wanna... Walk Home", highlighting the right of women and girls to feel safe in public spaces.
The artwork was created by local street artist Friz, in collaboration with the Council, North Down YMCA and the young women participating in the YMCA's Flip the Script programme, whose experiences and perspectives helped shape the final design.
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Craig Blaney said:
"This mural carries a simple but powerful message: every woman and girl should be able to walk home without fear of harassment, intimidation or violence.
By placing this artwork in a prominent location, we hope it will encourage people to stop, reflect and talk about the realities many women and girls continue to face. The young women involved in this project have created a thought-provoking piece that uses art to raise awareness and inspire positive change.
Ending Violence Against Women and Girls is a shared responsibility, and creating safer communities requires all of us to play our part."
Adding a creative element to the launch, the Riotous Uke-a-Ladies, winners of the Belfast Ukulele Festival's Battle of the Bands, performed a specially adapted version of Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Want to Have Fun, changing the lyrics to reinforce the mural's message that "girls just wanna walk home".
The mural forms part of Ards and North Down Borough Council's ongoing commitment to supporting the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and promoting safer, more inclusive communities for everyone.
Photo Caption: The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Craig Blaney, alongside (L-R) Ryan Somerville, Head of Policy & Research for the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Directorate - the Executive Office, Artist - Friz, and Caroline Hill, Youth & Family Co-Ordinator, North Down YMCA.
