Kerrie Hanna, Blackmountain Shared Space for GROW Belfast 2024
To celebrate the opening of the innovative peacebuilding centre Blackmountain Shared Space, Kerrie collaborated with members of the local community to create a commemorative stained glass panel as part of GROW — a Belfast 2024 project conceptualised by Eileen McClory and funded by Belfast City Council.
The completed panel was first displayed within the landscaped gardens over the summer months, where it formed the focal point of an interactive dance performance. It now holds a permanent place inside the new centre, symbolising reflection, renewal, and community connection.
The project draws inspiration from a powerful story: in 1971, following the Ballymurphy massacre, Father Des Wilson climbed the mountain and saw a young boy place a jam jar full of wildflowers in memory of those who had lost their lives. That moment sparked his vision for a building that could bring the community together again- a vision finally realised with the opening of Blackmountain Shared Space in 2024.
Rooted in this history, the imagery within the panel is deeply personal to those who helped create it. Designed with great sensitivity, the work honours the memory of the past while looking toward a shared and peaceful future. The panel is divided into two parts — one reflecting remembrance, and the other radiating hope.