Political murals in Belfast have a long history dating back to the early 1900s, but they became more prominent during the Troubles of the late 1960s. Originally, the murals depicted cultural and historical themes, but during the Troubles they became a means of expressing political and religious affiliations. The murals often depicted paramilitary groups, political leaders, and events related to the riots. Today, many of these murals remain, while some have been replaced with more positive, community-oriented messages.