McGuinness portrait unveiled
Former Deputy First Minister's portrait unveiled at Stormont
Last updated 22nd Mar 2018
A portrait of the late Martin McGuinness has been uncovered at Parliament Buildings , in front of his widow and children.
The artwork by Belfast artist Tony Bell was commissioned to mark the first anniversary of his death.
During the emotional ceremony, Mr McGuinness' widow Bernie cried as she saw her husband's painting for the first time.
The couple's four children Emmet, Fiachra, Grainne and Fionnuala attended the unveiling, alongside members of the wider family.
Their granddaughter Cara also sung Christy Moore's 'The Voyage.'
Martin McGuinness' successor Michelle O'Neill addressed the crowd gathered at Stormont.
Mrs O'Neill said he was an ordinary man who helped transform society during the peace process.
"It is with a broken heart but a heart bursting with pride that we remember Martin one year on,'' she told a packed audience in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings.
She added: "In his last public appeal Martin urged people to choose hope over fear, to put equality and respect for all of our people at the heart of powersharing.
"And therein lies the challenge for each and every one of us.
"How do we create the conditions where all of our people choose hope over fear, how do we achieve reconciliation together, how do we build bridges between our communities together, how do we govern on the basis of equal partnership together.
"We need to turn a corner and we need to enter a new era together.
"When people ask what is Martin McGuinness' legacy I will tell them it is one of leadership, it is one of integrity, it is one of generosity and it is one of always choosing hope over fear and we would all do well to be guided by that principle.''
Afterwards, former First Minister Peter Robinson said it was "entirely proper and fitting'' that a painting of a man he also came to regard as a friend, should hang at Stormont.
He said the basis of their political partnership was trust.
"I don't think either of us doubted the determination of the other to make the process work,'' he said.
"I never had any doubt about Martin's commitment to Stormont, to the Assembly, to the Executive - that's a good starting point.''
Mr Bell, the artist, said he wanted his work to reflect the pride Mrs McGuinness had in her husband.
"It was clear how devoted they were as a couple and as a family,'' he said.
He added: "If there is to be any symbolism in the portrait it was important to me that Martin should be seen as a statesman and the leader he was.
"After that there is only one other symbol I felt had to be included - one we could all recognise - that was his wedding ring.
"The symbol of his bond with his beloved wife and family who stood with him in good times and bad - always," he said.
