Mural projects to enhance Cork City

The first of two new murals in Cork city has been completed outside Paul Street car park last night.

The image of a kingfisher with a piece of plastic is a combined effort by Waterford agency, The Walls Project who joined forces with the Blackrock Observatory Castle to secure a grant from Cork City Council to create two pieces of art in the city.

The first, on Lavitt’s Quay, was created this week by London artist Curtis Hylton.

The theme of the artwork is the environment and it is hoped the mural will raise awareness around the harmful effects of plastic.

The second mural, to be created on Cornmarket Street, is to be the theme of Space in line with the Blackrock Observatory Castle and will be completed in June.

Founder of The Walls Project Edel Tobin, who successfully applied to the Cork City Council for a grant of €10,000 to create the two pieces of work in February, said that the murals were likely to be the first of a number of projects to be worked on in Cork.

“We hope to have more things planned for Cork in the coming months,” Edel said.

The Walls Project founder said that she anticipated projects from the arts council, Cork City Council and private companies following the reaction to the first mural they created in Cork thanks to the Cork City Centre placemaking fund.

“The reaction has been amazing,” Edel said, “and Cork has the most perfect landscape for murals, there are a lot of buildings here and some you can walk all the way around. We are hoping to do a lot more work in Cork.”

The murals were commissioned from an open call from Cork City Council for “support projects which will enhance, improve, and enliven people’s experience of Cork City Centre.”

The council were looking for projects to “improve public space, inspire visitors and enhance the city centre experience, increase footfall and support the local economy.”