Beautiful artwork brightening up Mayo town

Some beautiful artwork has brightened up Westport. The skatepark along the Greenway and shelters at the swimming point in the Quay area got a colourful makeover in the Mayo town in last couple of days.

Responsible for this is 'The Walls Project' Ireland which aims at breaking down the barriers between art and communities, and to celebrate street art."

"Street art is a powerful tool in regeneration. A terrific way of capturing people's imagination. Seeing a painting in a gallery, that's what you expect but looking at a 25 feet big lion in the middle of Ireland, that's a different effect. Its a placemaking activity, achieving a playful city," says Gabe McGuinness, Programme Manager at 'The Walls Project', concluding: "We find people feel that it's a great addition to the area." 

The project has a number of works across the country in Waterford, Clonmel, Clonakilty, Tipperary Town, Cork, Galway and Dublin. The ones in Westport are the most recent addition.  

"We do commission work throughout Ireland. We also do youth programs and workshops. Best known for Waterford Walls, an international street art festival" says McGuinnes, pointing out that "We are a non-profit organization, any surplus made is put back into any other projects. Every work is permission based.

'The Walls Project' has its roots in the international street art festival 'Waterford Walls' which first took place ten years ago. Then in 2019 the enterprise was properly formalised.

The skatepark in Westport took eight to nine days to paint. The swimming benches about four days. Both times are excluding preparation time and design layout. 

Anyone interested in learning more about 'The Walls Project', have a look at their website.