St Joseph's Catholic Church in Caledon, Co Tyrone and (inset) stock image. Photo: Google Streetview.
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08 Oct 2025
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08 Oct 2025
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The ‘Testing the Waters’ programme is being led by Westport Tidy Towns
A new art installation at the Carrowbeg River in Westport aims to spark debate about the role of water quality, sustainability and biodiversity in Irish towns.
Under the ‘Testing the Waters’ programme led by Westport Tidy Towns, artist William Bock will create an installation in conversation with local communities and specialists in water quality, soil and biodiversity.
Funded by the Research Ireland Discover Programme, the project is designed to answer a direct request from a community group to connect them with scientific experts and inform a debate in the locality about what a ‘clean river’ might mean.
A natural and biodiverse artwork installed in the river in Westport town as a way to introduce plants into the river. This temporary piece will be in place from August 16-24.
Alongside the creation of this art piece, there will be a citizen science project to measure the impact of natural growth in the river on biodiversity. The local community will work with LAWPRo and experts from the Co-Centre for Climate+ Biodiversity + Water to monitor the quality of water in the Carrowbeg river and biodiversity, before, during and after the installation.
A series of talks and workshops will be held to address some of the concerns raised by the artwork, such as how to preserve the heritage of the built environment when introducing plant life, how history has shaped current climate challenges, and how art can play a role in activism.
Eithne Larkin, Chair of Westport Tidy Towns, said: “Water is an essential and invaluable resource that surrounds us - in our homes, landscapes, and the ecosystems that sustain our lives and communities. We are proud to partner in this project, which aligns with a core aspect of our work, particularly in relation to Article 14 of the Water Framework Directive. Only through honest, open dialogue that engages all stakeholders and is rooted in science-based education can we truly protect and enhance our water environment.”
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