“THERE is an isle”, the widely recognised anthem of Shannon Rugby Club, can now be seen in giant letters as visitors enter Limerick City along Thomond Bridge.
A joint project between Limerick City and County Council and TUS Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD), the colourful mural has been painted onto the Toll Cottages façade in recent days.
And, in keeping with the lyrics of the song, one could not have found a “spot so fair”!
The idea is to enhance the façade of the Toll cottages, with the LSAD artists engaging with the local community. The project aims to create an environment for artists to understand the steps involved in a project of this nature and hone their professional development.
A group of four students and recent graduates was chosen to create a work with themes relevant to the local community as well as the historical and social heritage of the area.
The group comprised of Fine Art Painting student Grace Wallis, Masters of Fine Art student Michelle Hickey, Sculpture and Media student Ryan Mulligan and Visual Communications graduate Jack McKeon.
Limerick City and County Council executive architect Georgy Daly said that the objective was to return the Toll Cottages to use and enliven this beautiful part of Limerick City in the medium term.
“The site presents an opportunity to develop high quality urban artwork and engage with local artists and students to reimagine the site in the short term for the overall benefit of the area.”
TUS Director of Cultural Engagement Mike Fitzpatrick said that TUS Limerick School of Art and Design had been an integral part of Limerick City for generations, and they were proud to contribute to the city’s society and culture.
“The aim of this project is to creatively enrich the visual façade and area in front of the Toll cottages, with four LSAD students and recent graduates engaging with themes and concepts that connect our local communities with our city’s rich historical and social heritage.
“This type of creative intervention has been shown to positively affect social wellbeing and make the potential for economic growth more tangible.
“This project also creates an opportunity for four developing artists to understand the steps involved in a project of this scale, developing skills, and enhancing the professional development of these emerging artists,” he added.
