A PICTURE tells a thousand words, but a video telling the story of how that picture was painted says much more.
It was all lights, camera, and action with the release of a new video telling the story of how children from St Mary’s National School and other members of the community in St Mary’s Park showed off their artistic flair by painting a mural on the St Mary’s Park handball alley.
The colourful mural, completed earlier this year, was designed and co-ordinated by artist Lulu Keeley and funded by Limerick City and County Council’s Regeneration Directorate. Artists Garreth Cash, Rachel Maloney, and local rapper Hazey Hayes helped to deliver the project.
Members of the Limerick Youth Service also helped paint the mural as part of a community day, the results of which helped breathe new life onto the walls of the handball alley, which overlooks the River Shannon from the northern part of St Mary’s Park.
Those involved helped choose images reflective of the local environment, including horses, fish, and flowers. And there was a huge injection of colour thanks to children‘s art work from the school now featuring on the mural. The painting also features a depiction of nearby King John’s Castle.
Artist Lulu Keeley explained: “We visited the primary school, local children drew us pictures and held meetings in the community centre so we could try to understand what St Mary’s meant to the community there.”
“Including as many people as possible, we did our best to engage with the local children and adults to create a meaningful art piece for them and also facilitate a day for them to also paint.
“Locals visited us throughout the project and continued to visit us even after the community painting day.
“I feel that as artists we must be respectful in communities that often feel forgotten about and make sure to communicate and engage with people to create something meaningful and beautiful.
“This mural will last for many, many years and hopefully the memories from the painting day will last for a long time too.”
The video, featuring music by Hazey Haze, captures the community day as young and young-at-heart work side by side to deliver the project for the community of St Marys Park. It can be seen on Limerick.ie.
