A NEW public artwork has been installed at The People’s Park offering a calm and reflective space in the heart of the busy city.
Tidewoven, a new public artwork by Catherine McDonald and David Ian Bickley, combines sculpture, sound, and living materials, inspired by traditional woven fish traps used along the Shannon Estuary.
The work features two benches enclosed by sustainably sourced willow and was crafted by basketmaker Rosemary Kavanagh of Wild Rose Basketry using willow harvested in Glin.
The installation also includes four ambient soundscapes aligned to North, South, East, and West.
These blend musical tones with field recordings from locations across Limerick, including Thomond Park, Lough Gur, the Shannon Estuary, St Mary’s Cathedral bells, archival stone, and footstep sounds, and a historical seaplane reference linked to Foynes.
Designed to enhance the acoustic experience of the park, Tidewoven provides a sheltered listening space, with QRactivated soundscapes inviting visitors to pause and engage with their surroundings.
The Council’s Environment Section and Limerick Arts Office collaborated to develop the pilot “audio islands”, offering focused listening spaces and opportunities for rest and restoration.
Etain McCooey, Arts Officer at Limerick Council, said that Tidewoven “brings together place, craft, and innovation in a way that enriches our shared public spaces”.
“This installation encourages people to slow down and connect with their environment in a fresh and sensory way. We are delighted to present a project that enhances the cultural and environmental experience of our wonderful People’s Park.”
Noise is recognised as a major environmental health factor worldwide, second only to air pollution. As Limerick grows, urban noise levels are expected to increase, making high quality sound environments in parks more important than ever.
Limerick’s People’s Park is largely characterised by natural sounds, but studies by the Council’s Environment Section show that traffic noise from surrounding streets is the least preferred by visitors.
This initiative forms part of the Council’s Noise Action Plan 2024–2028 and draws inspiration from international examples such as Berlin’s Nauener Platz and Brighton’s West Street Story: Come Together, which highlight the role of sound in public health, social interaction and overall urban experience.