In a heart-warming display of creativity and community collaboration, students from the Kerry Education and Training Board, An Tochar Further Education and Training Centre have adorned the walls of the newly established playground with vibrant and meaningful murals. This artistic endeavour is a pivotal component of the QQI Level 5 Award in Art, specifically within the Teamworking module.
The initiative began when the learners were challenged to conceptualise and execute a group project. A keen participant caught wind of an opportunity to contribute to the local community – the decorating of the playground’s surrounding walls. The local committee, spearheading the playground project, sought the involvement of artistic individuals, paving the way for an inspiring collaboration.
Fiona Casey, representing the Local Community Action Group, and Nora Knapp, Manager of the An Tochar Centre, engaged in discussions that laid the foundation for this artistic venture. “It was an exciting prospect from the beginning,” shares Nora, emphasising the positive momentum behind the project.
The students, driven by the ethos of teamwork, embarked on a site visit to brainstorm ideas for their mural. Divided into two teams, each member contributed drawings that formed the basis of their collective vision. These sketches were meticulously translated onto marine plywood panels over seven classes, culminating in breath-taking murals that now grace the playground walls.
Team one, under the theme of ‘Locality,’ pays homage to the community’s rich history. Inspired by the iconic Shannon Ballroom, the mural features Disney-style dancers and musical instruments, reflecting the vibrant cultural influence of Causeway Comhaltas. Team two, focusing on ‘Biodiversity,’ created a captivating scene with native wildflowers and insects, forming a children’s search-and-find game. Notably, the mural incorporates symbols of the area’s significance, such as a blue cow representing dairy farming and the reintroduced White-tailed eagle emblematic of Co. Kerry.
Members of Team one includes Marlene Jones, Siobhan Sexton, Jenny Crushell, and Carmen Diggins, while Team Two comprises Paddy Horgan, Caroline Pigott, Ger Quirke, and Ursula Walsh.
The culmination of their hard work was celebrated on Thursday, February 1st, as the murals were unveiled by Kerry ETB board member and Councillor Deirdre Ferris. “These murals are not just paintings, they are a testament to the unity and creativity of the local community,” remarked Deirdre praising the students for their remarkable contribution to the community’s aesthetic and cultural landscape.
As the murals stand tall, coated with three layers of protective varnish, the hope is that they will endure for years to come, echoing the laughter and joy of generations of children in Causeway.
