Since 2012, when a decommissioned maritime marker buoy was first installed at the Mall in Drogheda, it has become well established as a unique ‘canvas’ for local artists and has become something of a talking point.
‘The ‘Mall Buoy’ saw service on the Irish coast for many decades in the last century and was painted green, the colour for starboard which, along with a similar buoy pained red would have been a welcome sight to mariners when approaching port after a long and possibly hazardous voyage.
This week the Mall Buoy has been given a vibrant new look just in time for the Darkness into Light 2023 event which takes place on May 06th to shine a light into the lives of people who, like the mariners of old, are facing turmoil in their lives.
This community art project was a collaboration between the Drogheda Darkness into Light Committee and Drogheda Port Company and kindly sponsored by Murtaghs of Drogheda.
The design uses of the bright yellow and navy blue colours synonymous with the global darkness into light event, while the Pieta logo and helpline number were clearly and mindfully painted towards the bottom on the riverside of the buoy.
The addition of the reflective material ‘bulb’ on the top finishes it off perfectly, it shines so brightly in the dark which really captures the whole objective behind this project which is about enabling those in despair to see that there is always light despite all of the darkness.
The ‘Mall Buoy’ now sits beautifully like a big bright candle reminding us as a community to be a light in the dark.
Nessa Lally of Drogheda Port Company expressed her thanks to Cormac Craig and the Drogheda darkness into light committee and also to Murtagh’s of Drogheda for coming together on this wonderful project and wish the event every success at the weekend.
