A colourful new Community Mural has been painted at the side of The Grove Pharmacy, located in the heart of Ballsgrove. The project was completed by members of the Ballsgrove Youth Club, under the direction of local artist Darren Finnegan and proudly proclaims “We Love Ballsgrove”.
The piece is surrounded by local flora, fauna, and features The Grove Gate and Millmount Tower as well as fresh fruits and vegetables as the theme of the mural focuses on health, nature, community spirit and pride of place.
This mural project was undertaken by Love Drogheda BIDs (Business Improvement District scheme) in partnership with Louth County Council in response to the IBAL report in July of 2022, which listed Drogheda number 39 out of 40 for litter and overall town cleanliness.
Since then, Louth County Council, Love Drogheda BIDs, Tidy Towns, business owners, schools and private citizens have all played their part in improving the look of the town, in various ways including litter picks, street cleaning, graffiti removal, installing new lighting, new planting and re-painting crosswalks.
Declan Mc Mahon of Louth County Council noted “The “We Love Ballsgrove” Mural is one of a whole range of positive measures being taken by Louth County Council throughout Drogheda to improve Drogheda’s IBAL litter league ranking. The Bring Banks now have been power hosed and cleaned, the railings painted, the clothes banks removed, a new sign erected and now the mural painted.
Louth County Council worked in conjunction with Love Drogheda BIDS, Imelda Kehoe of Grove Pharmacy, Chloe Kelly of Ballsgrove Youth Club and local artist Darrin Finnegan and are delighted with the results and the fact that the mural was painted by the members of the Ballsgrove Youth Club”
The Ballsgrove Community Mural Project is just one of the ways that prove when groups all work together, positive change can happen. Murals such as this can go a long way to not only brightening up and area and preventing further litter but also encouraging a sense of community pride in the place where we live.
“We are delighted to be involved in this positive initiative for the town and Ballsgrove. Love Drogheda Business Improvement District are constantly working to improve the experience for visitors to our town and we are proud to represent the business community in their support for public realm improvements over the past number of years and make our town that little bit better with each and every project we undertake” (Trevor Connolly, CEO Love Drogheda BID).
Love Drogheda BIDs wish to thank their partners on this project Louth County Council, as well as state that this beautiful mural could not have been completed without the creative input from the young people of the Ballsgrove Youthclub, their leader Chloe Kelly, local artist Darren Finnegan and Imelda Kehoe of The Grove Pharmacy. The entire team also want to also thank the local businesses and community for their continued support in working together to keep Drogheda looking great!
Any individual, business or community group can get behind the Litter Free initiative by contacting Pat Savage of Louth County Council (041-9876100) who will provide litter picking equipment free of charge.
