If a picture speaks a thousand words, then Ciaran Dunlevy’s wonderful ‘Salmon of Knowledge’ mural on Drogheda’s Fitzwilliam Court building can spark a thousand conversations and perhaps lead to a deeper understanding of our shared heritage.
Love Drogheda Business Improvement District is working in collaboration with Droichead Arts Centre and Louth County Council to create an Urban Art Trail throughout Drogheda that will focus on key figures and moments from our mythological past.
The pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges for everyone but, as more people work from home and reconnect with their towns there is an opportunity to create a greater sense of place and to build a greater engagement with our town’s story.
Love Drogheda BID, Droichead Arts Centre and Louth County Council are working together with local, national and international artists, and mythologist Anthony Murphy, to deliver six murals based on some of the key figures from Irish Mythology in the Boyne Valley region.
The hope is that people will enjoy learning more about the myths and legends of ancient Ireland which is firmly rooted in the historic Boyne Valley.
The first piece will be linked to the River Boyne and the timeless story
Ciaran’s image of the Salmon of Knowledge depicts the story of how Fionn MacCumhaill gained all the knowledge in the world from the Salmon of Knowledge which is one of the most popular stories in Irish Mythology.
The poet Finegas had spent seven years fishing for the elusive salmon and when he finally caught it, he gave the fish to his servant Fionn to cook and left instructions not to eat the fish. Whilst cooking the salmon, a blister burst on the salmon and burnt young Fionn. To help soothe the pain he sucked his thumb and, in the process, gained all the wisdom in the world.
Throughout the rest of his life anytime Fionn needed to draw upon his wisdom he would simply bite hist thumb. Fionn later became the leader of the Fianna.
Introduction to Artist Ciaran Dunlevy:
Ciaran’s style of wall art is based on super realism and as part of the research process into the piece, Ciaran met with local artist Richard Moore and Anthony Murphy and local fishermen who identified a specific area where there would have been opportunities to catch salmon at a weir in the river, Knowth and Dowth stand proudly in the background.
Many thanks to all the partners engaged in this piece including Louth County Council, Fitzwilliam Court, Wogans Interiors, Johnstone Paint & Height for Hire. Great appreciation to Declan Kierans, Leo Monahan, and Willie Smyth for their assistance in making this happen.
Project Background and overall context
DRAWDA is be a curated multidisciplinary public arts programme that will take place in Drogheda, Co. Louth between Sept 2021, and April 2022.
Led by Droichead Arts Centre and Love Drogheda B.I.D.S (Business Improvement District Scheme), in partnership with curators Dee Walsh and Brian Hegarty and Louth County Council Arts Office, the project will be delivered across a number of strands drawing on Drogheda’s significant rich heritage, mythology and architecture.
