Pictures/LCC: Ronan Halpin’s A Shaft of Light (2002), which is located across from the Garda Station in Drogheda.
Louth public art commissions are underway across the county following the appointment of artists and creative teams by Louth County Council.
The commissions include six sculptural works and three Artist-in-Residence projects and are due to be completed by the end of 2027.
They are funded through the national Per Cent for Art Scheme and form part of Louth County Council’s Public Art Programme.
The appointments follow an open competitive process which began in December 2025 and attracted submissions from artists and multidisciplinary teams from Ireland and further afield.
Three sculpture projects in Drogheda
The six sculptural commissions will be located in new council social housing developments across the county.
Three will be in Drogheda at Bakery View, Boice Court and Greenhills Grange.
The other locations are An Mullach in Louth Village, Fulacht Fia in Dundalk and Ravel Drive in Dunleer.
The six artists selected for the sculptural commissions are Alex Pentek, Simon Carman, Colin Davies, Hans van Meeuwen, David Beattie and Stephen Burke.
Cllr Dolores Minogue, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, said the projects represented an investment in creativity and communities across the county.
These nine commissions represent a significant investment in creativity, community and place-making across County Louth, she said.
We are fortunate to have a vibrant and talented artistic community, and it is encouraging to see such strong interest in these opportunities from artists working across a wide range of disciplines.
Dance project for Drogheda schools
Three Artist-in-Residence projects will also take place across Louth, involving photography, visual art and dance.
In Drogheda, dance artist Selma Daniels will work with a number of local schools to create a 30-minute dance performance.
The completed work will be performed in schools and for public audiences before being showcased as part of Cruinniú na nÓg in June 2027.
Projects in Dundalk and Clogherhead
In Dundalk, photographer Ciaran Dunbar will work with Muirhevnamór FC on a project exploring the role of grassroots sport in communities.
The project will look at how local clubs can function as social, cultural and emotional support structures.
It will culminate in a publication, while young participants have also taken part in workshops to design the club’s new away kit.
In Clogherhead, photographic artist Jackie Nickerson will work with the local community on a project exploring how identity is shaped collectively.
Working collaboratively with residents, she will create site-specific installations, pop-up exhibitions, and will produce a fine art publication.
The project will serve as a social and historical document of a specific community in 2026, creating a permanent record of local narratives.
Micheál McKeown’s An Tarbh Donn (2008), which is located on the M1 motorway outside Dundalk
A diverse range of practices
Moya Hodgers, Arts Officer with Louth County Council, said the competition attracted a strong response.
The scale and quality of the response to this competition was extremely impressive, reflecting both the strength of the artistic sector and the growing recognition of Louth as a place that values creativity and cultural participation, she said.
The selected artists bring a diverse range of practices and perspectives, and their projects will result in new works and experiences being delivered in communities right across the county. Together, these commissions will make a meaningful contribution to Louth’s cultural landscape and ensure that high-quality contemporary art is accessible to a broad public audience.
The commissions are expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Further information is available at www.louthartsoffice.ie.
Alan Gallett’s ‘Daughter of Lir’ (2002), which is located in Ferdia Park, Ardee
