 [THOMAS STREET IN LIMERICK SEPTEMBER 2025]-265-1-1.JPG)
LOVE ME SO BY DERMOT MCCONAGHY (DMC)
LOVE ME SO BY DERMOT MCCONAGHY (DMC) [THOMAS STREET IN LIMERICK SEPTEMBER 2025]
I used two different cameras under very different weather conditions and this is an example of when/where the Fuji GFX100RF may have out-performed the Sony A7RV.
"Love Me So": A Dialogue with Childhood on Limerick's Thomas Street
Limerick's vibrant street art scene transforms urban spaces into open-air galleries, and nowhere is this more evident than on the city's revitalised Thomas Street. Here, a once-derelict site has been reborn, first as a community garden and then as the canvas for one of the city's most poignant murals: "Love Me So" by Dermot McConaghy (DMC).
🏙️ A Street Reborn: From Neglect to Nature
Thomas Street, with a history tracing back to the 18th century, has undergone a significant transformation. Once a neglected area, it has been pedestrianised and reimagined as a bustling hub of shops and cafes.
The centrepiece of this renewal is the Thomas Street Biodiversity Garden. Established in 2014 on a former derelict plot, this urban oasis provides a tranquil green space for the public. It serves as a testament to Limerick's commitment to sustainable urban development, turning a forgotten corner into a community focal point. It is on the walls framing this very garden that McConaghy's masterpiece makes its statement.
🎨 The Mural and its Meaning
Completed in 2013 as part of the Make a Move festival—an event dedicated to urban regeneration through street art—"Love Me So" is a striking, double-walled piece. It depicts a woman in monochrome gazing across the garden space at a colourful image of her childhood self.
The mural creates a powerful dialogue across the garden. It's a haunting image that explores the lasting, formative impact of our earliest relationships. As McConaghy himself explains, the piece explores how our childhood experiences—the love we receive and the hurts we endure—fundamentally shape the adults we become. The title, "Love Me So," can be read as the fundamental plea of the inner child, echoing into the present.
🖌️ The Artist: Dermot McConaghy (DMC)
Dermot McConaghy, who signs his work as DMC, is an Irish artist celebrated for his large-scale murals. Preferring the freedom of the streets to the confines of a gallery, his work often features introspective figures that invite public contemplation.
While known for striking pieces in Dublin and Belfast, his contribution to the Limerick festival captures his signature style. He uses art to reclaim public spaces, prompting viewers to reflect on the complex layers of human emotion and identity.
Shared Journeys
In "Love Me So," the themes of personal and urban transformation perfectly align. The artwork, which reflects on the journey from childhood to adulthood, physically frames a space that has made its own journey from dereliction to vitality.
The result is a unique, reflective atmosphere. The mural and the garden work in harmony, creating a powerful intersection of art, nature, and community. "Love Me So" stands not just as a powerful piece of public art, but as a reminder of the past that shapes us and the possibility of renewal, both for a city street and for the self.
I used two different cameras under very different weather conditions and this is an example of when/where the Fuji GFX100RF may have out-performed the Sony A7RV.
"Love Me So": A Dialogue with Childhood on Limerick's Thomas Street
Limerick's vibrant street art scene transforms urban spaces into open-air galleries, and nowhere is this more evident than on the city's revitalised Thomas Street. Here, a once-derelict site has been reborn, first as a community garden and then as the canvas for one of the city's most poignant murals: "Love Me So" by Dermot McConaghy (DMC).
🏙️ A Street Reborn: From Neglect to Nature
Thomas Street, with a history tracing back to the 18th century, has undergone a significant transformation. Once a neglected area, it has been pedestrianised and reimagined as a bustling hub of shops and cafes.
The centrepiece of this renewal is the Thomas Street Biodiversity Garden. Established in 2014 on a former derelict plot, this urban oasis provides a tranquil green space for the public. It serves as a testament to Limerick's commitment to sustainable urban development, turning a forgotten corner into a community focal point. It is on the walls framing this very garden that McConaghy's masterpiece makes its statement.
🎨 The Mural and its Meaning
Completed in 2013 as part of the Make a Move festival—an event dedicated to urban regeneration through street art—"Love Me So" is a striking, double-walled piece. It depicts a woman in monochrome gazing across the garden space at a colourful image of her childhood self.
The mural creates a powerful dialogue across the garden. It's a haunting image that explores the lasting, formative impact of our earliest relationships. As McConaghy himself explains, the piece explores how our childhood experiences—the love we receive and the hurts we endure—fundamentally shape the adults we become. The title, "Love Me So," can be read as the fundamental plea of the inner child, echoing into the present.
🖌️ The Artist: Dermot McConaghy (DMC)
Dermot McConaghy, who signs his work as DMC, is an Irish artist celebrated for his large-scale murals. Preferring the freedom of the streets to the confines of a gallery, his work often features introspective figures that invite public contemplation.
While known for striking pieces in Dublin and Belfast, his contribution to the Limerick festival captures his signature style. He uses art to reclaim public spaces, prompting viewers to reflect on the complex layers of human emotion and identity.
Shared Journeys
In "Love Me So," the themes of personal and urban transformation perfectly align. The artwork, which reflects on the journey from childhood to adulthood, physically frames a space that has made its own journey from dereliction to vitality.
The result is a unique, reflective atmosphere. The mural and the garden work in harmony, creating a powerful intersection of art, nature, and community. "Love Me So" stands not just as a powerful piece of public art, but as a reminder of the past that shapes us and the possibility of renewal, both for a city street and for the self.