EXAMPLES OF STREET ART AUGUST 2016
EXAMPLES GALWAY AUGUST 2016 STREET ART [I WAS SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTED AT THE TIME]
Here are some examples of street art photographed when I visited Galway back in August 2016. Ten years ago, Galway’s "street art" was largely confined to small, unsanctioned tags or the occasional transient festival poster. The city was certainly colourful, but its walls were relatively "quiet" in terms of large-scale muralism. Fast-forward a decade, I am expecting, if reports are correct, a remarkably different landscape. Influenced by the Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture legacy and a nationwide shift toward public art as a community tool, the city has truly embraced the spray can.
Key Spots for My Visit Next Week
Since I am visiting in late March, I’ll beat the summer festival crowds, giving me a clear view of these major works:
The West End (Dominick Street & Ravens Terrace): This is the heart of the modern scene. I will search for vibrant geometric works by Shane O’Malley, whose "Kaleidoscope" style has become a signature of the city.
The "Galway Banksy" & Friz: According to all accounts there are several pieces by the artist Friz, whose work often features haunting, ethereal figures from Irish mythology (I was told to keep an eye out for her depictions of the Goddess Clíodhna).
Quay Lane: There is the "Our City Walls" mural by Emmalene Blake. Commissioned for the Baboró Arts Festival, it was designed based on the input of local children and has become a permanent fixture of the city centre.
Ballybane & Suburbs: Slightly out of the core, the "Wolves of Merlin Woods" mural (completed in late 2024/2025) is a stunning example of how street art is being paired with Irish poetry to revitalise residential areas.
Electrical Box Art: Even the utility boxes have been colonised. Over 100 boxes across the city have been hand-painted by local artists like Tracey Moca, turning functional eyesores into miniature canvases.
Here are some examples of street art photographed when I visited Galway back in August 2016. Ten years ago, Galway’s "street art" was largely confined to small, unsanctioned tags or the occasional transient festival poster. The city was certainly colourful, but its walls were relatively "quiet" in terms of large-scale muralism. Fast-forward a decade, I am expecting, if reports are correct, a remarkably different landscape. Influenced by the Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture legacy and a nationwide shift toward public art as a community tool, the city has truly embraced the spray can.
Key Spots for My Visit Next Week
Since I am visiting in late March, I’ll beat the summer festival crowds, giving me a clear view of these major works:
The West End (Dominick Street & Ravens Terrace): This is the heart of the modern scene. I will search for vibrant geometric works by Shane O’Malley, whose "Kaleidoscope" style has become a signature of the city.
The "Galway Banksy" & Friz: According to all accounts there are several pieces by the artist Friz, whose work often features haunting, ethereal figures from Irish mythology (I was told to keep an eye out for her depictions of the Goddess Clíodhna).
Quay Lane: There is the "Our City Walls" mural by Emmalene Blake. Commissioned for the Baboró Arts Festival, it was designed based on the input of local children and has become a permanent fixture of the city centre.
Ballybane & Suburbs: Slightly out of the core, the "Wolves of Merlin Woods" mural (completed in late 2024/2025) is a stunning example of how street art is being paired with Irish poetry to revitalise residential areas.
Electrical Box Art: Even the utility boxes have been colonised. Over 100 boxes across the city have been hand-painted by local artists like Tracey Moca, turning functional eyesores into miniature canvases.