Municipal Districts Operations & Rural Development

Murals

Macroom
A painting on a wall

location

Artists: Denis O’Reardon and Cormac Sheil

The mural depicts Macroom Castle in the late 19th century. The photograph used is by Robert French from the National Library’s Lawrence Collection. At the time, Macroom Castle was owned by Lady Ardilaun and a descendent of the McCarthy chiefs who built the original castle in the 12th century.

This project has been funded by:

  • Cork County Council;
  • Lee Valley Enterprise Board;
  • Blarney Macroom Municipal District;
  • Macroom Tidy Towns.
A mural on the gable end of a house depicting a newspaper article

Location

Artists: Denis O’Reardon and Cormac Sheil

The mural commemorates the Mountain Dew Festival, Ireland's first open air rock concert held in the grounds of Macroom castle and headlined by Rory Gallagher. The 1977 Mountain Dew festival was a historic event and still carries a lot of nostalgia not just for the local people but throughout the country. The festival subsequently ran for several years featuring such names as Van Morrison and Elvis Costello.

This mural was made possible through the generosity of:

  • The Cronin Family;
  • Martin Fitz-Gerald;
  • Lee Valley Enterprise Board;
  • Matt Murphy’s Pharmacy;
  • The O’Callaghan Family;
  • Pat O’Connell;
  • Anonymous Donation.
A mural on the gable end of a house depicting the handwriting and an old picture

Location

Artists: Denis O’Reardon and Cormac Sheil

The mural depicts the Macroom Hooded Cloak, worn by women in the Macroom area during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The text is part of a schoolboy essay from the Dúchas National Folklore Collection, 1937-38.

This project has been funded by:

  • Cork County Council;
  • Lee Valley Enterprise Board;
  • Blarney Macroom Municipal District;
  • Macroom Tidy Towns.

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Duchas National Folklore Collection.

A mural on the gable of a building containing a background logo and an old photograph

Location

Artists: Denis O’Reardon and Cormac Sheil

The Macroom - Cork railway line operated for 87 years, from 1866 until its closure in 1953.

Twenty-four miles long, with a construction cost of £6,000 per mile and servicing five stations en route to Cork, the railway transported agricultural goods and passengers to the city and beyond, significantly contributing to the prosperity of the local economy.

The Macroom Railway mural which commemorates the importance of this railway service, depicts a 1952 postcard of an Andrew Barkley Sons and Co engine at Macroom Station, which was situated not far from the mural site.

Behind the image of the pinned postcard is an enlarged rendition of a railway stamp, which was specifically issued for the purpose of carrying a letter by train between Cork and Macroom.

This project has been funded by:

  • Cork County Council.