Causeway Coast & Glens Street Art Trail

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council believe that high-quality, creative street art can add vibrancy to town centres and support local economic growth. With this objective in mind, and with financial support from the Department for Communities, the Council's 'Prosperity and Place' team have commissioned street art in towns including Portstewart, Portrush, Coleraine, Ballycastle, Ballymoney and Limavady. The artists involved have included emerging local talent and some of the most talented and well-established street artists working across Ireland. The common theme connecting all the artworks is 'local heritage'. In addition to the economic benefits to town centres, the street art is helping to preserve knowledge, raise awareness and educate. 

Please click on the link to follow our digital trail of street art in the towns across Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. 

For more information, please email  town.management@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk 

- YouTube


Street Art

We invite you to learn about the story behind each artwork

Nook of the Ferns ~ EMIC

Salmon Fishing ~ Rob Hilken

Sara O'Neill and the Fates of Destiny ~ Friz

Little Wildflowers ~ Maria McLarnon

Transforming Spaces ~ Coleraine Youth Collective

Bluebells at Mountsandel Forest ~ Sarah MacKay

Our local wildlife ~ Dr. Claire McDowell

Voyage of Discovery ~ Marc Holmes

River Bann ebb and flow ~ Sarah Carrington

Flora and Fauna ~ Karl Porter UV Arts

Willie Stewart ~ Meadow Toye

Others - EMIC

Hope ~ Rob Hilken

Spacer ~ Shane Sutton

Illuminate - Friz

The Cow ~ Irony

The Market ~ Shane O'Driscoll

Seahawk ~ Dan Leo

Tribute to Henry ~ JMK

The Surfer ~ Aches

Get Portrush a Skate Park ~ KVLR

Princess Taisie ~ FRIZ

Dulse & Yellowman ~ Rob Hilken

Feis ~ Laura Nelson

Hurler ~ Aches

Storyteller ~ JMK

Girl and Calf ~ EMIC

Eddie ~ Irony

Yellowman and Dulse ~ Shane O'Driscoll

Manannán ~ FGB

The Leap of the Dog ~ Irony

Fox & Hound ~ KVLR

Flax ~ Rob Hilken

Music Town ~ Claire Prouvost

Where the Music Plays ~ Alana McDowell

Jazz Band ~ Matthew Knight

Nook of the Ferns ~ EMIC

Address: 14a Queen Street, Coleraine, BT52 1BG

The embracing figures symbolise love. The blues represent the shifting boundary between fresh water and sea water in the estuary. The upper half of the two figures shifts slightly to the right, hinting at past conflicts and divisions. The three hands form a triangular shape, based on a beautiful bronze Iron Age disc dredged from the river. The ferns reference “nook of ferns” from which Coleraine gets its name. The Methodist church who own the wall were initially cautious, deciding in the end to “trust the artist”. As the work progressed it was warmly received and images of the work in progress were projected as the congregation arrived for their Sunday morning service.

Salmon Fishing ~ Rob Hilken

Address: 3 Circular Road, Coleraine, BT52 1PS

This abstract piece celebrates the importance of the River Bann in the development and history of Coleraine. The shimmering aqua greens and blues evoke the feeling of the sea and the river. The salmon pink circles represent the fish that could be leaping through the refractions on the surface of the water, or being caught in one of the large nets used on the Causeway Coast in its salmon fishing heyday. This piece added colour to a formerly ugly and ignored site, creating a new landmark from a nondescript carpark wall.

Highly visible by traffic driving over the bridge. Most of the artist's time creating this piece was spent in careful measuring and marking out, with the painting all happening on the last few days.

Sara O'Neill and the Fates of Destiny ~ Friz

Address: 31 Society Street, Coleraine BT52 1LA

Coleraine has a huge history of textile production, from the linen markets in the 1900’s and shirt and textile factories dotted throughout the town to present day textile designers such as Sara O’Neill, the muse for this piece. Sara’s work has adorned the windows of Brown Thomas, been projected unto Belfast City Hall, and more recently worn at the Oscars and BAFTA’s, and all this from the North Coast where she grew up, went to school, and still lives. The artist FRIZ painted this piece on a former shirt factory and used flax flowers to reference the linen heritage of the town. She leaned into a colourful warm palette to show Sara’s boho, dreamy style, whilst incorporating the needle and thread; the basic tools of working with fabric, while spinning in a little vibe of the Fates handling the threads of destiny.

Little Wildflowers ~ Maria McLarnon

Address: Mall car park, Coleraine, BT52 1ED

Maria McLarnon is a talented local artist who, in recent times has been more usually found singing or playing at local musical events. However she brushed the cobwebs off her paint brushes to reconnect with her visual creativity and set design. The two pieces of the ‘Little Wildflowers’ set are Forget-me-Nots to remember those who are no longer with us, and Daisies that symbolise innocence and purity.

Transforming Spaces ~ Coleraine Youth Collective

Address: Various locations along Society Street and Church Lane, Coleraine

Young people from all post primary schools in the area, including Coleraine College, North Coast Integrated, Dominican, Coleraine Grammar and Loreto transformed a variety of spaces within the centre of their hometown. They learned about preparing surfaces, from scraping back before base coating, to working together on themes to design and implement their images. Buddleia, Foxgloves, Wildflowers, Salmon adorn these abandoned spaces giving the young people an opportunity to display their creative skills whilst giving a sense of achievement and ownership of public art. They worked under the guidance of project manager, Michelle McGarvey.

Bluebells at Mountsandel Forest ~ Sarah MacKay

Address: Bellhouse Lane, Coleraine BT52 1ED

Sarah MacKay is a local artist who is inspired by the dramatic landscape that surrounds her in the Causeway Coast and Glens area where she lives. The dramatic coastline and the stunning woodlands just a short distance inland as well as her wildflower garden at home. After her collaboration with Claire McDowell, Sarah was inspired to transform a utility box by showcasing the wonderful bluebells found in the ancient wood at Mountsandel forest, only a short walk from the centre of town.

Our local wildlife ~ Dr. Claire McDowell

Claire’s artworks can be found on a series of utility boxes in the town centre, are inspired by the stunning animal and bird life found on our coastline, rivers, and woods. Stories of goddesses, messengers, shapeshifters and creatures who can pass between worlds inspire her creations that showcase our beautiful local wildlife. The Fox, Irish Hare and Swan all feature in this series, she even managed a little collaboration with artist Sarah MacKay featuring a strong thrush and native wildflowers.

Voyage of Discovery ~ Marc Holmes

Address: Five different locations on Church Street and Queen Street, Coleraine town centre.

Mark’s five stenciled pieces show young people on a voyage of discovery around Coleraine. The artworks are found in five different locations on Church Street and Queens Street in Coleraine town centre. The subjects are planting a fern to reference Cuil Rathain and the Nook of the Ferns; discovering the Bann Disc; playing with a boat nodding to the town’s maritime history; reading a book to discover more and having a kickabout in Coleraine Football club kit.

River Bann ebb and flow ~ Sarah Carrington

Address: Ten artworks in various locations throughout Coleraine town centre

In her series of ten utility boxes Sarah has painted views and vistas of the River Bann that ebb and flow throughout the whole town centre. Some show light reflecting off the river whilst others use darker tones as the light begins to fade at the end of the day.

Flora and Fauna ~ Karl Porter UV Arts

Address: 32 Church Street, Coleraine BT52 1AR

The artwork in the centre of town features local biodiversity and planting along with three native birds. Native trees such as the horse chestnut are found in the ancient Mountsandel Forest in Coleraine, the earliest known settlement in Ireland and Europe. Other native trees such as sycamores and beech compliment the planting on the grounds of St. Patrick’s Church.

Willie Stewart ~ Meadow Toye

The much loved and well-respected horse dealer was often found standing outside St. Patrick’s Church or on the corner of New Row, down from where this portrait is situated. The old gate has been transformed but still shows the old untreated boards at the bottom to reference bygone days, with the church spire presiding in the background.  

Others - EMIC

29 New Row West, Coleraine, BT52  1AD

These interlocking hands, based on the theme of compassion, are situated at New Row West on the site of the old town jail. If you look across the street, you will see that it used to be called Jail Street. These large-scale hands are interlinked in a way that is loving and supportive. The artist is drawn to hands because they represent people as a collective, the sum being bigger than the individual parts. The image is quite abstracted with sections of skin stripped back to reveal colours and ghost-like hands reverberating out either side of the main image.

Hope ~ Rob Hilken

Address: 35 Church Street, Coleraine BT52 1A

In this piece Rob transformed and honoured the existing concrete blocks with colours and an overall pattern inspired by local knitwear designer Hope Macaulay’s giant chunky knits. Coleraine has a long-standing history of knitwear with Ballantyne’s knitwear in the 1960’s and 1970’s to present day Hope Macaulay who is utilising this heritage craft whilst combining it with a contemporary twist. Hope based locally, sells globally. Celebs such as Jennifer Hudson and Naomi Osaka wear her Causeway Coast creations. Rob was the perfect artist as he loves repetition and previous works have been inspired by the warp and weft of textile weaving.

Spacer ~ Shane Sutton

Address: 10 Queen Street, Coleraine BT52 1BG

On the 12th of May 1858, esteemed physicist Alexander Anderson was born at Camus in Coleraine. He  became widely recognised for his groundbreaking research and he seems to be the first publicised reference to black holes, which was later referenced by Stephen Hawking. It was this research that led Shane to visually reference a black hole in space with one of his iconic astronauts. This piece also faces towards the Coleraine Campus of Ulster University where pioneering Space research continues.

 

Illuminate - Friz

19 Abbey Street, Coleraine BT52 1DU

A candle in the window can be a beacon of safety, a guiding light, a symbol of hope on Abbey Street, so named because it was the former site of an Abbey founded in 1244. Painted on the side of the Housing Executive building the depiction of the candle and stain glass window symbolising a beacon of hope with the stonework subtly referencing the former abbey.

The Cow ~ Irony

Address: Seymour Street, Ballymoney, BT53 6JR

One of our biggest pieces in the project, this wall has gathered a lot of positive attention from media and the public alike. This piece celebrates the importance of agricultural markets in the development and history of Ballymoney. It also embraces and reclaims the nickname “cow town” with a portrait of a beautifully defiant cow.

The local radio station, whose studio overlooked the site, followed the work in progress, giving updates to their listeners with a ‘can you guess what it is yet?’ style phone-in.

The cow depicted is a Kerry Blue, a rare breed of dairy cattle, native to Ireland.

The Market ~ Shane O'Driscoll

Address: 41 Church Street, Ballymoney, BT53 6JR

Inspiration for this abstract artwork references the goods sold and historically traded in the market which led to it being one of Ulsters most prosperous towns. The black loose spots on the wall relate the markings on a cow, which were traded in weekly markets. The silhouette of the old church tower is also within the composition, as well as grain seeds which refer to crops grown on local farms and fermented in the local distillery. A white line breaks through the artwork in reference to the tunnel that runs under the town.

Seahawk ~ Dan Leo

Address: 22 The Diamond, Portstewart, BT55 7JN

This striking piece which can be seen the whole way along the seafront depicts a Seahawk, also known as an Osprey. Seahawks were once common in this area but were hunted to near extinction in the 19th century. They are currently seen on migration paths in spring and autumn. It is hoped they will begin to breed again locally in the near future. The Seahawks is also the nickname of the local football club, Portstewart FC.

Tribute to Henry ~ JMK

Address: The Crescent, Portstewart, BT55 7NL

This artwork contains a portrait Portstewart-born world renowned rock guitarist Henry McCullough (1943-2016). He played with Joe Cocker at Woodstock, toured with Jimi Hendrix, played with Paul McCartney and Wings and appears on Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, where his unmistakeable Portstewart accent can be heard at the end of the track Money.

The second part of the piece references the Strand Ballroom. Cream, Van Morrison, Julie Rodgers, Chuck Berry, Helen Shapiro, and the Kinks, were amongst the acts that played here. It’s also where McCullough began his musical career. He and his brother Victor would sneak in as teenagers to hear the bands. They both worked as message boys for the local chemist to save up to buy their first guitar and set up a skiffle band with a couple of friends, playing their favourite Leadbelly tunes.

The artist had the privilege of meeting Henry’s widow, his sisters and brother who were pleased to see Henry McCullough recognised in this way. Another local resident recognised himself in the piece as a much younger man on the opening night of the Ballroom.

The Surfer ~ Aches

Address: Coastal Path, Arcadia Beach, Portrush, BT56 8BL

As well as traditional holiday makers, many people are drawn to Portrush for its maritime sports culture. Surfing, kayaking and paddle boarding are all flourishing here, and the area is home to high quality surf board and canoe makers.

Surfing and skate culture is linked to a variety of other alternative and creative opportunities for people involved in caring for the coastal environment and promoting the wellbeing benefits of the outdoors. And there is a distinct overlap with the thriving local arts and music scene.

Get Portrush a Skate Park ~ KVLR

Address: Mark Street Lane, Portrush, BT56 8BS

This piece draws inspiration from the surf and skate culture that has found a home in Portrush. On days when there are no waves, skateboarders are a familiar sight on the promenades, practicing tricks around the Amphitheatre and Station Square.

Princess Taisie ~ FRIZ

Address: 25 Castle Street, Ballycastle, BT54 6AS

Princess Taisie was the daughter of King Dorm of Rathlin Island. She was betrothed to Congal, future High King of Ireland. She was spied by the King of Norway's men, who reported back to their King on her beauty. He set out to claim her as his wife and arrived while the wedding was taking place, which resulted in a battle that he lost. Glentaisie, where Ballycastle lies, is said to be land that King Dorm gifted the newly weds.

This piece depicts Princess Taisie relaxing in the glen where the men had spied her. The artist imagined her listening to her ladies playing music. The design is based on a Feis na nGleann banner design from 1904.

Dulse & Yellowman ~ Rob Hilken

Address: 45 Castle Street, Ballycastle, BT54 6AT

Ballycastle is renowned for two distinctive culinary treats, beloved by some, but an acquired taste for others.

Yellow man is a dense, bright yellow, honeycomb sweet, made from brown sugar, golden syrup, butter, vinegar and baking soda. Large chunks are smashed up with a hammer and the broken shards sold in small bags in local shops and newsagents.

Dulse is an edible seaweed that grows wild in the cold waters of the North Atlantic and is a rich source of iodine and potassium. It is traditionally harvested by hand between June and October and dried out in the sun to turn it into a chewy, salty snack.

This piece is the artist’s celebration of these two local delights, contrasting the loose flowing lines and rich brown colour of dulse with the deep yellows of rock hard yellow man.

Feis ~ Laura Nelson

Address: 35-37 Castle Street, Ballycastle, BT54 6AS

Four illuminated letters spelling the word FEIS, meaning festival in Irish. The 'F' depicts two fellows holding a spinning wheel and a horn symbolising the celebration of the craft industry in Ballycastle. The 'E' shows the delicate Harebell flower, local flora widely recognised throughout the Glens of Antrim. The 'I' shows Princess Taisie after whom Glentaisie was named. She stands surrounded by the local oak and is held aloft by the Celtic hounds of Ulster. The 'S' is an example of Celtic pattern in illuminated lettering.

Hurler ~ Aches

Address: 52-54 Castle Street, Ballycastle, BT54 6A

This piece in the artist’s signature additive colour style, is on the wall of McQuillan GAC Ballycastle indoor training suite on Castle Street. McQuillan GAC is a Gaelic Athletic Association and Camogie club, the club is affiliated with the Antrim county board. The club was founded in 1907 and fields teams in hurling, camogie and gaelic football but is known primarily for its hurling successes. The club also participates in the Scór from under 6 through to the seniors. Their home ground, Páirc MacUílín, is located on Whitepark Road, Ballycastle.

Storyteller ~ JMK

Address: 44 Castle Street, Ballycastle, BT54 6AR

This is a portrait of Hugh Dillon, a noted storyteller from Ballycastle. The portrait is taken from a photograph from 1956 included in the Dúchas folklore collection. According to the photographer Dillon was also a noted horseman.

Girl and Calf ~ EMIC

Address: 74 Castle Street, Ballycastle, BT54 6AT

This piece is taken from an old black and white photo from the fair of a young girl and her calf while at the Auld Lammas Fair. The fair is held every year on the last Monday and Tuesday of August and has been running for nearly 400 years.

Eddie ~ Irony

Address: 43 Castle Street, Ballycastle, BT54 6AS

This is a portrait of local sporting legend Eddie Donnelly . Although very modest about his achievements, Eddie has had an auspicious career. He won eight Senior Championship medals, which remains a club record. He also has eight league medals. The County Antrim man played in the 1970 Antrim team that won the All Ireland Intermediate title. He won All Ireland B Championship medals in 1978, 1981 and 1982. In 2015 he was inducted into the Ulster Club Hall of Fame.

Yellowman and Dulse ~ Shane O'Driscoll

Address: 10 The Diamond, Ballycastle, BT54 6AW

Ballycastle is famous for the Auld Lammas Fair, Ireland’s longest-running market, dating back to the 17th Century. The fair is synonymous with local culinary treats, dulse and yellowman. The artist has taken inspiration from the colours and created this abstract piece. Along with the colours representing these two favourites, the shapes are complementary to them also and circles reflect the air bubbles in the honeycomb.

Yellowman and Dulse have been sold alongside each other for hundreds of years and were made even more famous as a duo by a local shopkeeper and bog-oak carver named John Henry MacAuley. He wrote a ballad about the fair that includes a reference to dulse and yellowman. Part of the chorus goes as follows: “Did you treat your Mary Ann to some dulse and yellow man / At the Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle-O?”

Manannán ~ FGB

Address: The Mall Alleyway, Limavady

*** This building has been knocked down. Mural is no longer there ***

In 1896, two ploughmen unearthed what has been described as the "greatest gold hoard in Ireland" consisting of necklaces, torcs, a collar and a miniature boat complete with oars and seats. The Iron-Age artefacts now reside at the National Museum of Ireland. The hoard is thought to have been an offering from a local chieftain to the Celtic god Manannán mac Lir - the master of the sea. In this artwork, the artist depicts Manannán collecting the offering.

The Leap of the Dog ~ Irony

Address: Newtown Square Car Park, Limavady

The Roe Valley is steeped in Gaelic myth and legend linked to St Colmcille and the O’Cahan chieftains. One of those legends gave Limavady its name, which comes from the Irish Léim an Mhadaidh, meaning ‘leap of the dog’ A faithful guard dog of the O’Cahans is said to have leapt over the river gorge to warn its master of approaching enemies.

Fox & Hound ~ KVLR

Address: Newtown Square Car Park Alleyway, Limavady

‘The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog' is an English-language pangram—a unique sentence that contains all of the letters of the English alphabet. In this piece the artist makes reference to this well-known phrase and also to the name of the town. Limavady derives its name from 'Léim an Mhadaidh meaning ‘Leap of the Dog’.

Flax ~ Rob Hilken

Address: Fleming Way Alleyway, Limavady

This abstract piece references the colours of the flax flowers grown locally, and the rhythms of the weaving machines in the linen Industry.

Music Town ~ Claire Prouvost

Address: Market Street Alleyway, Limavady

Limavady is where the internationally renowned song Danny Boy was born. The last Irish harper to play in the traditional bardic style is buried close by. This colourful piece draws on Limavady’s wide musical heritage. Claire was happy to meet some local buskers while painting this piece. One of the buskers favourite spots for performing just got better.

Where the Music Plays ~ Alana McDowell

Address: Market Street Alleyway, Limavady

The Danny Boy Jazz and Blues Festival in Limavady celebrates the town’s connection to the famous song.  Jane Ross was an avid collector of unpublished Irish melodies and one day heard the tune being played, by an itinerant fiddler known locally as blind Jimmy McCurry (1830-1910) who ended up living in Limavady workhouse.  

Jane wrote down the notes of tune which she later passed on as part of her collection to George Petrie who published the air in 1855 with the title of ‘Londonderry Air’.

Jazz Band ~ Matthew Knight

Address: Market Street Alleyway, Limavady

For many people Limavady is a place associated with music. There is it’s historical connection to the discovery of the tune for Danny Boy, and the current festivals taking place each year; the Danny Boy Jazz and Blues festival and the Stendhal festival. The artist here celebrates the jazzier side of Limavady with an imagined playful jazz ensemble. The artist was partly influenced by Jim Flora who used to design jazz album covers in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.


Artists

Meet the artists behind these walls and follow their work!


In the News


Funding

Funding for this project has been provided by the Department for Communities through its Town Centre Covid-19 Recovery and Revitalisation Programme.

Following a competitive tendering process, street art specialists 'Daisy Chain Inc.' were commissioned in March 2021 to deliver the high quality art installations.

© Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council