Cork City Street Art

If Ireland was a Bottle

PROC & artist Garreth Joyce highlight that "If Ireland was a bottle, it would sink without a Cork. And it would sink quickly and all the Dubs and the Kerrymen would be floating around the place and there'd be nobody to save the country from ruin." Lucky for all, the CORK is firmly in the Irish bottle!

Bíonn Adharca Fada ar na Ba thar lear

A seanfhocal (old Irish saying) that translates as, 'the cows far away (abroad) have bigger horns'. The equiavlent of 'far away hills are greener' in English.

PROC, Garreth Joyce and Gael Taca

Welcome to Cork - Italians

PROC & artist Garreth Joyce imagine what it would have been like if Luciano Pavarotti had moved to live in Cork. Maybe he would have found himself singing one of the city's most famous songs 'The Boys of Fairhill'.

Text translates as: 'Weclome to Cork, Italian Friends'

Cork Born, Kings Landing Bred

A tribute to the Cork actor Jack Gleeson, who played the detestable King Joffrey in Game of Thrones, one of the biggest tv series of all time.

Artist Kevin O'Brien for Mad About Cork.

Thomas Kent

PROC & artist Garreth Joyce consider Thomas Kent, the man who lent his name to Cork city’s railway station, a True Rebel. Thomas Kent (1865 – 1916) was an Irish nationalist found guilty by the British authorities of armed rebellion and executed by firing squad. His body was buried in a shallow grave in the exercise yard of Cork Military Detention Barracks, later to become Cork Prison, following a gunfight at the family home with the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) on 9 May 1916, in the wake of the Easter Rising.

Welcome to Cork - Japanese

PROC & artist Garreth Joyce celebrate the big impact on Cork of a small Japanese community. The artist looks at Cork through 'red & white tinted glasses', imagining a Japanese version of Cork. Text translates as: 'Welcome to the People's Republic of Cork'. PROC in association with ReImagineCork.

Kingfisher, Paul Street Carpark

This stunning, vibrant mural is by London-based artist Curtis Hylton. There's a strong conservation message - a supreme fisher has had an unsuccessful catch as in his beak he has caught a plastic bottle & a bag. At the foot of the mural, the Kingfisher is trapped in discarded nylon fishing nets. We need to stop polluting our waterways and reduce our reliance on plastic.

Part of a CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory & The Walls Project Placemaking project, funded by Cork City Council.

Tanora - Made in Cork

Those who do not hale from Munster may not be familiar with the Rebel magic that is Tanora, Corkonians' favourite tangerine-flavoured fizzy drink. Tanora was first manufactured on Kyrl's Quay by John Daly & Co in the 1930s.

'Feens & Boers' is Cork slang for men and women!

Thomas Kent

One of the 1916 portraits painted by Mad About Cork's Alan Hurley in collaboration with ReimagineCork. Thomas Kent (1865–1916), was from a strongly nationalist family and a prominent member of the Irish Volunteers in Co. Cork. In May 1916, he and other family members fought a gun battle with police and military besieging their home, in which a police constable was killed. Kent was executed by firing squad and his body buried in a shallow grave in the exercise yard of Cork Military Detention Barracks, later to become Cork Prison.

Michael Collins

One of the 1916 portraits painted by Mad About Cork's Alan Hurley in collaboration with ReimagineCork. Michael Collins was born on 16 October 1890 near Clonakilty, Co. Cork, the son of a farmer. Collins was a soldier and politician who was prominent in the struggle for Irish independence in the early 20th century. He agreed to the partition of Ireland and the creation of the Irish Free State, becoming leader of its provisional government. On 22 August 1922, he was assassinated by anti-treaty forces in an ambush in County Cork.

Tomas McCurtain

One of the 1916 portraits painted by Mad About Cork's Alan Hurley in collaboration with ReimagineCork.

Tomás Mac Curtain (born March 20, 1884, Ballyknockane, Co. Cork) was a Commandant in the Cork No. 1 Brigade of the IRA. He was interned in the aftermath of the rebellion of Easter week in 1916. In the local elections of 1920, he was elected to Cork Corporation and elected Lord Mayor on January 31, 1920, the first republican to hold the office. MacCurtain served just 49 days in office. In the early hours of the morning on Saturday March 20, 1920 (his 36th birthday), MacCurtain was shot dead at his home in Thomas Davis Street, in front of his family, by members of the RIC. The remains of Alderman Tomás Mac Curtain were laid to rest in St Finbarr’s Cemetery on 22 March 1920.

Terrence McSwiney

Terence MacSwiney (1879-1920), born at no. 23 North Main Street, was one of the greatest figures in Ireland's history. He died after 74 days on hunger strike in Brixton Prison on 25 October 1920. His sacrifice brought worldwide media attention to Ireland’s struggle for independence. Terence MacSwiney was elected Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Cork in March 1920, after the murder of the previous mayor, Tomás Mac Curtain, by a group of Black and Tans. On August 12, 1920, he was arrested. Six days later he was court martialled, sentenced for sedition and transferred from Cork to Brixton jail. He refused to recognise the authority of the British courts and in an act of peaceful protest went on a hunger strike. News of his death on 25th October 1920 was one of the most significant moments of the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921). Painted by Mad About Cork's Alan Hurley in collaboration with ReimagineCork.

The Bells of Shandon

Shandon Bells Mural at Wisdom Lane (one of the laneways of medieval Cork), 42-43 North Main Street.

Welcome to Cork - Chinese

PROC & artist Garreth Joyce give an oriental twist to Cork and welcome the many citizens of the People's Republic of China who have made the real People's Republic their home.

Sulkyroo

A sulky is an unprotected, lightweight, single-seat cart, which is usually drawn by a horse. Trotting and Sulky racing are popular recreational activities among the Travelling community.

In this play on the food-delivery company Deliveroo, the text reads: Your peck (food) is here subla (boy).

PROC & Cork Traveller Women's Network & Tom Doig

Woman in the Water

Painted by internationally renowned, Australian street artist Fintan Magee, this mural is a homage to the migrant population of Cork city. A migrant woman sits in a pool of water clasping a bowl of native Cork flowers.

Four storeys tall and overlooking a section of city's ancient walls, she represents the port city's rich history and is a symbol of the modern city.

Curated by The Walls Project, commissioned by Cork City Council

Strongman

This is a seanfhocail, an old Irish proverb, which translates as 'he who is not strong, must be wise'.

PROC in association with the Irish language organisation Gael Taca.

Rory Gallagher

A painting of the beloved local guitarist Rory Gallagher, born on 2nd March 1948 in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, but reared in Cork city. In 1972, Rory Gallagher topped the Melody Maker Guitarist of the Year Poll, ahead of contemporaries such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix - the award is represented on his headstone at his final resting place in St Oliver's Cemetery in Cork. The music section of the Central Library is named in his honour.

Collaboration between Kevin O'Brien for Mad About Cork and Cork City Library.

The Frank & The Walters

Taylor Swift wishing she was Tony Cochrane... a tribute to Irish Indie music demi-gods The Frank and Walters to mark the 20-year anniversary (2017) of the release of their second album Grand Parade.

Collaboration between Kevin O'Brien for Mad About Cork and The Frank & Walters.

Welcome to Cork - Brazilians

Cork City FC hero John Caulfield made 455 appearances for the club and then, as manager, led them to the FAI Premier Division cup and league double in 2017. He is painted here embracing Brazil's most famous son. Cork metaphorically embraces the many Brazilians who have settled in Cork. Bem-vindo a Cork!

Agnes Mary Clerke

Agnes Mary Clerke (1842 -1907) was an Irish astronomer and writer. She was a founder member of the British Astronomical Association and became an honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1903, before women could join. In 2017, the RAS established the Agnes Clerke Medal for the History of Astronomy or Geophysics. Agnes is one of only 32 women with a crater on the moon named after them (there are 1,578 named lunar craters).

Artist Kevin O'Brien for Mad About Cork, sponsored by CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory.

Welcome to Cork - Nigerians

PROC & artist Tom Doig pay tribute to Fela Kuti (1938-1997), a Nigerian musician and political activist with a small but strong fan base in Cork (including us!). The artist warmly welcomes, on behalf of the Real People's Republic, the many Nigerians that have made Cork their home in the last two decades.

The text on the back of the box says 'Welcome to Cork' in two of Nigeria's most popular languages, Yoruba and Hausa, as well as English and Irish.

Mary Elmes

A tribute to Cork-born Mary Elmes, scholar, linguist and heroine of two wars. ‘The Irish Oskar Schindler’, Elmes was a humanitarian worker during the Spanish Civil War and WW2. She and her colleagues established refuges in southern France in which they sheltered hundreds of Jewish children who they rescued from the occupying German forces. The city's newest bridge is named after her.

Artist Kevin O'Brien for Mad About Cork.

Welcome to Cork - New Zealanders

Nau Mai is the Māori for welcome. The headline news on the Evening Echo (now just The Echo) newspaper welcomes New Zealanders to the People's Republic of Cork.

PROC & artist Garreth Joyce.

Welcome to Cork - Polish

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543), Polish astronomer and mathematician known as the father of modern astronomy, proposed that the Sun is the center of the solar system and that the planets circle the Sun.

The image playfully suggests that if Copernicus had been fortunate enough to visit Cork, he would have revised his concept - the text reads: Welcome to Cork, the Centre of the Universe!

PROC & artist Garreth Joyce.

On High Alert

Asbestos, a well-respected Dublin artist, created this mural for Cork Graffiti Jam, organised by @mistertrixy in 2020. Asbestos explained that this “is another in a series of mask murals I’m doing. This mask has drawings on it by my childhood subconscious, an imaginary version of myself called Left Hand. He exists as an innocent and naive version of myself, who doodles thoughts of the past and snippets of the life he sees through my eyes.” (Brooklyn Street Art for more)

Chase

We can't find information about the artist but love the work!

Definition of Mint!

Cork slang, painted in the vibrant rebel red and white colours associated with the city. Fidelma's new car looks a bit retro, possibly a VW Beetle, but it's mint - it's cool!

Welcome to Cork - Australians

The Australian soap opera 'Home & Away' is a great favourite among the Irish and this street art features Alf Stewart (played by Ray Meagher) styled to look like Ireland's most famous hurler, Christy Ring (1920-1979), a very high tribute indeed! One side of the box says "Fáilte go Corcaigh" (Welcome to Cork) and the other side says "Ya Flamin' Galah" - one of Alf Stewart's famous catchphrases.

Welcome to Cork - Americans

PROC explain that they took "a recognisable icon of a country" and combined it with "something held dear by Corkonians. That'll be 1 x Marilyn Monroe and 1 x hurley, then!" Interestingly, in 2019 a global DNA project discovered Marilyn Monroe's had Irish roots with links to the Munro Clan from Southwest Ireland.