New mural on Offaly town attracting much attention

AN eye catching mural on the Harbour Road in Banagher is attracting a lot of attention from passers by since it was completed recently.

The idea for the mural sprung from a Banagher born and raised man – Ray Flannery who said “I was straining the potatoes one day inside the window and I remembered hitting a hurling ball against a wall across the road from my house here and listening to the sounds of the barges going up and down the Shannon loaded with goods for delivery to the various business in the town, so I just thought, wouldn’t it be lovely to do a mural of a barge pulling in and getting ready to unload its cargo,” he said.

The wall was a pebble dashed wall which had to be totally cleaned down and re-plastered for the mural. Ray said that when he mentioned the idea of a mural on the wall to people, several volunteered their time and materials to preparing the wall for the mural. “So many people thought the idea was a lovely one,” said Ray. “I ran a table quiz which was a great success and that was supplemented with donations by business people and individuals in the town,” he said.

The next stage was securing a suitable artist so Ray approached local lady Lisa Glynn from nearby Lusmagh. Lisa is well known locally, having exhibited her work in many places including Birr Theatre, Crank House Banagher, Burgess, Luan Gallery Athlone, Ballinasloe Libary and Workshop Portumna.

A self taught artist, inspired by local scenes and portraiture working in a variety of mediums, Lisa was thrilled to be involved in this her first major mural and was delighted to be working with the local community in Banagher. She juggles her busy family life as a single parent of a 17 year old son Rian and a 14 year old daughter Kate, with her work as an artist. “I like to work expressively with a painting knife and I don’t use aerosols sprays,” she said.

The mural took a bit of time to do, but it was well worth the effort when one sees the end results. Lisa Glynn also gives painting classes from beginner to advanced. If anyone would like further information on Lisa Glynn’s work, she can be contacted at (087) 321 7089.

Ray wished to thank everyone who helped and supported him over the last number of months with the mural project. He paid thanks to all who attended the fundraising Table Quiz in Banagher in Eugene Flynn’s Bar and thanks also to the businesses and individuals who gave donations to cover the cost of the project. Thanks to Offaly Local Development Fund for the individual support and also to Conor from Birr Theatre & Arts Centre for his assistance and help.

Finally making it a total community effort many thanks to local artist Lisa Glynn for her outstanding work painting the mural and her beautiful depiction of a scene from many years ago on the River Shannon at the bridge in Banagher. A scene that is still in the living memory of people in the town.

The lovely mural is a credit to everyone involved but in particular to Ray himself who recognised the need in the first place for the mural and then painstakingly undertaking the task of getting the much needed help and financial support that was needed for the project.
There’s no doubt that this Mural will boost the Banagher Tidy Towns marks as this wonderful work of art has been turning heads and attracting admirers since the day it was finished.