Spotted it? Dubliners woke up to a new mural today for #IWD2016
We’ve been staring longingly at the blank gable-end wall on the corner of George’s St and Dame St since Joe Caslin’s Marriage Equality mural was washed away by rain back in May. And finally, ten months on, the space has been filled again – for a very good reason.
A new mural appeared on the wall above Rick’s Burgers overnight in honour of International Women’s Day and the 1916 Rising.
Created by Irish artist Gearóid Ó’Dea, the 10m high street art installation features three women who each played a pivotal part in the Easter Rising: Countess Markievicz, Margaret Pearse and Grace Gifford-Plunkett.
The piece was drawn in full colour using pencils and watercolours by Gearóid, before being digitally reproduced on a large scale for the purpose of the mural.
In choosing the three subjects, Gearóid says he wanted to reflect all sides of Irish history, the good and the bad.
unreal mural by @gearoidodea to celebrate #iwd2016 and the 1916 centenerary pic.twitter.com/KiBjEhd9ml
— fíodhna horan-murphy (@fiodhna_hm) March 8, 2016
“I feel that, taken together, each of these women strike a balance. Each played a different kind of role in the Rising. Some are well remembered, others not.”
The image shows the three women woven together by strands of their hair, something which Gearóid considers an important piece of symbolism.
"For me, the texture of the hair suggests a toughness, a gentleness, and something more mysterious. Hair was an important symbol in Celtic mythology, empowering and magical. As a composing element in this piece, it feels right."
Check out the new piece now – before the rain gets to it.