Ossory Youth | mickminoguemadethis

Ossory Bridge

This Is how the wall looked before the project. A popular area beside the river for walkers and fishermen has been stigmatised by antisocial behaviour.

I don't know which was more fun, painting a mural on a 70ft wall or driving a cherry picker for a few days. Photo by Ross Costigan

The mural Is perfectly centered under the bridge arch. A delightful accident that looks great from the far side of the river. ' Photo by Ross Costigan

Colourful, tidy and fresh. I held a work shop with the little legends from Ossory Youth to show them how to use a can of spray paint to paint and not vandalise. We tidied the area of all litter as we worked.

The mural near completion before the youth group took control of the bottom half.

Me and the gang.

The official launch with friends, Major and Gardai. A really great day under the bridge.

Kilkenny's Major fixing the project plaque to the wall and officially launching the project for Comhairle na nóg.

Ossory Youth Mural

In late 2011 I was invited to Ossory Youth In Kilkenny to coordinate a graffiti based workshop for Comhairle na nόg. The aim of the workshop was to create a large mural under Ossory Bridge and transform an area that had been stigmatised by anti social behaviour. Our aim

was to present graffiti In a new light showing the public how constructive it can be and enlighten forgotten areas In a community. We wanted to take an artform that sometimes taints the youth of today and engage the public with It In an inspiring way.

The mural depicts a child 'innocently' colouring In the wall so no matter what vandalism is created the Youth will always clean It up. Through our actions and regeneration of the area, the wall Is now a designated graffiti wall for other youth groups to work on once they respect the area around them.

On the 21st of April 2012 the project was officially launched by the major of Kilkenny due to the amazing determination and spirit of an amazing group of young folk.

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