Major St. Brigid mural set to launch in Dunleer
The launch of a long awaited mural of St. Brigid in Dunleer is set to take place on November 1st on All Saints Day with refreshments afterwards in St. Brigids Hall nearby.
The launch of a Dunleer-based St. Brigid mural is set to take place on November 1st.
The artist Martin Maguire from Suntown, Dunleer took on the task of his first major outdoor mural with great acclaim from all who have seen it.
The main feature is St. Brigid with many different association historical pieces from around the area.
The mural has major historical significance in Dunleer, as legend has it that Brigid came to Dunleer in the 5th century and she was pursued by a suitor who was picked by her chieftain father as a future husband.
She had designs on the spiritual life and when he caught up with her in Dunleer she scratched at her eyes blinding her and taking away her beautiful good looks.
When he saw this, he went back to the Cooley Mountains. St. Brigids washed her eyes in the well in Dunleer and by a miracle she restored her sight and looks and continued her journey.
As the project progressed a short video was taken by a passerby who put it up on social media. It has gone far and wide and to date it has received more than 250,000 hits.
During the four- week period it took to paint it, because of social media coverage, many families came to visit with their children with some from surrounding counties.
Martin encouraged and asked them to paint a few flowers in the meadow at the bottom of the mural.
To date there have been over 200 adults and children who added their flowers to the mural.
The mural stands 60 ft long and two stories high.
The launch will start at 12.30pm with refreshments afterwards in St. Brigids Hall nearby.
To begin the ceremony there will be an address by the Chairman of Dunleer Tidy Towns Edmund Matthews.
This will be followed by the story behind the Mural by Pat Roche PRO and Project Manager Dunleer Tidy Towns.
The artist, Martin Maguire, will speak about his experience of painting his first major mural and tell us about the involvement of over 200 people who came to participate in it.
The event will end with some readings and the blessing from Fr Damien Quigley Parish Priest, Dunleer.