The screening of a documentary about how a Portlaoise mural came about took place at the Dunamaise Arts Centre recently.
The ‘Our Culture Matters’ mural, painted beneath the dome at Laois School of Music, was a collaboration between Laois Traveller Action Group and Portlaoise Community Policing Unit.
Young people within the group worked with community Gardaí and popular street artist Madderdoit to see the project to fruition.
The documentary, filmed by Ann Marie Kelly, follows the creative process and explains how the mural represents key features of their values and culture.
Jules Fitzpatrick, Community Development Officer with Laois Travellers Action Group, previously explained how the group works to help foster relationships with community policing gardaí, for the youths to get to know them and build trust.
There were twelve youths involved in the project aged from nine to sixteen.
“Young traveller members of the group feel downtrodden, they say that they go to school and don’t feel that their culture is seen or heard,” Ms Fitzpatrick explained.
“It can be quite tough facing a lot of discrimination and exclusion out there, it’s through generations of difficulties. We formed a focus group with them and asked them what they wanted to see on the mural, and we all sat down with gardaí.
“The kids said that they wanted to have something in the town that represents them. They said that they have noticed representations of different communities around Portlaoise, and that they aren’t represented,” she said.
After weeks of workshops and preparations, the group spent two days painting the stunning artwork.
This project was supported by Creative Ireland Laois, Laois Offaly Local Creative Youth Partnership and Laois Sports Partnership.
1. Chief Superintendent Anthony Lonergan speaking at Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, during the screening of a documentary about the ‘Our Culture Matters’ mural, a collaboration between Laois Traveller Action Group and Portlaoise Community Policing Unit.
Picture: Jeff Harvey
2. Alaska McDonnagh, Kaycelee McDonnagh and Alison Ward at Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, during the screening of a documentary about the ‘Our Culture Matters’ mural.
Picture: Jeff Harvey
3. Jolen Nevin, Shenice Nevin and Noreen Nevin at Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, during the screening of a documentary about the ‘Our Culture Matters’ mural, a collaboration between Laois Traveller Action Group and Portlaoise Community Policing Unit.
Picture: Jeff Harvey
4. Casiemae Donoghoe, Rihanna Donoghoe, Tiara Donoghoe, Mariah Donoghoe, Lexie Donoghoe and Noreen Donoghoe at Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, during the screening of a documentary about the ‘Our Culture Matters’ mural, a collaboration between Laois Traveller Action Group and Portlaoise Community Policing Unit.
Picture: Jeff Harvey