Dundalk's SEEK Urban Arts Festival announces further artists

Returning for its fifth year, SEEK Urban Arts Festival will welcome acclaimed street artists from around the world to Dundalk this summer.

The festival kicks off on Saturday 1st July, promising a week-long celebration of art and culture in the town.

Year on year, the festival aspires to reconnect Dundalk to unique stories from our historical past, and 2023 will be no exception.

This year SEEK will explore themes around Dundalk’s traditional railway industry, our myths and legends, our beautiful geographic location, and our feisty womenfolk!

SEEK Urban Arts Festival returning to Dundalk in July

Lastest SEEK mural described as a 'milestone' for Dundalk

The festival has already revealed that the award winning Studio Giftig will bring the story of Roesia de Verdun to life, and today it is delighted to announce that Mack Signs will work on a project celebrating the long and rich railway heritage of the town.

Working with Dundalk Railway Society and Louth Archives Services, the artist will have access to some of the amazing blueprints for the engines and carriages designed and made at ‘the works’ here in Dundalk.

In particular, he will be inspired by the Slieve Donard steam engine and the story behind its design and manufacture.

The site for this mural is the striking newly-built Coláiste Cuchulainn and the students at the school will have an opportunity to engage with the creative process while the mural is being made.

Creative Spark Print Studio will provide an insight into the magic of blueprints with a series of cyanotype workshops at the school.

There is something for everyone at the festival this year as the hugely popular children’s creative workshops and free festival guided walking tours will also take place during the week.

This festival is spearheaded by a partnership of Dundalk BIDS and Creative Spark, and receives key funding and sponsorship from Creative Ireland and Colourtrend.

It would not be possible without the support and input from many local community, voluntary and business organisations, making it a truly community-driven event for our town.

Brendan McQuaid, ex-Dundalk Station Master, and President of Dundalk Railway Heritage Society, said: “We at the Heritage Society are delighted to be involved in this project in remembering GNR(1) S Class 4-4-0 engine 172 Slieve Donard which was built at Dundalk in 1938, and are delighted to be involved with SEEK Urban Arts Festival.”

Sarah Daly and the team at Creative Spark are really looking forward to Seek Urban Arts Festival 2023 and excited to be bringing even more creative opportunities to children, teens and adults when they bring a little part of Creative Spark on tour to the Market Square on the weekends of the festival.

Check out the festival website for more details; times, dates and booking information will be added over the coming weeks. www.seekdundalk.ie