Impressive murals unveiled in the grounds of a Waterford hospital this week

Two impressive mural pieces in the grounds of a Waterford hospital have been unveiled this week. 

The HSE/South East Community Healthcare and the Waterford Walls project have unveiled the results of the collobarative murals initiative.

In recent months, local users of the mental health services (under guidance of the service’s Rehabilitation and Recovery team members) have been working with Dublin based illustrator and mural artist Juliette Viodé. Together, they have produced two colourful pieces on walls at the Grangemore residential facility, which is located on the grounds of St. Otteran’s Hospital in Waterford.   

HSE mental health management and staff, service user particpants in the project and their family members and representatives of Waterford Walls and the artist gathered at a reception in Grangemore this week to launch the completed works. Music on the occasion was provided by the Waterford Healing Arts Trust. The murals depict scenery around the Metal Man martitme beacons in Tramore.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Darran Flynn (Clinical Director, Waterford/Wexford Mental Health Services) said:

“For us in the HSE, this is a very exciting co-production project between the clients in Grangemore, Waterford Walls and artist  Juliette Viodé.”

“Those of us working in the mental health services in the South East have been very impressed by what emanates from the annual Waterford Walls Festival each August. In addition to an obvious and beautifully vibrant stamp on various locations around Waterford, we were also aware of the project’s  artistic exchanges and collaborations focused on connecting diverse people and communities.”

“HSE/South East Community Healthcare were delighted when an opportunity arose to put together a programme that enabled our mental health service users to forge their creative expression. As shown in this programme, colour is a powerful tool to convey emotions in visual art.”

Juliette Viodé mural works in Waterford include those on the gable end of Lisduggan library and another on Stephen St.. Her clients and collaborators have included Dublin City Council, RTE Trinity College Dublin, major festivals like Waterford Walls and Upfest and international street art superstar Zabou.

In 2022, over 30 national and international artists created large scale mural artworks around Waterford City and the surrounding areas as part of the Waterford Walls Festival, which consisted of 10 days of live art, music, workshops, guided tours and much more.

The 9th annual staging of Waterford Walls, Ireland’s largest International Street Art Festival, will take place August 11th to 20th, 2023.