St Patrick’s Way and Art Trail Skerries

Skerries Art Trail was developed by Fingal County Council’s Public Art Programme and Arts Office. The commissioning process began with an Open Call by Fingal Arts Office in 2016 inviting Artists to be part of a Public Art Panel of Artists for future commission opportunities.

Five artists from this Panel were selected to create a series of small-scale public art commissions, which have now been installed along the seafront walks in Skerries.

Fingal’s Public Art Programme was particularly keen to select Artists who had not worked in the area of public art practice before.

The commissioning process included a number of Artists Professional Development supports, including a partnership between Fingal’s Public Art Programme and Leitrim Sculpture Centre.

The Skerries Artists were supported through a Joint Residency for two weeks at Leitrim Sculpture Centre, which included a range of masterclasses where they worked intensively with a group of highly experienced Leitrim and Regional Artists, exploring hands on technical skills and materials, such as stone carving, metalwork including pouring molten bronze and aluminium, enamel work, mould making etc.

The overall feedback from the Skerries Artists on the residency partnership was quite positive, especially as it was designed to be open and flexible as a research residency, informed by each Artists’ practice, more so than being specifically linked to what they might go on to develop for Skerries Art Trail. The artists were briefed on the scope of the trail experience, through local research and how new works might integrate into an already breath-taking landscape. Each artists response is different and has picked up on the feeling or the pace of the trail in that they encourage discovery, reflection,rest, enjoyment and play; all of the things that make Skerries an attractive Destination Town.

We are continuing to develop meaningful public engagement with the new works and have developed an Autism Friendly Map and Social Story with the help of the Skerries Autism Friendly Town Network and renowned Autistic Illustrator  and advocate Aoife Dooley.

Information is included below on each of the new Skerries Art Trail commissions, including –

• Artist’s Name – Title – Materials – Dimensions (H x W x D) – Location
• All artworks were developed during 2022-2023

Photo Credits

• Photos by Shane O'Neill (Coalesce)

For further information please contact:

Caroline Cowley

Public Art Co-ordinator

Fingal Arts Office

Fingal County Council

E            [email protected]

M           087 120 1924