Baboró Announce Extension for Our City Walls

‘Our City Walls’, a mural commissioned as part of Baboró’s 25th anniversary festival in October 2021, has been granted an extension by Galway City Council to remain in place for a further 6 months.

The joyful, eye-catching mural, located at Quay Lane, was painted by internationally recognised Irish visual artist Emmalene Blake as part of Baboró’s 25th celebrations. The aim of the project was to instill in local children an awareness of their rights, including the right to play and participate in cultural events, as well as boost pride in their community.

"We are thrilled that Emmalene Blake's gift to Galway, a beautiful large scale mural, will continue to animate the space at Quay Lane," said Aislinn Ó hEocha, Executive Artistic Director of Baboró. "Inspired by Galway children, I hope that this bright artwork will go on to inspire thousands of children and young people this year and remind them of their fundamental right to enjoy and participate in the creative arts."

Input from young Galway residents informed the mural’s design. Local artist Phillida Eves invited students from Galway city centre to share how they feel about their rights, what they like to do in their free time and to imagine what life would be like without art and culture. The resulting design by Emmalene Blake was inspired by the children’s insights, reflections and drawings.

The mural will continue to be on display until the end of Baboró’s 2022 festival which is taking place this year from the 14th-23rd of October.

‘Our City Walls’ was funded and supported by Aerogen and co-commissioned by the TRACKS Network, comprised of Baboró, Dublin Fringe Festival, Cork Midsummer Festival.

Artist Emmalene Blake is perhaps best known for her striking, large scale murals which have appeared across Ireland and abroad in recent years. Her work is frequently socio-political, with recurring themes such as human rights, environmental issues, inequality, feminism, as well as pop culture and humour. She strongly believes in the power of public art as a means of reflecting the world and of engaging the wider public in conversations about culture and society.

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