WALL ART: A new art project has gone on display in the town. Pictured were: Yvonne Quill and Kathleen Gleeson (Killarney Looking Good), Killarney Community College students Caoimhe Fogarty, Ben Cussen, David Breen, Cian Hughes with teachers Michelle Mahony and Doirin Duggan, and Cllr Michael Gleeson (Killarney Looking Good). Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

Local students alongside the Killarney Looking Good Committee (KLG) unveiled their colourful and very creative art piece in the town centre on Monday morning.

Located in Chapel Lane, students and teachers from Killarney Community College proudly stood beside their ceramic tiles work which depicts the Muckross Abbey window, on the wall in the lane way.

The project, by the then Fifth Years, began in October 2019 but was subsequently delayed as a result of COVID-19 and has only now been installed in recent days.

Art teacher Michelle Mahony created a design based on one of the windows in Muckross Abbey and only revealed it to the students once the piece was finished.

"KGL had seen other pieces of our work and approached the school to see if we'd like to create something for the lane way to brighten it up," Michelle told the Killarney Advertiser.

The project themes chosen were nature, our local environment, Killarney’s heritage and when creating their tiles, students had to leave some areas plain and glazed completely white.

They then made 170 individual ceramic tiles using fresh clay, with each tile glazed using an array of colours and fired in the kiln twice.

The project was funded through the Community Enhancement Programme of the Department of Rural and Community Development.

"We wanted something to connect with Killarney town. I chose a window from Muckross Abbey and the students didn't know what the design was. The lane way was chosen by KLG because being called Chapel Lane it has religious connections."

Yvonne Quill from the Killarney Looking Good Committee added that they are delighted to have worked with Michelle and the art department in Killarney Community College on the project.

"Each tile is a mini artwork in itself with the detail that students added," she said.

"The project was also aided by an SNA in the school who is also a ceramic artist Doirin Duggan. The installation at this location is appropriate given the ecclesiastical links to the lane."