Colourful makeover

THE walls of Clondalkin Leisure Centre are getting a colourful makeover, with a mural painted on the wall of the old swimming pool as part of a local youthreach centre project.

Staff from the Youthreach YES (Youth Education & Support) Centre in Clondalkin have transformed the plain walls on the outside of the old swimming pool into vibrant interesting pieces of artwork that were inspired by the student’s sketches.

Art Teachers at the YES Centre, Emma Blake, Martina Keogh and PJ O’Connell have been revamping the wall over the last couple of weeks as part of their summer programme.

The walls painted at the Clondalkin Leisure Centre

The YES Centre offers young people aged 16-20 education and support based on their individual needs. Art teacher at the centre Emma Blake, a talented street artist from Tallaght, has become well known for her murals across Dublin, especially during the last 16 months throughout the pandemic.

Speaking with The Echo about the inspiration for the new murals in Clondalkin, Emma said it was a collaboration between the students and the staff: “The students spent the last week coming up with concepts and sketching ideas for the wall.

“They decided on a few different themes for the pieces, including positive mental health, the environment, local pride and playing with illusion and perspective. It’s been great to see the students working together as a team on the wall.”

In total, the murals took two weeks to complete, with the team finishing up on Wednesday, July 14.

“We spent a few days last week priming the wall and sketching the designs up, and this week we’re spending a few days getting it all painted. We had started a smaller piece on the end of the wall last year, and then the pandemic hit, and the centre closed so we didn’t get to finish it – we just had the background done.

“So, we’re delighted to get that piece finished now, as well as getting more pieces painted the whole way along the wall,” said Emma.