Urban Horse herd outside for People’s Park

by Rose Rushe

SOME 800 people will have worked on the Urban Herd City of Culture project that will showcase on Culture Night, Friday September 19 in People’s Park. Arts page brought you news in June of the massive scale of works. A team of four professionals led by Limerick Corridor Art Co’s Angela Connelly created a score of fibreglass moulds, going hammer, tongs and solvents in the cavernous building left vacant by Cahill May Roberts at Bank Place.
Fifteen of these colourful beauties (heir and spares put to grass) are now primed by multiple city groups, ages eight to 65, for viewing, pawing and some bareback riding by hardy young souls who will delight in this arty, fabulous stable once public.
“Pat Cox, chairman of City of Culture, will do the launch for us on Culture Night at 6pm,” confirms artistic director Angela Connelly. “We plan to keep all of them for a week in People’s Park and then bring five to Clare Street Park, another five to Shelbourne Park and display more horses at Shannon Airport.
“We are looking then to platform the Urban Herd at Jetland, Castletroy and Parkway Shopping Centres until the end of December. What is planned for October is to run workshops in Crescent and Parkway Shopping Centres on animal awareness and art.”
A team of 90 from Castletroy College managed to complete two original equine stunners, as did Salesian College. Ard Scoil Rís has the school tie and jersey on its saddle and “Limerick Youth Service, an adult and child group working under Ann Cronin, based theirs on patchwork quilts, using paper designs for découpage and painted florals”. It is beyond beautiful.
The Learning Hub, Roxboro Community Development group, Bedford Family Support group and more are part of the almighty crew, Fab Lab included, that has grown Urban Herd from Limerick Corridor Arts’ Horse Outside [The Hunt Museum] to lasting works that will grace parks and recreation. Individual emblems, designs and motifs give the art a resonance that provokes exploration.
“I got great support from all the school principals, youth clubs and organisations involved in the project,” Connelly is quick to make clear.
Funding from City of Culture has made it possible and the legacy project will enhance Limerick for years to come. There are more horseshoes irons in the fire. “The learning and engagement from the kids is terrific, they want it so. Horses are the key to everyone, young and old.”
Next stirrup hup, People’s Park on Culture Night, September 19, 6pm.