Limerick’s urban birdlife celebrated with Wildlife Walls at Watergate Flats

New Wildlife Wall Celebrates Limerick’s Urban Birdlife at Watergate Flats. Attending the unveiling of Limerick Wildlife Walls Summer Visitors at Watergate were from left Neal Boyle Senior Executive Engineer at Limerick City and County Council, Sineád McDonnell, Biodiversity Officer, Limerick City & Co. Council, Seán Considine, Executive Engineer, Limerick City and County Council, Lulu OHHI, street mural artist, David Healy, senior executive engineer, Limerick City and County Council, Catherine Halloran, Founder and Managing Director of Limerick City Build, Draw Out and Brendan Kidney, senior engineer, Limerick City and County Council, Photograph Liam Burke/Press 22

A striking new mural at Watergate Flats has been unveiled as part of Limerick’s Wildlife Walls celebrating urban birdlife

A striking new mural, unveiled as part of the Limerick Wildlife Walls initiative, at Watergate Flats celebrates four of Ireland’s most iconic summer visitors: the Swift, Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin.

Created by Draw Out’s artist in residence, Louise Keely, the mural highlights these remarkable birds, known for their aerial acrobatics and long-distance migrations, while encouraging greater awareness of the species that share our towns and cities.

This project was delivered through a collaboration between Limerick City and County Council’s Housing Construction and Maintenance Department, the Biodiversity Office, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and creative partners Draw Out.

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The mural not only enhances the visual appeal of the Watergate Flats area but also serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting urban biodiversity. Swifts, swallows and martins depend on buildings for nesting, yet their populations are under increasing pressure due to habitat loss and changes in building practices.

Speaking about the project, Limerick City and County Council Biodiversity Officer, Sinead Mc Donnell, said, “The Wildlife Walls project brings art and biodiversity together in a way that connects people with nature in their everyday lives. This mural celebrates species that many of us see every summer but may not fully recognise or understand. By highlighting them in this way, we hope to foster appreciation and encourage their protection.”

The Limerick Wildlife Walls initiative continues to grow, transforming public spaces and raising awareness of local wildlife and biodiversity conservation.

Limerick City and County Council thanked BirdWatch Ireland for the photographs which inspired the artwork.

Members of the public are encouraged to look out for these distinctive birds across Limerick during the summer months. This project reflects Limerick City and County Council’s ongoing commitment to supporting biodiversity, in line with national actions under the National Biodiversity Action Plan.

The Wildlife Walls initiative lends itself to a new mural trail in Limerick with residents and visitors invited to follow along and enjoy the art while discovering some of the city’s wildflide.

Starting on Island Road, a mural depicts a Lesser Horseshoe Bat, followed by a Green Hairstreak Butterfly in the same area; at Grove Island, those following the trail will meet a trio of Dragonflies. At the junction of Athlunkard Street and Island Road, a large-scale urban fox symbolises the presence of wildlife within the city and on Thomas Street, a mural of a siskin, a native finch, draws attention to urban bird wildlife around us.

Finally, the Swift, Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin at Watergate Flats is the latest large-scale mural within the series.

Wildlife Walls is a public art initiative led by Limerick City and County Council in collaboration with urban art organisation Draw Out and supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service Local Authority Biodiversity Fund. The project transforms city walls into large-scale murals celebrating Limerick’s native wildlife, with a particular focus on lesser-known or under-threat species. By bringing these species into the urban environment, Wildlife Walls aims to raise awareness of biodiversity, highlight the importance of healthy ecosystems, and create a vibrant, accessible “wildlife trail” throughout the city that encourages people to look more closely at the natural world around them.