The TY students of a Laois secondary school came together last week to create a beautiful mural on Main Street in Portlaoise.
The new library is currently being constructed on the site of the old Shaws Department Store in the town.
And like all building sites – it wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing to look at.
But that was before the TY students from Portlaoise CBS – under the guidance of teachers Ms Sarah Williams and Ms Ruth Williams – got their hands on it.
With paint kindly sponsored by Crowne Paints, they got out their brushes and brightened it up.
Aidan Keane, Tim Norton, Michael Whyte, Noel Soosay, Gary Young O’Shea, Bola Atanda, Evan Caffrey and Conor Browne were the students who took part and they have received high praise for their efforts.
Portlaoise Tidy Towns: “TY students from CBS Portlaoise painting a beautiful mural on the hoarding around the new library under the guidance of art teacher Ruth Williams and Sarah Williams.
“Well done CBS it looks amazing. It’s great to see the young people of the town involved in community projects.
“Aidan Keane, Tim Norton, Michael Whyte, Noel Soosay, Gary Young O Shea, Bola Atanda, Evan Caffrey, Conor Browne – All these students Love Where They Live.”
While Lilly’s Bar, who are situated right beside the building site, also thanked the lads and provided them with donuts.
They said: “What a talented bunch of legends!! The lads have turned a Main Street eyesore into a masterpiece!
“The St Mary’s CBS Portlaoise TY and Art Coordinators were really up for this project and we think the town looks a hell of a lot better as a result!
“A huge thanks must go to Gary and Peter in Crown Paints Ireland Portlaoise for sponsoring the paint! We treated the lads to some well deserved Wandering Elk Donuts today and we are delighted to sponsor a prize for art student of the year in the school.”
While Ms Sarah Williams added: “The art department were approached by Kieran Lillis of Lilly’s bar and kitchen with the intent to design a colourful mural that would disguise the hoarding.
“With all the paint and materials being sponsored by Gary and Peter O’Neill of Crown Paints Portlaoise and Lilly’s Bar and Kitchen, a group of TY students got to work.
“Over the course of the week the students transformed the weatherbeaten wooden hoarding into patchwork of bright colours that reflect the colours of the buildings that surround it.”
Check out some great pictures below:
