Write a comment
The finishing touches will be made tomorrow (weather permitting) to the latest mural to grace the walls of Newry, the creation of talented street artist Jonny McKerr from Lurgan. Known as JMK. Jonny was also the artist behind the Canal Street mural in 2022.
The brainchild of community group Newry 2020, the mural was part of this years Iúr Cinn Fleadh and is the second mural to be commissioned by the group. Funding for the project was kindly provided by Newry Business Improvement District and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
The art covers the gable wall of Stephen Begley & Co Solicitors on Merchants Quay in the City. It illustrates the legends of Fionn mac Cumhaill and his connections to Slieve Gullion. Fionn unfortunately aged incredibly quick when he was tricked into jumping into the Cailleach Beara's lake at the top of Slieve Gullion to retrieve a ring. When he came back down (and this was before the easy route down the lovely stepped path) he wasn't even recognised by his own people the Fianna, but thankfully his trusty wolfhounds Bran and Sceólang knew his smell ok and managed to get his youth returned to him, although his hair allegedly did need a bit of colour from then on!
Slieve Gullion and the hounds feature on the mural as does the hazel tree complete with hazel nuts - the first thing to come into existence according to this particular myth. Look close and you'll also see An Bradán Feasa otherwise known as the Salmon of Knowledge who, obviously, as salmon are inclined to do, ate the hazelnuts from the tree and hence gained all the knowledge of the world.
The next bit of the legend is a bit difficult to swallow mind you, as you would think that any Salmon with all the knowledge of the world would know how not to get caught - but caught he was and by a poet, not a fisherman called Finnegas who then got a young lad called Deimne Maol (known as Fionn to his friends!) to cook it for him.
Fionn's burnt his thumb on the Salmon as he was cooking it and he then put his thumb in his mouth to sooth it, thus transferring all that knowledge, and the responsibility that would come with it to himself, and as they say the rest is history.
Garry McElherron from Newry 2020 said "Fionn Mac Cumhaill is a legacy piece of Iur Cinn Fleadh. Each Fleadh we will create a trademark piece of art in the town to mark the event, something to do with both Newry and Irish history.
"I'd like to thank the artist Jonny McKerr, Stephen Begley & Co for contributing their wall, Kelly Brothers who were very helpful in sourcing a cherry picker and finallyNewry BID and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council who without their funding this project would not have happened."
Newry 2020 are continually on the look out for suitable walls around the city. If you own a business and would like your wall to be adorned by some stunning art, get in touch with us lot at Newry.ie either via facebook or email news@newry.ie and we will pass your details on.
