If you’ve seen it in person, it will be no surprise that it is the tallest mural in the whole country of Ireland. One of Seek Dundalk’s latest projects, this work of art celebrates Celtic mythology dating back centuries.
Who is behind it?
The mural is part of Co. Louth’s SEEK urban arts festival, which is in its third year. Dozens of other murals have been painted around the town in recent years.
Collaborating with Australian-born artist & gentleman Sam “Smug” Bates, this artwork depicts Lú, God of Light. A member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Lú is portrayed as a warrior, a king, a master craftsman and a saviour.
The artist has built a reputation for painting murals on a grand scale and he believes that this may be his biggest piece yet.
About Lú, God of Light
In mythology, Lú is the son of Cian and Ethniu. He is the maternal grandson of the Fomorian tyrant Balor, whom Lú kills in the Battle of Mag Tuired. His foster-father is the sea god Manannán. Lú’s son is the hero Cú Chulainn, who is believed to be an incarnation of Lú.
In this painting, the bearded Lú is armed with a blue-coloured spear in one hand, a sword in the other and a wolfhound at his feet.
The artist’s process
Completed over the course of 10 days, this piece is some of Smug’s finest work. The artist used almost two hundred and fifty cans of spray paint and just under two hundred litres of emulsion paint to complete the mural.
For the Australian artist, painting at such heights is something he has grown accustomed to, however he admitted the wind can sometimes play havoc. We joked about some close encounters he has had with drones over the years, citing the elements as the main source of any mishap.
You would imagine that it’s been a busy site over the course of the two weeks or so, but the entire car park was truly jammed with locals and tourists alike. It really had to be seen to be believed. One thing is for sure, this artwork has brought the populous together, even to watch in awe for just a moment.
This artwork really is a sight to behold from hundreds of metres, thanks to its elevated position (41m) on the side of the high-rise Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Sky Lark’s Role
Of course, you must be thinking what this has got to do with Sky Lark? Well, we started filming Smug’s progress from about halfway in. Working with Martin McElligott from Dundalk BIDS, we wanted to capture Smug’s process from the air.
It was a challenging project as there were many moving parts, particularly filming from the air. As a certified and IAA Approved drone pilot, I always ensure to adhere to IAA guidelines on safe flying practices, taking precautions to plan flight paths ahead of time. This is a crucial part of the risk assessment process, considering the large crowds drawn to the mural at all hours of the day, not to mention the busy road in close proximity and, of course, respecting privacy of hotel guests.
Congratulations to Martin McElligot and his team on a hugely successful project.
Video
Take a look at the video below to see the process from production to finished article, filmed from the air.