Local artists have brought added colour to Ballycastle through an innovative project delivered by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
Lamp post banners, featuring original artwork created by residents of the town, have gone on display, highlighting the heritage, cultural and sporting aspects which make it a special place for locals and visitors alike.
The designs were selected following a competition which aimed to demonstrate civic pride and connect the popular seafront area with the town’s main commercial centre. The project was initiated following discussions with Ballycastle Chamber of Commerce and Ballycastle Community Development Group.
The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Councillor Sean Bateson said: “It is wonderful to see this town centre project bring together the business community and local residents to create such a colourful visual installation. The street banners reflect the wide variety of local people, culture and heritage that makes Ballycastle such a unique town. I would like to congratulate all those who took part and encourage everyone to visit Ballycastle to enjoy its distinct streetscape and atmosphere.”
The competition attracted over 100 entries, with an independent judging panel having the difficult task of picking the overall winners. The youngest artist was seven-year-old Bena Breslin whose artwork featured a view of Bonamargy Friary and Knocklayde mountain, while three pupils from Cross and Passion College were also successful.
In addition to Bena’s artwork, the banners feature a range of people and places connected to Ballycastle including the pioneering work of Guglielmo Marconi, Irish Home Industries, the Ould Lammas Fair and hurling. The town’s maritime connections are reflected with an image of the former Coastguard tower while some of the legends and mythology associated with Ballycastle are evident including an image of Princess Taisie and the Children of Lir. Alongside these, there are three Council designs which showcase the O’Connor monument in the Diamond, a multilingual ‘Welcome’ sign and a message promoting the ‘Shop, Eat, Enjoy Local’ brand.
Julienne Elliott, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Town and Village Manager said: “We were keen to involve the local community in creating a project which complemented our work to create vibrancy within our town centres. The enthusiasm shown by the people of Ballycastle, the incredible talent of the local artists and the cooperation of the local business organisations has resulted in the successful production of these street dressing banners which complement the town so well.”
The banners will remain on display until the end of September. They will then be taken down for the winter season and returned to public display in time for Easter next year.
All of the artists involved, and the names of their designs, are detailed in the table below
