Artist Offers To Restore Vandalised Mural On Arklow’s School Lane

A much-loved mural in Arklow’s School Lane has been vandalised, sparking disappointment across the community, but support is already building to restore the artwork to its original glory.

The mural, created by students and teachers from Arklow CBS in collaboration with Arklow Tidy Towns, was a Climate Action-themed piece that not only brightened the laneway but also won County Awards for its powerful message and striking design.

The project was a labour of love for the CBS art faculty, with students putting in countless hours of work to clean, plan, and paint the wall. The school’s art department funded the materials, and the result was a vibrant and meaningful mural that quickly became a point of pride for the local community.

Following the act of vandalism, Arklow Tidy Towns expressed their dismay:

“So disappointed to see this deliberate damage. We do have a very generous offer from Syl Walsh to help restore the award-winning mural, which students and teachers from Arklow CBS put so much thought, time and effort into creating on this much-used School Lane.”

That generous offer to restore the mural free of charge has been met with widespread appreciation. Artist Syl Walsh stepped forward voluntarily, vowing to help bring the mural back to life.

The incident has sparked a conversation about valuing public art and recognising the work of young people who contribute to their town in meaningful ways.