Ardú Street Art project returned to Cork city this month, October 2021, with some of the country’s most exciting street artists to brighten up the city’s streets.

Ardú have commissioned artwork from home grown talent of the highest level with this year’s edition featuring four large-scale murals, three of which were completed in the first two weeks of October. 

The first mural completed in this initiative was the Goddess Clíodhna, by Northern Ireland based artist Friz, at St. Finbarr’s Road, Cork.

Speaking about her mural, Friz introduces Clíodhna “A celtic deity who, in some stories, is the patron of Cork. She was the daughter of the sea god Manannan Mac Lir and thus is associated with the sea also. Some tales say she has three songbirds who accompany her, and when they sing it lulls people to sleep. When they wake, they are healed of any ailments they had."

Clíodhna is said to have fallen in love with a mortal and upon falling asleep near the shore one day her father sent a wave to carry her home. In some versions she is drowned. It is certainly worth keeping this story in mind when you visit Friz' mural. If you look closely you might just see a subtle tear in the eye of Cork's newest deity. 

Those that have had the privilege of admiring the divine mosaic floor and Harry Clarke's stained glass windows in the Honan chapel at UCC may remark that there seems to be an echo of these beautiful colours and patterns in Friz's mural. This is no coincidence as the artist used Clarke's Saint Gobnait window as inspiration for her design. 

Pat McDonnell Paints recognise the importance of supporting the communities within which it trades and are honoured to have been asked to support this initiative through the sponsorship of the paint used to create these beautiful works of art on the streets of Cork city.