Unfurl 

“Unfurl” is a site-specific public artwork for Claregalway, Co. Galway. The inspiration for this public art project comes from the song The N17 by the Sawdoctors. The lyrics of the song with the lines “Stone walls and the grass is green” and “as we turned left at Claregalway I could feel a lump in my throat”  provide scope for new explorations with the Claregalway Community. The themes contained within the song provide an imaginative juncture, a point of departure,  to create a new song for Claregalway.  Responding to the present day lived experience of life in Claregalway they will explore ideas about place, about being, about travels, leaving and returning. These themes will be explored by the local community via community engagement workshops with Singer Songwriter Padraig Stevens and Leo Moran who co wrote the original N17 Song. Our hope is to create a new song written by the community that will later be fabricated into a stream of textual ideas forming the  sculpture "Unfurl” It will be a highly visible landmark positioned close to the nine arch bridge. . Claregalway is both historic and modern, a bustling town with a vibrant community. . The sculpture will be sited by the historic nine arch bridge and be visible from both directions along the N17. 

Commissioned by: Galway Co Council Percent for Art

Year: Awarder 2025 Due for competition 2026

Curated by: Rina Whyte Public Art Curator

Collaboration: Creative engagement with Claregalway Community

in collaboration with Singer/ Songwriter Padraig Stevens and Leo Moran (Singer/Songwriter)