History on a swingset

It was not only the sunlight that brought welcome brightness to Bailieborough town last weekend. A new mural on the lower corner of Main Street was completed, adding a visual reflection of the town’s history and culture.

The mural was designed and painted by artist Adam Warren, who works under the name ADW, in close collaboration with the Bridewell. It brings together a number of historical and cultural elements connected to Bailieborough – all linked to stories preserved in the Bridewell with the intention of drawing more people into the museum, Adam Pringle, Cultural and Tourism Officer for the Bridewell, explains.

“I’d love for it to become part of the heritage trail,” he says.

Since work on the mural began, it has already attracted curiosity from passers-by.

Petra Grabaczova, Administrator for the Bailieborough Development Association (BDA), said that people regularly stopped to ask about it while it was being painted: “Lots of people have come in and asked about the mural and the significance of it, and especially who the man in the middle is.”

Middle man

That curiosity is exactly what the project hoped to encourage. At the centre of the mural is Thomas J. Barron, a local historian who carried out extensive research on the Corleck Head, a three-faced stone idol discovered in Knockbride. The Bridewell Museum houses a replica of the Corleck Head, and Barron’s work helped bring wider attention to the artefact and its background.

Artist Adam Warren said that working closely with the local community was an important part of the process.

“I paint a lot of public art, so you’re not going to always please everyone,” he said. “But when you go to different towns, it’s good to have that kind of community engagement. I think it resonates more with people, especially with the local community.”

The design process began several months ago. Adam Warren first visited Bailieborough last September to measure the wall and take reference photographs. From there he created digital drafts on a computer, engaging with the Bridewell team to develop a concept that reflected the town’s identity.

“Adam [Pringle] had a clear vision of what he had in mind,” Adam Warren explained. “Here in the Bridewell they have an identity with ‘the three folk’ (Irish, Ulster Scots and English), the Corleck Head and Tom Barron, so that gave a strong starting point.”

The design stage took a number of months, followed by an approval process with Cavan County Council. In 2023, the Bailieborough Creative Hub had secured funding through the Creative Cavan Grant Scheme towards the design and painting of a mural.

Once the final design was agreed, Adam Warren produced stencils that allowed him to transfer the scaled image onto the wall accurately. “Lots of mural artists use different methods, but stencils have always been my thing,” he said. The stencils act as guides, allowing the artist to place each element in the correct position before filling the design with colour.

Preparation of the wall was also part of the work: Loose paint had to be scraped away and the surface cleaned to create a stable base for the new layers of spray paint. In total, Adam Warren used around 30 cans to complete the mural.