Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Getting Rid of the Graffiti








Just back from helping the local committee who try to keep the city in ship-shape, better known as 'Keep Kilkenny Beautiful' to try and get rid of the graffiti which some of our geniuses in town have decorated our public buildings with.

Next Wednesday, the 26th of July, Kilkenny will be visited by the judges of the Entente Florale competition. This is one of Europe's most important environmental competitions and allows us to claim a major title which would attract additional tourists to our city. The Council have done fantastic work improving the public spaces in the city, and local businesses and voluntary groups have played their part in filling window ledeges, hanging baskets and even floating water beds on the river with flowers.

Unfortunately much of the route which will be walked by the judges has been targetted by graffiti artists in recent months. Today we painted over much of this so-called art. Hopefully it won't be targetted tonight by the vandals. Well done to the local committee for all their efforts.

On a related topic I have proposed a motion which would see a public graffiti wall in the city, which would allow a dedicated space for this work. It also calls for a crackdown on illegal graffiti though. It will hopefully be debated at September's Council meeting.

For more on the Entente Florale visit the Council's excellent website with its cool interactive route map here

4 comments:

Seamus Ryan said...

Firstly Sean congrats on the new Blog. It looks very well. I wish you well with the Entente Florale competition. Your motion in relation to a Graffiti wall is an interesting one and I would be interested to see how it progresses in Kilkenny. Maybe its something we could do here in Waterford. Anyhow congrats again Sean and keep in touch.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: said...

Congrats on the new Blog Sean - its something I should have done a long time ago. Best of luck with your campaign against graffiti. We in Dublin City Council have managed to increase the anti-graffiti budget by 60%. The problem is still a large one but the council are finally waking up to their responsibilites. Maith Thu aris - beidh me i dteangbhail leat aris gan mhoill. Aodhan.

Seán Ó hArgáin said...

I agree wholeheartedly Bernie that we should have artist's input into the graffiti area. You're right that some officials would have problems with it (and Councillors too!). Maybe we can look at it in the context of the skate park I've been campaigning for. Is this something ye might look at in Waterfod aas part of the redevelopment of the People's Park Séamus? What's the total budget for anti-graffiti measures in Dublin Aodhán?

Anonymous said...

Ochenta mas anos, Commandante!!!!!!!! A la infierno, Bush y Rice. Viva Fidel!!!!