Ballyfermot People's Park

In 2021-2022, the fenced, grassy area beside Ballyfermot Community Civic Centre was transformed into a ‘people’s park’ – an open and inviting green space located within a crowded (sub)urban environment for the benefit of its community.

This was a participative commission, that has evolved through a process of consultation and collaboration between the selected artist, the park’s design team and the local community.

The commission for Ballyfermot was a one-stage, open competition. Artists were invited to propose an approach to working in collaboration with the park design team and members of the local community to develop a sculpture for the park. Full details of the commissioning process are included in the Commission Brief.

The Selection Panel for Ballyfermot People’s Park included:

• Councillor Vincent Jackson (South Central Area public representative)
• Pam O’Reilly (Ballyfermot local community representative)
• Suzanne O’Connell (representative of DCC Parks and Landscape Services)
• Kelly Hickey (representative of the City Arts Office)
• Noel Kelly (representative of the Sculpture Dublin Steering Group)
• Jessica O’Donnell (representative of the Hugh Lane Gallery)
• Ciaran Smyth (external art expert)

DCC Public Art Officer, Ruairí Ó Cuív was the non-voting Chair.

Breda Marron 

‘I am honoured to have been chosen to create a sculpture for the new People’s Park in Ballyfermot and am looking forward to collaborating with the local community and Suzanne O’Connell in DCC Parks.

I will make a sculpture for Ballyfermot People’s Park that is informed by the stories, histories and desires of the local people. Through a collaborative process of listening, making and learning through experimentation, I will create an artwork that aims to capture the spirit of the place in a powerful symbolic gesture.’

Following a period of consultation and creative engagement with local people, Breda has designed a sculpture, entitled ‘Éirímís – Together We Rise’, that is a joyful celebration of the power and resilience of community. The sculpture will be unveiled at the official launch of the new park on 24 June 2022.

Breda Marron is an award-winning sculptor, based in Drogheda. Her most recent sculpture commission, ‘Heart Space’ was created for Dundalk town centre, as part of the EU funded, Town Rejuvenation Project. Other public commissions include Slieve Gullion Forest Park, Co Down, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and a series of sculpture commissions for schools.