Dingle Street Art - Artist Unknown

In Praise of the Unknown Artist

Red Riding Hood ???

Just back from a weekend in Dingle. When we were driving down Goat Street into town, the nine-year old in the back, loudly, starts to point and talk about the wolf on the wall. (Yes - one can point loudly).

This had been unseen by those in the front seats.

I was proud to see that my ‘training’ in reading the signs is eventually bearing fruit.

It appears that the ‘art’ has been done by power-hosing part of the wall to create a relief.

All in the car were well impressed.

Later, we purchased the postcards below and were given to understand that the same artist was responsible for many of the items noted here before but our interpretation was challenged or provided with additional information.

What I thought was Eve in the Garden of Eden with the apple was interpreted elsewhere as visitors’ faces no longer being visible behind tablets and iPads. I should have spotted that.

I wondered at the time as to why the cat was censored – but the postcard revealed that it was previously painted in stars and stripes.

I received a suggestion as to some of the plaques over the doors of buildings in Dingle – signifying houses of ill-repute in times of Spanish Armada. The plaque indicated a particular speciality of the house – which helps explain the title of the street art installation with the dove in clasp of another stronger bird.

I learnt that the chicken road crossing had a cracked egg when initially painted.  I think the foot prints may need some repainting as they are no longer very visible.

I was told that the Smurfette had been painted on the wall on a building but was painted over and removed rather quickly. One Sorry Smurf soon after took up residence but met a similar fate. The building owner and I obviously have different tastes.

I had spotted the Flouride Free Water on the road up to Conor Pass during the holidays but had not had an opportunity to stop and photograph – now I have the postcard but not the t-shirt.

We dined at the Blue Zone last night and there was a Smurf to greet us at the steps and another looking at me eating from the back wall of Dick Mack’s.

I have gone through the folder of Dingle street art and have included some more – but all may not be from same hand. There may be more than one Unknown in Dingle.

I think that each of these is an improvement on the streetscape – something that you might spot out of corner of your eye but something that will definitely be a discussion topic.

This tourist will be back to spot the next few installations and will be appreciative. I trust I am not alone.