A trail of Irish Mosaic Artworks in Manchester City Centre until 6th May 2024
The Irish Nation is a trail of mosaic artworks created by world renowned mosaic artist Mark Kennedy. The original pieces of work will be on public display in a series of cultural and leisure venues throughout Manchester in spring 2024 to coincide with the Manchester Irish Festival. Manchester is a city with a long-established Irish connection. There has been a sizeable Irish Community in Manchester for over 200 years. In the mid 1800's there were two Irish areas in the city. Little Ireland was south of the city centre - situated in a depression in the bend of the River Medlock. The other area was known as Irish Town in the north east of the city between the River Irk and George's Rd (now Rochdale Rd). Some 25,000 people lived in horrendous conditions in these areas.
Today, it is estimated that around 35 per cent of the city's population has some Irish ancestry. Manchester is a vibrant city in terms of its range of Irish Activity and organisations. There is a growing interest, especially among the young, in the history of their community. It is therefore appropriate that this project should be unveiled in this great city.
Today Manchester aspires to be a million miles away from the squalor experienced in the Irish quarters of the mid nineteenth century with “Manc-hattan” arising in the city.
In the intervening 170 years Manchester has been blessed with a plethora of cultural buildings creating and expanding the proud heritage of the city.
Upon deciding the direction of our art trail we have taken each mosaic piece in turn and attempted to place it in a host venue with a culturally relevant setting and the two hopefully can be appreciated together.
We are extremely grateful to our generous host venues without whom this project would not be possible. Please avail of their delicious refreshments during your visit.
Irish Mancunian has published a book Manchester’s Irish History - The evolution of a community
Read an extract of the book here
Angel Meadows park
Little Ireland plaque on Great Marlborough Street, Manchester
A BIG THANK YOU
Irish Mancunian and Wild in Art would like to thank; Our host venues, Jeff Flanagan - Designer, Mary Goodwin - Mosaicist, Andrew Jeffay - Jeffay Furniture, Guy Timms - GT Joinery Services, Michael Noonan - Summerhouse Studio (www.summerhousestudio.co.uk) and Georgie Huxley - PDC Manchester Printing (www.pdc-manchester.co.uk)
Robert Paul Corless - Music (robertpaulcorless.com), Emma Finch - Photography (belleprive.co.uk) - Design @jeffneygram
