A once-grey stretch of railway arches in Fairview’s Courtney Place has been transformed into a vibrant celebration of colour and creativity, thanks to a new community art project led by Iarnród Éireann and a group of 17 local children.
Unveiled this week, the initiative turned the industrial arches beneath the rail line into a vivid outdoor gallery — a visual garden bursting with energy, movement, and imagination. The project was developed through a series of creative workshops led by artist Artur Oner, who worked closely with local children to draw inspiration from the natural world. Together, they explored colour, shape, and texture through visits to the National Botanic Gardens and Mud Island Community Garden, using those experiences to create sketches that later became the foundation for the final mural design.
The result is a joyful stretch of art that celebrates biodiversity, community, and local pride. What was once a dull concrete wall has been reborn as a welcoming space filled with bright tones and organic forms — an artwork that reflects both nature’s diversity and the imagination of Fairview’s youngest residents.
The project was brought to life by local resident Belinda Walsh, who approached Iarnród Éireann with support from Dublin City Council. The aim was to transform the underused arches into a shared space that inspires creativity and connection among residents. In addition to the mural, Iarnród Éireann’s Environmental team donated planter boxes to add fresh greenery, bringing even more life to the street.
Commenting on the project, Joanne Bissett, Arts & Social Officer at Iarnród Éireann, said: “This project is about creating a space that feels alive, where children can explore, play, and connect through colour, creativity, and nature. Working with Belinda, Artur, and the residents of Courtney Place has been a wonderful experience, and we’re proud to see how this community collaboration has enhanced the area for everyone. It’s wonderful to see the area come to life and even more special to see how proud the local children are of what they’ve created.”
For artist Artur Oner, the collaboration was a chance to let the children’s voices shape the vision. “The children’s ideas led the vision from the very beginning. They shared what colours and flowers reminded them of home, and we turned those ideas into a design that’s full of energy, movement, and life. The space is now theirs — a reflection of their imagination and their community,” he said.
Local lead Belinda Walsh described how the process brought neighbours together: “This project brought our community closer together. The children feel a real sense of ownership and pride in what they’ve achieved, and it’s wonderful to see neighbours stopping to chat and enjoy the space.”
Beyond its aesthetic impact, the Courtney Place project reflects a wider commitment from Iarnród Éireann to revitalise public spaces along Ireland’s rail network — promoting community engagement, sustainability, and wellbeing through art. The company has supported a range of projects designed to encourage creativity while highlighting biodiversity and the value of shared urban environments.
Looking ahead, the Fairview community hopes to build on this success with further workshops on planting, sustainability, and biodiversity, teaching children more about caring for their environment and the world around them.
What began as a local art idea has blossomed into something far greater — a testament to how creativity, collaboration, and community spirit can turn even the most ordinary spaces into something extraordinary.
