Island Road becomes latest canvas in Limerick’s Wildlife Walls project

ISLAND ROAD in Limerick has become the latest location to showcase the growing Limerick Wildlife Walls project, with two new murals unveiled in recent days. 

The newly unveiled artworks feature the Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Crú-ialtóg bheag) and the Green Hairstreak Butterfly (Stiallach Uaine)

These murals join an expanding trail of biodiversity-themed murals already brightening the city, including Grove Island’s dragonflies, the Athlunkard Street fox, and the siskin on Thomas Street.

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The Wildlife Walls initiative is a partnership between Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) and DrawOut, the city’s urban art organisation, supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

The project aims to highlight local wildlife and emphasise the importance of healthy ecosystems through large-scale public art. The newly featured species are among Ireland’s more vulnerable. 

The Lesser Horseshoe Bat, one of the country’s rarest mammals, is confined to just six western counties, including Limerick, and depends on old buildings, caves, and well-managed woodlands for survival. 

The Green Hairstreak Butterfly, known for its distinctive metallic-green underwing, thrives in gorse- and bilberry-rich scrub habitats, areas increasingly under threat from modern development.

Sinead McDonnell, Biodiversity Officer, Limerick City and County Council said: “Draw Out’s artist in residence, Louise Keely, has done incredible work. Through these artworks, the overlooked species seem to watch over our streets, urging us to protect their world. Every image tells a story about the balance of nature in Limerick.”

Catherine O’Halloran, Draw Out, said: “Art has the power to stop people in their tracks. By placing these incredible creatures on our walls, we’re inviting everyone to look closer, learn, and care. It’s about making biodiversity visible in the heart of the city.”

The murals are located at No. 40 Island Road, known locally as Spratts or Island Stores. 

The Wildlife Walls initiative aligns with a global trend of using public art to strengthen connections between people and nature.