Famine Ship by Noel Kelly

In May 2012 Drogheda Port Company put forward the Green Maritime Buoy for the first time as a unique public canvas to local artist Noel Kelly.

Noel had recently returned from California in the United States, where he was training with world renowned Mural Artist John Pugh. Noel served a three month  internship, studying under Pugh and assisted in the creation of  a large public Mural, that eventually went on display in Barbados.

Noel had previously studied paint effects in London, where he was later invited to teach the same course. He also worked on high profile jobs in the London area, including the refurbishment of the famous Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair. Noel was excited to bring a flavour of what he had learned home to the streets of his hometown of Drogheda.

In keeping with a maritime theme and recognising the fact that Drogheda Port was the second largest departure port for emigrants during the famine years Noel created in conjunction with the Port Company a unique piece of public art which was inspired by the style and works of turner. The buoy would now be known as ‘The Famine Ship Bouy’

In a very unique scheme it is the intention of the Port Company to offer the buoy as a canvas to a local artist on a regular basis creating a piece of  ever changing artwork on the Mall.