Cork Airport Unveils Massive Street Art Mural Celebrating Aviation History

Cork Airport's car park has been transformed with a vibrant 180-square-metre mural that captures the wonder of flight, officially unveiled today by the Lord Mayor in a celebration of local artistry and aviation heritage.

The impressive artwork, titled "The Wonder of Travel", now adorns the southern facade of Cork Airport's multi-storey car park, bringing a splash of colour to what was previously a plain concrete wall. Created by renowned local artists Shane O'Driscoll and Peter Martin of the Ardú Street Art project, the mural tells the story of Cork Airport's journey from its humble beginnings in 1961 to its current status as Europe's best regional airport.

Cllr. Fergal Dennehy, Lord Mayor of Cork, performed the official unveiling ceremony, praising the artwork's significance beyond its aesthetic appeal.

"While the mural captures the wonder and awe of air travel amongst younger generations, it certainly resonates with all ages as it shows the importance of air travel and international connectivity on our island nation," he said. "Industry, commerce and tourism all stand to benefit from good air connectivity and Cork Airport plays an important role in the Cork economy by strengthening those connections."

The mural represents a decade-long addition to the airport campus, funded through Cork Airport's Community Fund, which supports arts, culture, education, tourism and sports initiatives throughout the region. The artwork spans an area that passengers will see as they walk to the short-term car park, transforming a previously unremarkable journey into an engaging visual experience.

Shane O'Driscoll and Peter Martin of Ardú Street Art explained their creative vision behind the piece.

"The artwork is a celebration of the history of air travel through Cork Airport since 1961 and looks at its bright future and development in the years to come. This mural hopes to explore the excitement and endless possibilities that air travel brings to the people of Cork and further afield," they said.

Ardú Street Art has become synonymous with Cork's cultural renaissance, having created numerous iconic murals throughout the city centre since its establishment during lockdown in October 2020. The project, managed by Rose-Anne Kidney of Goldiefish Events, brings together visual artist Shane O'Driscoll, muralist and secondary school teacher Peter Martin, and Paul Gleeson, organiser of the annual Cork Graffiti Jam.

Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport, emphasised the importance of integrating art into the travel experience.

"There is a place for art and culture in the built environment. This mural proudly sponsored by Cork Airport, through our Community Fund places art at the centre of our main passenger walkway to our short-term car park and brightens up considerably, what was previously a dull, concrete wall," he noted.

The timing couldn't be better for Cork Airport, which welcomed 3.1 million passengers in 2024 and is forecasting growth to 3.4 million this year. The airport recently announced a €200 million capital development programme to support expansion beyond 5 million passengers annually.

Cork Airport's Community Fund 2025 extends beyond street art, supporting various local initiatives including Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann, Cork on a Fork Fest, the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, and several GAA clubs. The fund demonstrates the airport's commitment to enriching Cork's cultural and sporting landscape.

The mural joins a growing collection of street art that has transformed Cork's urban environment, following the city council's initiative to brighten dull walls throughout the city centre. For travellers departing Cork, "The Wonder of Travel" now provides a fitting artistic send-off that celebrates both the region's creative spirit and its connection to the wider world.