Cork's Busiest Junction to Get €375,000 Landmark Artwork
Cork's busiest junction getting €375k artwork. Artists sought for permanent sculpture at Dunkettle Interchange seen by 95,000 vehicles daily.
A major public art commission worth €375,000 is being launched for Dunkettle Interchange, where 95,000 vehicles pass daily, offering artists the chance to create one of Ireland's most visible sculptures.
Cork County Council has announced an exciting opportunity for visual artists to leave their mark on one of the country's busiest road junctions. The Dunkettle Interchange, where the M8, N25, and N40 meet, will soon feature a permanent sculpture as part of the government's Per Cent for Art Scheme.
The initiative, delivered in partnership with Cork City Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), allocates 1% of publicly funded infrastructure projects to commissioning artwork. With thousands of commuters and travellers passing through this gateway to Cork city and county every day, the winning piece will have an enormous audience.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Joe Carroll said:
"Cork County Council is delighted to announce the Dunkettle Interchange Per Cent for Art Scheme alongside our partners Cork City Council and TII. This is a great opportunity for Cork to have a landmark artwork at a gateway to the City and County. For the successful artist, it means their work will be seen by thousands of people every day."
The competition is open to Irish and international artists, who are invited to propose "bold and artistically ambitious permanent sculptural works." The selection process will involve an open, two-stage competition managed by a Public Art Working Group comprising representatives from all three partner organisations.
The timing is particularly fitting, as the Dunkettle Interchange underwent a major €215 million transformation that was completed in February 2024. The junction was converted from a roundabout with flyover to a free-flowing interchange, significantly improving traffic flow for the estimated 95,000 vehicles using it daily.
Artists interested in submitting proposals can find detailed information about the commissioning process at www.corkcoco.ie. The deadline for applications is noon on 12th August 2025.
The project represents a significant investment in Cork's cultural landscape, with funding provided through Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Per Cent for Art Scheme guidelines.
