This article is from page 22 of the 2013-09-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 22 JPG
MURALS of Ché Guevara are appearing, disappearing and relocating at different locations in the seaside town of Kilkee this week.
The latest depiction of the iconic print has appeared on the wall of a derelict building close to William’s Building Supplies. The 20-foot black and white creation was painted Fri- day evening on to the building, which was knocked, and the façade rebuilt by the council.
A second offering, on a much smaller scale, has appeared on the wall of the Marine Bar of the Marine Hotel.
The two paintings appeared after Clare County Council removed a 20foot mural of the revolutionary from an alley wall at the west end of Kilkee Beach.
The image was part of the publicity for the annual Ché do Bheatha festival to be held in Kilkee at the end of the month, but the council maintained that there was no permission given for the public work.
Mayor of Kilkee Paddy Collins (FG) said that the town council had decided last April that no more murals would be allowed on that wall.
He said there were local objections to its appearance last week as well as one objection from an American tourist.
“I was not happy about it going up on a public wall. No permission was sought or granted for it to be done,” he told The Clare People .
“You can say it is art but there are also political ramifications. I fear that it would have set a precedent and who knows what could go up in the future,” he added.
In a statement, Clare County Council said members of Kilkee Town Council unanimously agreed that the erection of the mural in question was in clear breach of Section 19 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997.
“Councillors proposed however, that the mural be retained until after the upcoming festival. This sentiment was relayed by the town clerk, who himself does not have the authority to enforce such a proposal, to the Planning Authority – Clare County Council. Clare County Council had scheduled the removal of the mural for Tuesday and this proceeded as scheduled as the mural in question was in breach of Local Government legislation,” a council spokesperson said.
The first citizen of the town said he had no issue with the new murals as they were on private property.
“As far as I am concerned that is up to the private individual. I wouldn’t dare interfere with what people want to put on their own wall,” said the mayor. “It has all worked out well in the end. The publicity that it as got couldn’t be bought and an the issue has now been resolved hopefully for good.”