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The 94 pupils of Kilnaboy NS took part in the creation of a Bottle Cap wall mural, depicting scenes from the Burren. Photograph by John Kelly

Bottle cap mural at Kilnaboy National School


A LARGE bottle cap mural has been installed at Kilnaboy National School, the result of much work from the whole school community.

Teacher Fiona Corry Forde drove the project, and she said the mural reflects the Burren’s landscape, which she said is important to the school.

“Traditionally the children would always learn a lot about their own local environment and we take part in the Burren Beo programme as often as it comes around.”
The mural is 14.3 metres by 3.5 metres and she explained where the idea came from.

“Basically it came about because this time last year I heard an interview with a principal down in County Cork, in a school called Ballymoney, down near Clonakilty. She was interviewed by Kathryn Thomas about a bottlecap mural they had done. I googled pictures of it and I thought that’s fabulous and I’d love to have a go at it with the kids in Kilnaboy.”
School principal Gerry Connors was very positive about the project, she said.

“I went into school and I said to the principal, I’m after getting an idea- he’s used to me getting these cracked ideas from time to time-it involves a huge amount of bottle caps, it’s a big undertaking but I’m prepared to take full responsibility for it, will you give me the green light.

“He’s such a great principal, he really is, and he said “off you go Fiona, if you’re willing to do it go with it.”
At that stage the children were told about the project, and they showed great enthusiasm.

“The kids absolutely bought into it big time. I had parents this week telling me that they were contacting aunts and uncles all over the country, they were coming from workplaces, homes, the kids were bringing them and bringing them. Eventually we got to the stage in spring where I said it looks like we have a lot.

“Then fifth and sixth class worked on counting them through estimation and they figured we had about 25,000 at that stage.
“I said we definitely have enough to make a start on this. At that point we sent home all the bottlecaps to the parents to be washed, and they were fantastic, that quantity were washed and they came back in clean to us.”

Fiona drafted a picture, which the pupils felt was appropriate, while a local tradesman offered his services.
“James Flanagan is one of the parents and I was chatting to him about it. He said he’d do any labour that was involved, put it where you like, as big as you like, I’ll take care of all that. He spent a number of days in the school with a team of workers on a voluntary basis.”At the Easter holidays she outlined her vision onto boards, and when the children came back they put on paint.

“Between 2pm and 3pm I’d take a different group each day and we painted on a mural, using weatherproof garden paint for wood.”
After that it was time for the bottle caps to go on. “The kids stuck them on with PVA glue, we have 94 children in the school and every one of them from junior infants right up to sixth class was involved.

“Following the two years of Covid, where we could do nothing together as a school, we really wanted to do something that involved everybody, where people could come together rather than stay apart.”
At one stage there was a shortage of one colour, but help arrived when she sought it. “We had a hiccup, we were very short on grey. There’s a lot of grey in the mural, like there’s a lot of grey in the Burren, that’s our landscape.

“We knew we were short thousands of grey caps. I sent off an email to Coca Cola, said this is our situation, we’re in this predicament and need to finish it. They were absolutely fantastic, 4,500 caps they shipped down to us. That was the only hiccup, how will we get them and if we can’t how will we finish it.
“We had to spray some of the caps as well, the cow’s colour is rust and there is no product on the market with a rust coloured cap. A local painter, Jimmy Quinn, did that on a voluntary basis, wouldn’t take a penny for it.”A little more help was required and made available, and soon the project was concluded.

“Over three nights Mammies and Daddies came and they put a screw through every bottle cap. It ran to 21,000 and a few hundred. James came back again with his team and they put it up and there it is on display. We’re thrilled with it.”
The mural was totally funded through generous sponsorship and a grant from Clare County Council.

Owen Ryan

Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.

About Owen Ryan

Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.