As part of the extensive regeneration of Roscommon town in recent years, there has been a transformation of the town emphasing the town’s rich cultural and artistic heritage.

In tandem with the regenerative works in the town, Roscommon County Council’s Arts Office have spearheaded a series of new artistic installations and concepts, under the public art programme: ‘Living Laneways,’ an innovative laneway trail where artists can respond creatively to public laneways in Roscommon Town and to its history, story, and community.

A programme concept devised by artist Rhona Byrne, these works are consistent with some of the central themes of this year’s Your Council Day, namely supporting community spaces and local Economic Development.

For generations, Roscommon town has enjoyed an unrivalled reputation for the production of mosaics. That reputation inspired countless shop fronts in Roscommon and neighbouring counties for the uniqueness of these mosaics, a fact celebrated by RTE’s Nationwide programme earlier this year.

Later this summer, a new community informed Mosaic Laneway will be launched in the centre of Roscommon, celebrating this rich tradition and bringing a new appreciation to this unique art of mosaics to current generations.

A collaboration between well-known illustrator Chris Judge and Triskell Designs, it highlights the many generations that have walked through the lane while also celebrating many notable sites one can visit in Roscommon.

The background of geometric mosaic patterns references the wonderful Italian mosaics found throughout the town. A unique new sculpture ‘Held Together / Á Choimeád le Chéile’ created by Simon Carman and Dr. Helen Sharpe is due to be showcased, recognising ancient crafts and the area’s agricultural heritage, celebrating farming, ingenuity, creativity, and resilience.

These ‘Living Laneway’ commissions follow the unveiling of the innovative ‘Bee Lane’ at Allée de Chartrettes, connecting the town square centre to the county council car park using modern technology and digital processes.

A Bee’s Eye View of a Wild­flower Meadow is a series of works along this busy laneway by artist Graham Reid that transforms the space into a playful, imaginative, and contemporary experience.

It highlights the unseen beauty and complexity of plants, while also emphasising the importance of pollinators in Ireland’s ecosystem by transporting pedestrians into a magical world of wildflowers in ultraviolet colours (this perspective visible to bees and other pollinators).

Last year, the Poetry Laneway was unveiled, located off Lower Main Street. Poet Dani Gill engaged other local poets and local musician Phil Robson to create new site-specific works which are now displayed night and day in lightboxes on the lane. It includes work by Jane Clarke and Louise G. Cole honouring the county’s enduring literary traditions.

These initiatives commenced through the Roscommon Town Main Street & Market Square Public Realm Project, funded under the 2018 Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), and now continues under the Creative Ireland Programme.