New artwork by pupils from Kirkistown Primary School, Cloughey and St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballygalet has been unveiled, as part of a joint cross-community project by Ards Borough Council and NI Water.

Displayed on the wall of the newly renovated NI Water pumping station in Cloughey, the picture board celebrates the local area and includes images of Cloughey tennis courts, Kirkistown castle and native marine life. 

Over 40 young people worked together under the leadership of artists from Seacourt Print Workshop to create the piece, in a scheme funded under the Peace III programme, which aims to support cross-community work in Northern Ireland.

 The Mayor of Ards, Councillor Stephen McIlveen, praised the hard work of the school children at the official launch: “The pupils who have been involved in developing the ideas and the designs for the project can be proud of their accomplishment in creating an image which proudly depicts and celebrates their local community.”

Mark Consiglia, NI Water Wastewater Assets Area Manager (East) said: “The community mural designed by Kirkistown Primary School and St. Patrick’s Primary School, Ballygalget, is a fitting final touch to the improvements recently carried out by NI Water and our contractors at the Cloughey Wastewater Pumping Station.   NI Water is delighted to have been able to facilitate the mural and we congratulate the pupils of both schools on their artistic talents. NI Water, alongside our colleagues from McAdam Design and Graham Construction, recently carried out extensive refurbishment work at the pumping station, and worked alongside Cloughey and District Community Association to bring about further improvements including the planting of shrubs around the pumping station.  The mural was the perfect finishing touch to this programme of improvement at the station and has provided the two local primary schools with an opportunity to put their stamp on this vital piece of local infrastructure. We hope the mural will adorn the  pumping station for many years to come.’’

The European Union’s (EU) PEACE lll Programme is managed by Special EU Programmes Body and delivered by North Down, Ards and Down Council Cluster.

Pictured - School children from Kirkistown Primary School, Cloughey and St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballygalet with the Mayor of Ards, Councillor Stephen McIlveen and Representatives from NI Water.