Tweet, tweet! Spot the new Laois art in Portlaoise
Portlaoise art pieces are symbols of luck, prosperity, loyalty, freedom and peace
Laois has new visitors, and it looks like the artistic creations in Portlaoise are maybe here to stay.
A new addition to Portlaoise town is the ‘Homing Friends’ from the ‘Belonging’ collection of artist Patrick Murphy.
Funded through Creative Ireland Laois’s Heritage through Art Grant Scheme 2026 and organised by the Downtown Portlaoise business group the public art installation is called ‘Homing Friends’.
Downtown Portlaoise says it represents the past on one hand, and how we used to send messages a couple of centuries ago, to how easy connectivity is now. It also highlights that nature is all around us, playing a vital but often unnoticed role.
“The Belonging collection, inspired by artist Patrick Murphy, can be seen all over the world in places such as Liverpool, London, Dubai, Canada, Greece, Hong Kong, Belgium, USA and Shanghai, and now Portlaoise. MORE BELOW PHOTO:
“The whole community will get to enjoy these birds, who are a symbol of luck, prosperity, loyalty, freedom and peace while reminding us of their role as couriers in times gone by. Pigeons thrive in human-altered environments and act as key components of urban ecology. Portlaoise are delighted to have Patrick Murphy’s first gold pigeon which will brighten as the sun shines on it,” said the group in a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
Downtown Portlaoise would like to thank the Heritage through Art Laois Scheme to giving them the chance to add colour and fun in a very discreet way to Portlaoise, located in Bull Lane and thanks to Ger Brown Fruit & Veg shop for allowing us to use this great location.
The traders concluded: “Hope they light up your day!”