Castletownbere's new toilets are flush and fishy

BY HELEN RIDDELL 

SPENDING a penny in Castletownbere has become an altogether more enjoyable affair after its public toilets have been refurbished. 

They also now feature a unique mural created by members of the local CoAction facility. 

It pays homage to the town’s fishing background and features 3D pottery fish on the exterior wall. 

Conor McAtasney, area manager for CoAction West Cork outlined how they were approached by Aidan Prendergast, local area engineer with Cork County Council to help with creating artwork for the building.

‘The council explained they were refurbishing the toilets and wanted something different for the exterior,’ he said. ‘We were delighted to be asked and worked with a local artist Brian ‘Boss’ O’Sullivan who has previously run art classes at CoAction and was creative lead for this project. Richard Harvey, a local potter, came onboard to help create the pottery fish part of the design.’

A group of nine service users with CoAction had a busy few months working on the project, helping to create the pottery fish, and paint them once they had been fired in a kiln. 

Work started on the mural in September 2017 and was finished in time for Christmas.

The toilets were recently officially opened by county mayor Declan Hurley. 

CoAction Beara currently has 27 people availing of their services.  

The group has had a presence in Beara since 1997 and as well as a centre also run two residential group homes in the town.