The official Mayoral Launch of the mural commissioned by the Waterford-Ramallah Twinning Committee for the 2025 edition of Waterford Walls International Street Art festival is to be held this coming Saturday, 15th November at 11.00 am, at Spring Garden Alley, Waterford City.
Waterford-Ramallah Twinning Committee said it is delighted to announce the launch of the mural which celebrates the twinning of Waterford City and Ramallah, Palestine.
The concept was born out of a series of workshops between Waterford Walls and members of the twinning committee earlier this year including input from local Palestinian people.
Shona Hardie, the Scottish Mural artist responsible for the mural drew on similarities and symbols that celebrate both cities and their relationship with one another.
The mural proudly features Palestinian boxer Wasim Abusal who competed at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and who had visited Waterford earlier this year as part of a delegation from members of El Barrio Gym in Waterford’s twin city of Ramallah. Their connection to Waterford through boxing was instrumental to the twinning of the two cities.
The mural was made possible by funding from Waterford City and County Council for the twinning initiative and by a generous donation from the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) South- East Branch.
David Rees, Chair of Waterford Ramallah Twinning Committee said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to have our twinning featured in this year’s Waterford Walls Festival, and to have had the chance to engage the community and work together with Shona Hardie in the design. Her finished piece did this justice, and I am very proud to see it in pride of place in our city”.
All are welcome to attend.
