The town that built and maintained the railway.
Dundalk became a major centre of the Great Northern Railway of Ireland, formed in 1876. From its hub here, the company served routes to Dublin, Belfast, Derry and Enniskillen. Its engineering works tied skilled employment and family life to the railway.
The cross-border archives trace the pressures of partition and competing transport, the first Enterprise express in 1947 and the company’s eventual division in 1958. Across three festival years, Chula Mente, Omin and Mack Signs return to that shared inheritance. Mack Signs’ blueprint-inspired work focuses on locomotive No. 172, Slieve Donard, while the other works offer complementary visual tributes.
The full story of Dundalk’s Railway Learn moreLearn more about the subject 3
- History of the Great Northern Railway Louth County Archives & Newry and Mourne Museum
- Rail: Dundalk’s engineering works Louth County Council
- Railway Heritage · Mack Signs EPSO
Historical context and editorial interpretation are distinguished above. Sources researched October 2026.
The story across the years.
Other artists’ interpretations of this subject in the festival collection.
2020Railway HeritageChula Mente · On the streets
2023Railway HeritageMack Signs · On the streetsThe story behind the wall.
The Railway Town
This stunning mural is a celebration of over 150 years of railway history in Dundalk, illustrating 77 years of engineering in the Great Northern Railway works, focusing on the architecture and industrial heritage of Dundalk.
The overall piece shines a light on the old Steam Engines that were produced here (in particular - the Northbound Express V.CLASS 440 No.83 Eagle seen here leaving Dundalk station passing the Signal Box on the left) and references the present day Diesel engines that we are now accustomed to (to the right of the mural).
The overlaid text and typography is a reference to the lettering that is found on the original Blueprints for the Steam Engines produced here in Dundalk. The company centralised their main locomotive and carriage facility adjacent to the main Dublin/Belfast railway line southeast of Dundalk. The character is a nod to the workers that built the omnibuses, railcars and rolling stock maintenance that was carried out in the Ardee Road works.
Meet Omin.
View artist profile & all their workOmin is a graphic artist with a 20 year history rooted in Graffiti, he has been painting both commercially and as a passionate hobby.
Traveling extensively painting the countries walls, bringing graffiti art to a mainstream audience in both his hometown of Dundalk as well as nationwide whilst also becoming established on the international graffiti art scene. His work encapsulates variety of mediums and surfaces ranging from large-scale murals, canvas works and screen print.
Omin’s graffiti pieces encapsulate traditional graffiti elements where letterforms can become de-constructed or in some cases verge on the abstract. His work also explores the human figure, painting characters with photo realistic and illustrative qualities mixing graphic elements influenced by technology glitches.
