Cork café owner launches art competition to pay homage to the city's river
Liam Mullaney, owner of Myo Café, said he has seen remarkable change in the area around Pope's Quay since the café opened in 2014. Picture: Jim Coughlan
The owner of a café on the banks of the Lee has launched an art competition in homage to the city's main waterway.
Liam Mullaney, who runs Café Myo on Pope’s Quay, on the river's northern quays, hopes the River Lee Art Competition will bring attention to the history and beauty of the natural landmark which is so deeply tied to the identity of the city.
The south-facing quay, lined with the tables and chairs of surrounding cafés and bars, has gained a reputation in recent years as a popular and trendy part of the city.
A community activist, Mr Mullaney said he has seen remarkable change in the area since the café opened in 2014, witnessing its transformation from just another mundane urban street to a lively centre of commerce and community.
Although the art competition is named after the river itself, Mr Mullaney said: “This isn’t just about geography – it’s about memory, imagination, and personal connection.”
Participants will be provided with a map of the north channel of the river and its bridges, which they will be asked to interpret in their own way to create a piece on canvas that reflects what the Lee means to them.
The pieces will be exhibited to the public this autumn, on the banks of the very river they depict.
Various cash prizes totalling €1,500 will be announced on the day, with the grand prize of €1,000 to be chosen by prominent Cork artist Vivienne Roche.
Artists will also be given the option to have their piece auctioned once the exhibition ends, with all the proceeds going to local charities.
Those who wish to enter have until the end of June to register their interest, with a deadline of September 1, 2025, to submit a piece.
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