In Ballymun, the hum of creativity is everywhere, in the swirl of a paintbrush, the rhythm of a newly written song, and the laughter at a workshop over a cup of tea.

Ballymun Is Brilliant is more than just a name, it’s a shared belief that art can help a community imagine new possibilities and take confident steps toward change.

At its heart, it’s about using creativity as a bridge between people and the planet, between pride and progress. Funded through Creative Ireland’s Creative Climate Action Fund, the project has been quietly transforming how the Ballymun community connects with climate action. Bringing together artists, local residents, schools, and local organisations the project has engaged over 730 people, transforming residents from spectators to artists, showing that change can start with a paintbrush, a poem, or a conversation.

"Ballymun is Brilliant shows what happens when climate action begins with people...It’s proving that tackling climate change isn’t necessarily about technology or targets, but primarily about imagination and hope."

Conversations, Creativity and Cups of Tea

The project began not with a grand plan, but with hundreds of small, genuine conversations. The team spent the first year simply listening, sharing tea and stories with crochet groups, men’s sheds, youth clubs, and library groups. They asked three simple questions: What makes Ballymun brilliant? What could make it shine brighter? And what will it be like for future generations?

Those answers became the creative spark for everything that followed. The project has since engaged over 730 residents, turning spectators into artists and collaborators. Together, they’ve painted biodiversity murals, foraged in the old shopping centre grounds, written songs and stories, upcycled clothes, and mapped sustainable food initiatives.

It’s been a celebration of Ballymun’s resilience, heritage, and natural environment, and proof that when people see their voices reflected in the work, they show up, contribute, and take pride in what they’ve created.

Art That Inspires Action

In 2025, seven artists were invited to collaborate with the community on creative projects inspired by those early conversations. Each project wove art and climate action together in unique, personal ways.

• Niamh O’Beirne’s “Ballymun Spirit Map” explored the community’s relationship with nature through foraging workshops, wild garden parties and community mapping.
• The Walls Project co-created a vibrant mural reflecting Ballymun’s vision for climate justice, designed and painted with residents and school children.
• Cabbage & Kraut’s Ballymunch Trail celebrated Ballymun’s grassroots food culture, leading to a community-created Ballymun Food Map which was launched with pride at an event in September.
• Writer Adam Mohamed worked with residents to create a book of short stories and poetry, illustrated by local artist Aaron Sunderland Carey, which launched in the Axis Theatre with live performances and a special message from President Michael D. Higgins.
• Sophie Carroll-Hunt led upcycling and printmaking workshops, including a live printing event at one of the hugely successful ‘Thanks Hun, Ballymun swap shops, transforming old textiles and sparking fresh conversations about fashion and sustainability.
• Bursary artist Jen Harrington’s crochet sculptures expressed both protection and grief, capturing local feelings around climate justice.
• Brendan Shanahan composed A Song for Ballymun, performed at the launch of the Ballymun Seven Heroes Square and shared proudly on YouTube.

The creative journey continues to grow. An exhibition in the Axis Café this month (October) will showcase photography, intergenerational artworks, and new community collaborations. Meanwhile, Cracking Light Productions are capturing the story in a short documentary that will premiere at a final celebration event in October 2025.

From Paint to Pride

The beauty of Ballymun Is Brilliant lies not just in the art produced, but in the confidence it’s inspired. Many residents who never saw themselves as artists are now expressing their creativity, and discovering that they’ve been part of climate action all along.

"When these people see me, they see the artist in me, not just the person...It’s all about the process; learning, creating, connecting. It made me realise we’re all part of this bigger picture."

For others, the experience has been empowering in simple, visible ways.

"What I enjoyed most was actually being given a can of spray...When I pass by now, I feel I’ve contributed to that. It makes you feel your community is valued, that you’re not forgotten about."

A Model for Creative Climate Action

Over 700 people have already taken part, each adding their voice, energy, and ideas. The project’s partners, Axis Ballymun, Global Action Plan, and the Rediscovery Centre – say that Creative Ireland’s support has been crucial. It allowed them to take a truly community-led approach, designing activities around what residents cared about most.

And the results have rippled far beyond Ballymun. The project is now seen as a national model for how creativity can drive climate awareness – rooted in trust, inclusion, and the belief that imagination can change how people see their world.

Workshops, murals, and stories may seem small in the face of global challenges, but in Ballymun they’re sparking something powerful: pride, connection, and hope.

Looking Ahead

As Ballymun Is Brilliant moves into its final phase, the feeling in the community is one of excitement and possibility. The upcoming celebration on October 22nd will bring together artists, residents, and partners for live performances, panels and the premiere of the documentary capturing the project’s journey.

And while the murals may fade and the crochet may fray, the confidence and creativity it has inspired are here to stay.

Because Ballymun isn’t just brilliant – it’s brave, bold, and beautifully imaginative. And that, perhaps, is the most powerful climate action of all.

Read more about the projects here;

• www.ballymunisbrilliant.ie
• www.instagram.com/ballymunisbrilliant/

Media coverage:

• The Irish Independent: https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/more-than-2000-locals-to-join-together-for-annual-better-ballymun-day/a289356280.html
• Dublin Gazette: https://dublingazette.com/dublinlocalmatters/better-ballymun-day-2025-352776/
• Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/climate-crisis/2024/11/09/a-call-to-climate-action/
• Near FM: https://listenagain.org/?p=56459
• Dublin City FM: https://www.mixcloud.com/1032DublinCityFM/the-green-room-with-jen-harrington-ballymun-is-brilliant-28th-july-2025/
• Dublin Gazette: https://dublingazette.com/whats-on/entertainment/ballymunblend-ballymun-axis/
• Hotpress: https://www.hotpress.com/culture/adam-mohamed-unveils-debut-collection-a-ballymun-blend-23102767
• RTÉ radio 1: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/mooney/2025/0901/1531300-mooney-goes-wild-monday-1-september-2025/