Cairn Arts Programme

Promoting culture and the arts, creating a sense of place.

Our Arts programme is dedicated to using art and design to invest the spaces we are shaping with a unique identity. We also hope to foster interaction with the wider community and build strong ties to the local neighbourhood.

All pieces are site specific and evoke a strong sense of place, through the commissioning of local artists, execution in local materials and taking inspiration from local geographic, historical or cultural references. This is a clear expression of our values - a passion for placemaking and a deep respect for craft and culture. We are simultaneously promoting irish art and design while adding cultural value to our projects and enriching our customers lives.

Parkside

Eyes for You

This piece was produced by esteemed sculptor Eileen MacDonagh, who was approached by Cairn and Dublin City Council in June 2017 to produce a unique piece of artwork to reflect the local heritage within the Parkside neighbourhood in Balgriffin.

We were thrilled to receive a Highly Commendation for the “Eyes For You” piece at Parkside at the Allianz Business to Arts Awards in September.

Marianella

The Tree Trail

In 2018 we completed the installation of a Tree Trail within the one and a half acre Park at Marianaella. Residents and the local community alike enjoy identifying the tree specimens along the trail and it brings to life the layers of history which the stunning treescape in Marianella represents.

The beautiful, large, mature trees to be found in Marianella Gardens are an inheritance from two main periods of historical tree planting. The first planting period dates back to the late 19th Century when a private residence, Faunagh House, occupied the site. The largest and oldest trees to be seen in the Park, amongst them the Evergreen Oaks, Yew and exotic Conifers (Wellingtonia, Cedar and Fir) are from this period.

Donnybrook Gardens

The Donnybrook Gardens Collection

Adorning the walls of the Donnybrook Gardens lobbies and shared spaces are a huge collection of prints etchings and lithographs from a series of Irish artists including Pamela Leonard, Stephen Lawlor, Stephen Vaughan and Louise Leonard.

This collection was carefully curated to reflect the horticultural history and natural features of the site, with each one beautifully framed and lit giving a gallery-like feel to the buildings.

Churchfields

Jackie McKenna at Churchfields

We we delighted to be able to commission sculptor Jackie McKenna - known throughout Ireland for her many public sculpture commissions - to produce a piece for us in Churchfields.

For many years, until around 2005, McKenna focused on commissioned sculptures. She has done a number of sculptures in public view and enjoys the conversations and criticisms that occur as a result. She is a co-founder of the Leitrim Sculpture Centre in Manorhamilton.

Archers Wood

Emma Jane Rushworth

When planning Archers Wood, we saw a great opportunity to merge Irish art with nature as part of our ongoing Arts Programme by commissioning some sculptural pieces for the grounds of the development. We commissioned local Wicklow artist Emma Jane Rushworth, who has built up quite a name for herself thanks to her beautiful twisted wire garden sculptures. A finalist in Super Garden 2014 and a regular at Bloom, Emma Jane specialises in sculptures of animals – ideal for the wildlife idyll that is Delgany.