The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) is inviting artists to apply for a public art commission aimed at celebrating and raising awareness of West Cork’s Blue Dot waters. The deadline for expressions of interest is 24th April 2026.
“LAWPRO’s project in West Cork offers an opportunity to connect people with the beauty and importance of what should be our most pristine waters,” said Barry Deane, South West Regional Coordinator with LAWPRO. “We are inviting artists to make a submission to celebrate these Blue Dot waterbodies in the form of public art. We’re looking for artists who can help communities in West Cork see the value of these unique environments, understand the challenges they face, and inspire action to protect them.”
LAWPRO works on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good or high water quality in rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water. Led by LAWPRO, the Blue Dot Catchment Programme collaborates with local communities to protect and restore Ireland’s Blue Dot or high status objective waterbodies.
Cork is the county with the most Blue Dot waterbodies in Ireland, with 73 river waterbodies and 1 coastal waterbody either already achieving, or having the objective of achieving, exceptional ecological quality. 26 of these Blue Dot-designated waterbodies can be found in the West Cork Municipal District alone.
When in high ecological condition, Blue Dot waters represent Ireland’s highest quality waterbodies, supporting species such as salmon, freshwater pearl mussel and European eel. However, many are under increasing pressure from changes to the natural shape of the land, pollution, agriculture and forestry.
As a result, many Blue Dots are no longer in pristine condition. This project will raise awareness about the fragility of these waters and encourage the public to take action to protect these ecosystems.
Artists are invited to express their interest in this project by emailing pocallaghan@lawaters.ie by 24th April 2026, with the below documents:
- Outline proposal (drawings/photomontages/videos/audios of proposed art project)
- Outline costings, specifications and timescale required to ensure that art project can be produced within the commission budget
- Examples of previous work
- CV
In previous years, the Blue Dot Catchments Programme successfully delivered similar initiatives in Kerry’s Iveragh Peninsula, Mayo and Connemara.
Artists Brief
Introduction
County Cork is home to the highest number of Blue Dot/High Status Objective (HSO) waterbodies in Ireland, with 73 river waterbodies and 1 coastal waterbody recognised for their exceptional ecological quality. These pristine rivers, many of which remain largely undisturbed, biodiverse, and ecologically rich, represent some of Ireland’s most valuable natural assets.
The West Cork area of County Cork guards a treasury of Ireland’s most natural and pristine water bodies, with 26 Blue Dot-designated river waterbodies within the West Cork Municipal District alone. These range from silver, sparkling mountain streams to the majesty of Bantry Bay. “Blue Dots” are jewels of our landscape and natural heritage, and their preservation and protection are of utmost importance.
Blue Dots, when in high ecological condition, contain our cleanest water, our best aquatic habitats and provide refuge for some of our most iconic and threatened species, including fish such as Salmon, Trout, Arctic Char, European Eel and Lamprey as well as internationally important populations of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel, a critically endangered and fascinating species and a myriad of other pollution sensitive flora and fauna. These waters also act as an ark protecting our special and sensitive aquatic species and supporting recolonisation of other water bodies when conditions allow.
Unfortunately, these systems are under threat due to many pressures. These include hydromorphological changes i.e., changes to the natural state of the water body through drainage, channelisation, siltation and other processes; nutrient enrichment from agricultural, urban and domestic sources; forestry, agriculture and other land use within their catchment areas. As a result many Blue Dots are no longer in pristine condition.
The Blue Dot Catchments Programme, led by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), was set up to bring together key stakeholders to focus efforts on the protection and restoration of these valuable but vulnerable ecosystems. A key part of this mission is to highlight and celebrate these incredibly special catchments and bring them to them to the forefront of public awareness.
Project Background/Context
To raise the profile of these important and vulnerable catchments in the West Cork MD area, the Blue Dot Catchments Programme is undertaking a schedule of works aiming to engage and educate the public. Building on previous Blue Dot awareness projects undertaken in Iveragh (Kerry), Connemara and Mayo, this will involve public information events, community engagement, creating a promotional video highlighting West Cork Blue Dots as well as other elements.
Commissioning of an artwork is a keystone of this awareness programme. To provide a lasting, visual communication and inspiration vehicle will help to achieve longevity for the project and continue its mission into the future.
Geographical area/ location of works
The artwork will be located in the West Cork Municipal District area to represent the importance of the 26 Blue Dot waterbodies in the region. The list below details the sections of the waterbodies which are currently classed as Blue Dot.
| Outer Bantry Bay | CROANSHAGH_010 |
| BLACKWATER (BANDON)_030 | GLENGARRIFF_010 |
| CAHA_010 | GLENGARRIFF_020 |
| CAHA_020 | LOUGH FADDA STREAM_010 |
| GLASHAGLORAGH (CORK)_010 | MEALAGH_010 |
| ILEN_030 | MEALAGH_020 |
| LEAMAWADDRA_010 | MAGANNAGAN STREAM_010 |
| LEAMAWADDRA_020 | OWENBEG (OWVANE)_010 |
| OWENNASHINGAUN_010 | OWNGAR (CORK)_010 |
| OWENNASHINGAUN_020 | OWVANE (CORK)_010 |
| RATHRUANE_010 | OWNAGAPPUL_010 |
| ADRIGOLE_010 | LEE (CORK)_040 |
| COOMHOLA_010 | |
| COOMHOLA_020 |
Type of piece, medium sought
The brief does not specify the materials to be used, but the artwork is intended to be permanent and of high quality in an outdoor setting. Therefore, it should be made of durable materials which require minimum maintenance.
Proposed Artistic Themes
Artists will be invited to respond to one or more of the following themes:
“What Makes a Blue Dot?”
Visualise or interpret the ecological characteristics, species, or natural processes that allow a river to be classified as High Status.
“Water Heritage of West Cork”
Explore human connections to rivers—past, present, and future—including folklore, culture, land use, and community memory.
“Fragility and Resilience”
Reflect on the challenges facing high-quality waters, and the actions communities can take to protect them.
“Rivers as Living Systems”
Celebrate the biodiversity and interconnectedness of West Cork’s freshwater environments.
“The Blue Dot Future”
Imagine a future where communities actively champion and protect their rivers.
Submission to include
- Outline proposal (drawings/photomontages/videos/audios of proposed art project)
- Outline costings, specifications and timescale required to ensure that art project can be produced within the commission budget
- Examples of previous work
- CV
Pricing
The tender is expected to cover all costs associated with the development and delivery of the project. All tenders must be submitted in Euros. Unquantified costs will not be accepted. It is expected that the tender price will be up to €20,000 inclusive of VAT at the applicable rate. The tender should provide a detailed breakdown of the cost per work item and as the project will be based in West Cork, the piece or installation is to be delivered and installed at a location in the region to be determined.
Payment will only be made on actual work delivered within the outlined timeframe. Any alteration or amendment to the pricing schedule may result in that economic operator’s bid being rejected.
Selection process
The selection process will take the form of an Open Competition. It is open to all interested professional artists at any stage of their career or experience.
Selection will be based on the information supplied by the artist to establish the competence of the artist(s) to carry out this commission.
Assessment process
Artists are invited to express their interest in being considered for this West Cork Blue Dot project. Artists may do this by responding to the Blue Dot Project Lead Dr. Paul O’Callaghan pocallaghan@lawaters.ie , with the above required documents. The closing date for receipt of same is 24th April 2026.
From the completed expression of interest applications; a shortlist of artists will be selected by the selection panel. This panel, whose decision is final, has the right to clarify any issue which may arise in the course of selection.
- Dr Paul O’Callaghan, Blue Dot Programme Manager
- Ellen Murphy, LAWPRO Community Water Officer Cork
- Designated member of Cork County Council