The Irish Nation is a trail of mosaic artworks created by world renowned mosaic artist Mark Kennedy. The original pieces of work will be on public display in a series of cultural and leisure venues throughout Manchester in March 2024 to coincide with the Manchester Irish Festival. The project is delivered by the Irish Mancunian and proudly supported by global public art producers Wild in Art.

Manchester is a city with a long-established Irish connection, it is estimated that around 35 per cent of the city's population has some Irish ancestry. It is therefore appropriate that this project should be unveiled in this great city.

Almost 10 years’ ago, Mark spontaneously created a piece of his favourite playwright Samuel Becket (see above). This wonderful piece of work awakened something within him, reaffirming his deep Irish roots, and over the following years he has added companion pieces which have culminated in this exhibition. The Irish Nation features 17 unique and previously unseen mosaics representing Irish Icons of literature, music, sport and history.

The Irish Nation will see the artist’s striking images of James Joyce, John F. Kennedy, Luke Kelly, Eileen Gray, George Best, Brendan Behan, Seamus Heaney, Constance Markievicz, Morrissey, Sinead O’Connor, Shane MacGowan, Oscar Wilde, Katie Taylor, Samuel Becket, Phil Lynott, as well an image of the Famine Mother and Children and the film The Quiet Man appear as a free to view art trail in the following venues throughout the month of March.

1. Luke Kelly at Hallé St Peter’s 

2. Oscar Wilde at QueerLit

3. Morrissey at 1st Floor at the Smith’s Tribute  in Afflecks

4. Katy Taylor at Koffee Pot

5. Eileen Gray at Manchester Craft and Design Centre

6. Sinead O’Connor at New Century

7. Shane MacGowan at New Century

8. George Best at the National Football Museum

9. Brendan Behan at the Royal Exchange Theatre

10. Seamus Heaney at the Portico Library

11. James Joyce at Manchester Central Library

12. Constance Markievicz at the People’s History Museum

13. John F. Kennedy at Manchester Science and Industry Museum

14. Samuel Beckett at 53Two

15. The Quiet Man at HOME

16. Phil Lynott at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)

17. Bridget O'Donnell (Famine Mother and her children) on the side of the Thirsty Scholar

Each artwork will have a plaque with a QR code taking you to https://www.theirishnation.com/ that has a wealth of information about each Irish Icon and highlights any specific links they have to the city of Manchester.