New Cork City Mural Celebrates People Living with HIV
20/10/2026
A striking new mural celebrating people living with HIV is set to take pride of place in Cork city. Commissioned by the Sexual Health Centre, the mural has been created by artists Shane O’Driscoll and Peter Martin of Ardú, Cork’s contemporary street art project, which has brought large-scale murals by Irish and international artists to prominent locations throughout the city.
The mural, prominently located on Drinan Street at Sullivans Quay, uses two hands reaching towards each other entwined in a red ribbon to create a powerful visual statement of connection, solidarity, hope and community.
The red ribbon, as an awareness ribbon, is used as the symbol for the solidarity of people living with HIV/AIDS.Through its bold public presence, the mural aims to celebrate the lives and experiences of people living with HIV, while helping to challenge the stigma and outdated perceptions that can still surround HIV.
The Sexual Health Centre has a long history of supporting people living with HIV, having first begun providing services in 1987 as Cork AIDS Alliance. Almost four decades later, the organisation continues to provide professional, confidential and non-judgemental HIV support as part of its wider sexual health services.
Chief Executive of the Sexual Health Centre, Fiona Finn, said:
“This mural is a celebration of people living with HIV and of the strength, resilience, connection and community that exists around them. We wanted to create something visible and positive in the heart of Cork city that reflects how far we have come.”
“The Sexual Health Centre has been supporting people living with HIV since 1987. In that time, we have seen enormous changes in HIV treatment. Today, people living with HIV on effective treatment have the same life expectancy as anyone else and cannot transmit the virus to their sexual partners.”
“Art has an incredible ability to start conversations and to change how we see the world around us. We hope this mural will be a joyful and visible celebration of people living with HIV.”
The mural follows on from the release of the Sexual Health Centre’s short film ‘My Day Is The Same As Yours.’ “We are conscious that many of the representations of people living with HIV tend to be rooted in the past, when a HIV diagnosis was life limiting. This is no longer the case and we are focussed on showing that these days people not only live with but thrive with HIV. People living with HIV are living full, ordinary and extraordinary lives and HIV does not define a person” says Fiona Finn.
The mural has been developed in collaboration with artists Peter Martin and Shane O’Driscoll of Ardú.
Shane comments:
“Having held a workshop with the community in the SHC, we gained a deeper understanding of people living with HIV and what themes, imagery and messaging to use within the creation of the artwork. It was very much a collaboration with those that provided insights and knowledge to myself and Peter and we hope it’s positive message is felt throughout the city and beyond."
The Sexual Health Centre hopes the mural will become both a landmark in the city and a catalyst for conversation about HIV, encouraging greater understanding.
Commissioned by The Sexual Health Centre, South Mall, Cork and supported by funding from Gilead, ViiV and GSK, Cork City Council, HSE Sexual Health Programme and generous paint suppliers sponsorship from Pat Mc Donnell Paints, Cork.
The Ardú Street Art initiative is supported through Cork City Council by the Creative Ireland programme.