Hazelbank memories just ‘Swell’

Deirdre Robb’s sculpture ‘Swell’ was unveiled in the airport on Wednesday (September 12) and will be seen by some of the millions of passengers who pass through the terminal each year.

The piece was chosen after an art exhibition, which was sponsored by the airport, in east Belfast featured her work.

The 48 year old who was a former pupil at Stella Maris on the Church Road and went to St James’ Primary School said the inspiration for the piece came from her days growing up in the Cloughfern area close to Hazelbank.

She said: “I have many fond memories of growing up and playing at Hazelbank and on the Loughshore beach, not just as a kid, but as a teenager as well.

“When I was designing this piece I drew on those memories.

“The piece is a large scale 3d installation made from resin. It is like waves frozen in ice crashing on the shoreline.

“Since I have been working on installing the piece in the airport the reaction has been fantastic.

“People have been asking questions about it and coming up to touch it and the airport staff have been saying lots of people are asking about it - which gave me a little leap of joy.”

Previously Deirdre has had work exhibited around the world. The artist’s last large scale piece of work involved life-size sculptures of ‘superwomen’ suspended from trees in an Australian forest.

Deirdre continued: “That was well received and was seen by many people, but having a piece installed in the airport is very special and to think of all the thousands of people and the exposure it will get, is just incredible.”