The tallest mural in Ireland has been completed in Dundalk.
The mural, which depicts the warrior god Lú, the namesake of Co Louth, is 41 metres in height.
It has been painted on the side of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, which is the tenth tallest building in Ireland.
It took internationally renowned artist Sam Bates, also known as "Smug One", ten days to complete the work of art.
In the painting, Lú holds an electric blue-coloured sphere in one hand and a sword in the other.
There is a wolfhound at his feet.
Mr Bates used 247 cans of spray paint and 180 litres of emulsion paint to complete the mural.
"When they mentioned Lú to me and I researched him and looked into who he was and his relationship with the county, I got really excited because I love mythical concepts that are tied to actual history. This was right up my alley," he said.
For the Australian artist, painting at a height is something he is used to, however he admitted the wind can sometimes play havoc.
"It can be nerve-wracking at times. It’s been pretty windy and even just one storey off the ground, the wind is considerable, so it’s been a bit hairy at times," Mr Bates said.
But he said it comes with the job and being up so high meant he was afforded some beautiful sunsets.
"The clouds have been so dramatic and at sunset, when I turn around from the wall, I'm looking directly at the sun and it’s been so dramatic. It's been amazing," he said.
The mural is part of the SEEK urban arts festival, which is in its third year. Dozens of other murals have been painted around the town in recent years.
"It’s a Creative Ireland funded project and this year we decided to big or go home," laughed Martin McElligott, Dundalk Town Centre Commercial Manager.
"We knew this was an opportunity of a lifetime. It’s the highest point in the skyline. The project has generated lots of feedback, not just from people in Dundalk, but the diaspora all around the world," he explained.
Locals and visitors alike have been watching this painting come to life over the last ten days.
"People are thrilled to see it. It’s transformed the building," said Cormac McCann, Sales and Marketing Manager at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
"It’s fantastic to see Lú on the side of building, the namesake of Co Louth, the father of Cu Chúlainn, a son of Dundalk. It’s a great story for us."
For the artist, it is on to the next job, but he is happy to learn that this mural in Dundalk is the tallest in Ireland.
"I love holding titles. It might be my tallest mural too. I’m waiting on a measurement from a mural I painted in Sweden a few years ago, but I think this one has pipped it," Mr Bates said.
