Beneath a vibrant Dublin sky, find The Skating Minister Mural. This isn’t the original Skating Minister. It’s a modern tribute to a beloved Scottish artwork. The original painting, by Sir Henry Raeburn, depicts Reverend Robert Walker gracefully gliding across Duddingston Loch. This mural, created by Hugh Madden in 2018 as part of the Dublin Canvas project, captures the spirit of the original. The Skating Minister, a symbol of Scottish culture during the Enlightenment, now graces a street cabinet in Dublin, thanks to Dublin Canvas. Reverend Walker wasn’t just a minister. He was a member of the world’s first figure skating club, the Edinburgh Skating Club. He likely honed his skills on Dutch canals during his childhood, where his father served as a minister in Rotterdam. Walker, an avid skater, combined his love for the sport with his ministerial duties at Canongate Kirk. The mural’s artwork echoes the original painting’s unique style, capturing the minister’s serene glide across the ice. The image resonates with a sense of quiet joy and communion with nature. This mural invites you to reflect on the unlikely pairing of a minister and a sport. It connects two seemingly disparate worlds: the serene spirituality of a man of faith and the exhilarating freedom of skating on ice. The Skating Minister Mural is a testament to the enduring power of art to transcend time and place, connecting Dublin with Scotland’s rich cultural heritage.
Saint John the Evangelist
Whispers of history echo from these stones. This is the site of Saint John the Evangelist. Once a vibrant church