IPB Insurance Marks Centenary with Landmark Sand Art Installation - Celebrating 100 Years of Supporting Irish Communities
- Danny Joyce | Editor
- 3 minutes ago
- 4 min read
IPB Insurance is marking its centenary with a spectacular, specially commissioned sand art installation on Duncannon Beach, Co. Wexford, celebrating 100 years of its role in supporting the people, places and public services at the heart of Irish communities.
The installation, created by renowned Irish environmental artist Sean Corcoran, coincides with new nationwide research commissioned by IPB Insurance to mark its 100th anniversary, revealing the places and landmarks Irish people value most and highlighting the strong connection people have with the public spaces that form part of everyday life.
Protecting the infrastructure and public spaces Irish communities rely on, IPB Insurance touches the lives of people across Ireland every day. From the roads, footpaths and infrastructure networks that connect communities, to the parks, beaches and public spaces enjoyed by millions. Established in 1926 as Ireland’s first mutual insurer for public bodies, IPB Insurance has spent the past 100 years working alongside public sector organisations to help protect the assets, services and shared spaces communities rely on.
The research found that Kerry, Donegal and Wexford are regarded as Ireland’s favourite beach counties, while Donegal and Leitrim are considered the country’s most overlooked or underrated counties. The Cliffs of Moher was named Ireland’s most iconic landmark by a clear margin, while 93% of people said that protecting Ireland’s beaches and public spaces is important.
The findings offer a timely snapshot of the places that matter most to people across Ireland, while reflecting the wider role IPB insurance has played throughout its 100-year history in helping to protect the infrastructure, services and shared spaces communities depend on.
Established in 1926 as Ireland’s first mutual insurer for public bodies, IPB Insurance has grown alongside the State, supporting local authorities, healthcare providers, educational institutions, charities, heritage organisations and national sporting bodies. Today, IPB Insurance is Ireland’s only indigenous mutual insurer, working in partnership with public sector organisations to help safeguard the assets, services and shared spaces that communities rely on every day.
Over the past 100 years, IPB has helped protect many of Ireland's most treasured public assets from schools, hospitals and libraries, parks and beaches to roads and some of the country's most iconic landmarks, including the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, the Samuel Beckett Bridge and public spaces enjoyed by millions every year.
Commitment to Irish communities extends beyond its IPB’s insurance role. Since 2012, IPB Insurance has committed €23 million to social and community initiatives across Ireland, supporting areas including social enterprise, voluntary groups, sport and education. Its Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF) further demonstrates IPB’s ongoing commitment to supporting projects that make a positive difference in communities across the country.The centenary sand art installation on Duncannon Beach brings these themes together. Designed around the iconic circular IPB Insurance logo, the large-scale artwork features a Celtic motif at its centre, representing the organisation’s heritage and enduring connection to Ireland. Divided into four sections by the points of the compass, the artwork symbolises IPB’s presence in communities across every corner of the country and reflects the breadth of its work over the past 100 years.
Each section represents an important part of the IPB Insurance story. The rising sun symbolises optimism, renewal and a commitment to creating a positive future for generations to come. Interwoven Celtic pathways represent the roads, streets and transport networks that connect communities and the public infrastructure IPB has helped protect for a century. The coastline celebrates Ireland’s beaches, harbours and waterways, while the final section depicts the parks, forests and green spaces that enrich communities across the country.
Created entirely from natural sand, the installation also reflects a ‘leave no trace’ philosophy, celebrating responsible stewardship before naturally returning to the landscape.
The centenary installation coincides with new nationwide research commissioned by IPB Insurance, exploring the places and landmarks Irish people value most.
The research found:
Kerry, Donegal and Wexford are regarded as Ireland's favourite beach counties.
Donegal and Leitrim are considered Ireland's most overlooked or underrated counties.
The Cliffs of Moher was named Ireland's most iconic landmark by a clear margin.
An overwhelming 93% of people believe protecting Ireland's beaches and public spaces is important, with support increasing among older generations.
The findings highlight the deep connection people have with the places that shape everyday life and reinforce the importance of protecting the shared spaces that define communities across Ireland.
Speaking on Duncannon Beach John Kearns, CEO of IPB Insurance , added, "For a century, IPB has worked alongside local authorities and public sector organisations to help safeguard the places and services people rely on every day. As we celebrate this important milestone, we are also looking firmly to the future, continuing to support resilient, sustainable and thriving communities across Ireland. The research shows just how deeply people value Ireland's beaches, landmarks and public spaces, and we are proud to have played a role in helping protect these places for generations.”
John Hogan, Chair of the IPB Board said, "As IPB celebrates 100 years, we are incredibly proud of the role we have played in helping to protect the places that bring Ireland together. From schools and hospitals to beaches, parks, sporting facilities and some of our most iconic landmarks, our story is intrinsically linked with the story of modern Ireland. This beautiful sand art installation symbolises the connections that have united communities for generations and reflects our enduring commitment to serving communities in every corner of the country."
As IPB Insurance begins its second century, it remains committed to working in partnership with its members to protect Ireland’s public assets, strengthen communities and invest in initiatives that make a lasting difference to people across the country.
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