Squeeze!!! Sun-seekers have a ball with artwork

RedBall Galway is an art installation, which will see the 5.5m-wide ball squeezed into the famous Spanish Arch, enticing passers-by to take snaps, lean against it and even bounce off it.

The ball, which is the work of artist Kurt Perschke, has travelled around the world, displaying in 19 cities around the globe from Abu Dhabi and Paris to Sydney and Barcelona. It has now come to Ireland as part of the Galway International Arts Festival.

"We have never been to Ireland before and I'm excited about how people will react to it. Irish people have a playful wit and I think that will come out in the interactions," he said.

The ball will display in seven locations around the city for the next week, including wedged between buildings in Druid Lane, popping down to the Town Hall Theatre and even acting as the world's biggest beach ball with a trip to the seaside at Salthill Prom.

"Galway is a great city to display this because it has some great architecture. In some bigger cities you don't have the scope to allow people really interact with it," said the artist.

The ball will be on display from 11am to 6pm each day and a team will be on hand to record people's reactions to the structure.

"For me, it's not about the ball, it's about the energy it creates during the day.

"We'll be videoing the reactions and putting them up on our website and social media every day and we're working with a local composer to put together a longer piece of the experience," added Mr Perschke.

Teams will also be available to offer tips to those who just can't help but bounce off the giant red ball.

"If they do want to bounce off it, we want them to do it right. Jump high before you bounce off it or it will put you on the ground," said one volunteer.