Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:48 Page 1 VISUAL ARTS MUSIC & DANCE ISSUE & FILM THEATRE THE WRITTEN WORD A REVIEW OF THE ARTS IN LAOIS, LONGFORD, OFFALY AND WESTMEATH WINTER 2013

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New Script Festival ...... Page 3 Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2010 Remembering Vinny Baker • Briefs Movie Makers Bring Midlands Back in Time...... Page 4 The Naked Truth of the Painted Word Midlands Taking the Choral World by Storm...... Page 5 andCulture Longford Poet Poet published New Poems Laois School of Music Approved for Funding A Word from Arts Magazine Psychotic Episodes ...... Page 6 New Artist in Residence for German who has made German Artist returns for Inspiration the Editor 2013 Arthouse Studio Awards Welcome to the latest issue of the Midlands And That’s a Wrap! ...... Page 7 Arts and Culture Magazine and thank you to Athlone Literary Festival • Briefs those who sent in their stories. Tuesdays with Morrie ...... Page 8 This issue stretches to 40 pages – and it could Green is Pink have stretched to many more. There is such a Culture night in Laois ...... Page 9 wealth of varying arts and Culture activities 5 TULLAMORE CHOIR New School Launched in honor James Fintan Lalor across the Midlands that it can sometimes be overwhelming when trying to select events TAKING OVER THE Culture night in Offaly ...... Page 10 and works to showcase. CHORAL WORLD Culture night in Westmeath...... Page 11 I constantly find it a source of wonder that Artist Pat Byrne Shares his Experiences ...... Page 12 despite the many cuts to arts funding, the Singing her way to Success Midlands still manages to flourish – and that’s Young Longford Pianist has Keys to Success ...... Page 13 in no small part to the hard work of its Art Knitting their way into the Movies Officers and the tireless efforst of volunteers. Glimpses of James Fintan Lalor through the Eyes of They must be commended. Children with Ann Egan...... Page 14 However, we must ensure that the benefit of Lus Na Gréine arts and culture to our communities is highlighted loudly and often in order to retain Longford Schools Photographer of the Year...... Page 15 existing funding and secure new support. 16-17 LONGFORD OFFline Film Festival Stages Sequel Much has happened since the last issue SHOWS ITS LOVE- THE Love In Longford ...... Page 16-17 including the appointment of a new Arts INAUGURAL ‘LOVE IN Dunamaise Open Call ...... Page 18 Officer for Westmeath. However, Miriam Slieve Bloom's Storytelling Festival Mulrennan is no stranger to Westmeath, LONGFORD’ TOOK PLACE A spark of Genius...... Page 19 having previously held the position of Longford’s biggest ever Choral Performance Manager of the Athlone Arts and Heritage Ltd. Offaly Libraries Autumn Author Visits In that role Miriam oversaw a number of Art and Heritage sites, facilities and amenities Children’s Festivals ...... Page 20 under development in Athlone including Luan Exploration of an Old process ...... Page 21 Gallery and Athlone Castle. Undoubtedly her Independence Hero Unveiled by Taosieach expertise and talents will be put to great use Mary Clifford ...... Page 22 in her new role. Offaly Youth Theatre Expands to Edenderry ...... Page 23 This year sees some great events and Little Women...... Page 24 exhibitions across the Midlands sure to attract 22 MARY CLIFFORD IS some new followers to the arts. Artist Karen Hendrey is Shaped by The Absent Ocean....Page 25 One such event is Culture Night which is MAKING TRACKS IN THE Time and Place Captured ...... Page 26 almost upon us once again and is a great ART WORLD John Lennon Bus Parks up initiative to enable everyone to experience the Tullamore Lay Foundations for Town Art arts for free. St Colmcille's Pipe Band ...... Page 27 A play which has been specially commissioned Ballet Ireland puts Best Foot Forward in Laois based on the writings of James Fintan Lalor RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in Tullamore will be treading the boards in Laois. And in Gerard Byrne ...... Page 28-29 Offaly Pop up Poetry will be performed by Luan Gallery Showcases Music and Visual Arts and Richard Brennan and the Tullamore Rhymers. Scoops Major Award...... Page 29 And Mullingar visitors should prepare Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath ...... Page 30 themselves to be Yarn Bombed when various 24 LITTLE LAOIS objects around the town will be all snuggled In the Can (but not in the Cannes) ...... Page 31 up with colourful displays of knitting and WOMEN- SCHOOLS Laois Youth Theatre Open call crocheting to showcase the long practised art. Who is Eilleen Coghlan?...... Page 32 INSPIRED BY NOVEL A number of other festivals are highlighted LLiterary awards acknowledges Longford Writers ...Page 33 throughout the magazine with some brand Westmeath Volunteers injecting magic into the Midlands new ones being launched. One which Bridge, Bellows and Bow for Emo ...... Page 34 particularly took my fancy was the Love in There’s something about Shinrone Longford festival. And, despite the name New Legends from Old Woods ...... Page 35 there’s no funny business! Displaying the wealth of artistic talent locally through pop up Angela Delaney talks about her work ...... Page 36 art and literary exhibitions, and live musical Let’s Connect performances was the real name of the game. 36 LET'S CONNECT: Mullingar Town Band ...... Page 37 Angela Madden ARTISTS TAKE ON Laois arts programe 2013...... Page 38 Editor Luan gallery showcases music and visual arts Gary Robinson is pictured on the front cover. MENTAL HEALTH Athlone Castle ...... Page 39

A look inside Pic taken by Shelley Corcoran.

YOUR LOCAL ARTS OFFICERS

County Offaly County Westmeath County Laois County Longford WHO: Sinead O'Reilly, WHO: Miriam Mulrennan WHO: Muireann Ní Chonaill WHO: Fergus Kennedy WHERE: Offaly County Council, WHERE: Westmeath County Council WHERE: Laois County Council, WHERE: Longford County Council, Charleville Road, Tullamore County Buildings, Mullingar Portlaoise, Co Laois Great Water St. Longford. CONTACT: Telephone 057 9357400 CONTACT: Telephone 044 93 32016 CONTACT: Tel: 057 8664109 CONTACT: Tel: 086 8517595 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.offaly.ie/arts www.westmeathcoco.ie/arts www.laois.ie/arts www.longfordcoco.ie/arts_office.html 2 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:48 Page 3

SCRIPTS Lisa Daly and Angela Ryan Eugene O’Brien Briefs Michael Harding and Paul Durcan for Leaves Literary Festival The Leaves Literary Festival promises wonderful opportunities to NEW SCRIPT FESTIVAL FOCUSING ON WRITING listen to the very best of writing established and emerging from Ireland with a programme which includes readings, workshops in FOR THE STAGE EMERGES IN OFFALY creative writing, talks, children’s “A barbeque or two & Arts Centre and Jasango Theatre have had Plays which will appear in unconventional events and music. Eat, drink, and sleep new works a happy history of creating new works for the performance spaces throughout the festival Workshops we have a few, guaranteed stage. Having hosted Jasango’s first two week. The Pop Up Plays will be the product of NOV 8 national tours, producers went on to another high-tempo competition-the ‘write a The Festival commencing on Friday, no writers hurt! collaborate on Bo Leictreach Green Play play in a day challenge’ where playwrights November 8 includes a wonderful Dazzling premieres, the lucky 7 star, Festival in 2011 where they co-produced with register to put their writing skills to the test evening of readings and music with Playwrights of whom by then, Selkie Theatre, USA, an Irish version of under the shadow of the ticking clock, having contributors such as Michael Harding, will have been mentored and had a jar; Selkie’s festival of green-themed plays just 24 hours to complete a five-minute play. Rita Kelly, Donal Ryan A festival which will be festive on each Electric Cow. Actors and directors have a further 24 hours and Mary O’Donnell starting at 8pm in of its 7 days, and when it’s time to to rehearse, memorise and stage these pop the Arthouse, Stradbally, Co Laois. be rested; In 2012, Birr Theatre & Jasango Theatre up plays-not for the faint hearted, but Earlier that day a popular award commissioned playwright Siobhan Donnellan guaranteed to create rivers of adrenalin We will have 7 new Irish plays.” winning author Grace Wells will pay to write an environmental play which received running through the streets of Birr! a visit to Mountmellick Girls NS and For seven days in September the picturesque an enthusiastic response from audiences give a reading in Mountmellick Library. heritage town of Birr, county Offaly, a haven of when premiered last September. Early in RADIO PLAY Georgian elegance, will play host to an 2012, plans to create a dedicated national The seventh play is a radio play, where the NOV 9 playwriting festival began resulting in the winning play of the Wild For The Wireless ensemble of playwrights, producers, actors On Saturday 9th November, from and directors, all working towards one goal - establishment of Scripts-Ireland’s Playwriting competition will be broadcast as part of the 11am-4pm, writer’s workshops titled to produce seven outstanding new Irish plays Festival which runs at Birr Theatre & Arts festival. This selected play is professionally 'Getting Started in Writing' to take in seven fun-filled days! This innovative new Centre from September 8 to 14. Central to rehearsed, directed, produced and recorded place in the Dunamaise Arts Centre playwriting festival called Scripts Ireland is co- the establishment of Scripts has been the and goes on to represent the festival through produced by Birr Theatre & Arts Centre and involvement of Playwright Eugene O’Brien, the medium of radio drama, thereafter. hosted by Rita Kelly. . The workshops Jasango Theatre and is supported by Offaly who has had a key role in shaping the will be followed at 4.15pm by a very County Council and Offaly Local Development developmental process of the festival. WORKSHOPS interesting and entertaining talk on Company. Lovers of theatre can also look forward to the writings of Samuel Beckett, by Dr The festival sets an annual theme around writing workshops for adults and young Arthur Broomfield. A touring theatre company, Jasango Theatre which writers can develop a short play of up people which are being led by the finest of observed in recent years the difficulty to 15 Minutes in length. This year saw Irish writing talent. With the cream of An evening with writer Paul Durcan emerging in producing new plays. With entries being submitted from every corner of contemporary Irish creative talent at the will take place in the wonderful recessionary times impacting on the Arts Ireland, UK and America from both first-time helm, Midlands based theatre artists have a surroundings of Preston House, more than other sectors, producers at and experienced playwrights on the theme unique opportunity to work with the likes of Abbeyleix. Paul will read from his Jasango observed a growing cautiousness Home. The reading panel selected four plays Eugene and Phillip McMahon, and take part latest book and selected poems. The amongst venues and audiences towards the to be work shopped, rehearsed and in a national playwriting event right in the award-winning Preston House production of new work. performed as part of the festival. The four heart of Ireland. Restaurant will provide a special early selected playwrights are mentored by Eugene bird dinner prior to the event. Tel: Artistic Director, Angela Ryan Whyte noted: throughout the festival week and have the TO FIND OUT MORE 057 8731432. “With less money in everybody’s pocket, the opportunity to adapt and hone their scripts To view the full programme of events, find out majority of people seemed more inclined to having seen them read by professional how to book tickets or workshops and learn Bookings for all Literary events can want to see tried and trusted work rather actors. more about the team of artists at work on be made at the Dunamaise Arts than experience something new or different. Ireland’s newest playwriting festival visit Centre Tel: 057 8663355. While this was a general trend, we were Directors and actors, together with www.scriptsireland.com The Scripts team www.dunamaise.ie and more aware that there was still an appetite for new playwrights and mentoring playwright, then advise that workshops have limited information from the Arts Office, work amongst our existing audience work over the seven day period to perfect and availability and early booking is advised to Laois County Council T: 057 database as well as a host of playwrights polish each script which are all performed on guarantee a slot! 8664033/13 E: [email protected] writing and wanting their work produced.” the final night of the festival. All plays are Contact Scripts at [email protected] W: www.laois.ie judged on the final night and one is selected Tel: 057 9122893 or + 353 86 3638758 Follow Scripts on Facebook at The response was to create a dedicated as Best Play. The festival also produces three The award winning Preston House playwriting festival - a forum where new work other plays over the course of the week - a www.facebook.com/scripts and learn more Restaurant will provide an early bird could be developed, produced and celebrated play for every day of the week! about producing partners at dinner prior to the event on Saturday and playwrights, actors, directors and www.jasangotheatre.org and 9th November - contact Preston producers could workshop exciting new work PLAYS POPPING UP IN BIRR www.birrtheatre.com House on 057 8731432. M reflective of ever-changing times. Birr Theatre Audiences in Birr can look forward to Pop Up M REMEMBERING VINNY BAKER The Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine pays tribute to Westmeath musician Vinny was widely known throughout the including Bending The Strings, The and all, as so many of Vinny’s friends had music, entertainment and arts industry Tennessee Breakdown Band, Hard gathered together, not knowing that it as a man who could literally play any Station and Cabin Fever - to name just a would be their last musical session with instrument and was without doubt one of few. their friend and musical legend. Ireland’s most loved guitar players. But, he always had time and a kind word Vinny who ran Vee Bee Recording studios Friends of Vinny believe: “You may have for others aiming to break through and at his home in The Downs, close to left this world but there is no doubt, you throughout his career was a great help to Mullingar in County Westmeath, just two are making magical music in the next! As so many young and up-and-coming bands weeks before his passing launched his a token of your talent and work, it is true and acts. CD Vinny Baker and Friends To The Max to say the musical legacy that you left in The Greville Arms Hotel. behind will play on forever more! You Vinny played in numerous bands with were a great friend, musician and all varying musical influences down the As it transpired, the occasion was to be a round good guy who will never be Vinny Baker, a musical legend who years from show bands to bluegrass, very special and memorable night for one forgotten!” M will never be forgotten 3 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:49 Page 4

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2013 One of the leading ladies Tara pictured here filming in Tyrellspass, County Westmeath as part of Nightingale Falling.

THE CAST IS AS FOLLOWS: Tara Breathnach May Collingwood Muireann Bird Tilly Collingwood Gerard McCarthy Captain James Shearing Movie Makers Bring Midlands Elliot Moriarty Jackie Nolan Brian Fortune Tom Nolan BACK IN TIME Andy Kellegher by Maria Daly Black & Tan Captain Rose Henderson household and its inhabitants, caught in GAA club let us use their club house as For most of us July was the Sally Johnson month we eventually saw the crucible of dark deep secrets. base and the Tidy Towns committee were very helpful with putting me in touch with Michael Ford sunshine, but for some The film was directed by Offaly man the right people.” Dr Devlin Midland residents it was the Garret Daly who, along with producer Martina McGlynn, have together created The people of Daingean were, of course, Blathnaid Ryan month Hollywood came to an impressive body of award-winning a little more used to seeing Garrett and Jeannie Devlin work already. his crew around. Locals didn’t seem their village. Mark Tankersley phased by road closures or the presence Re.Johnson Film director Garret Daly brought a touch Working on a budget of €30,000, Garrett of the film crew. And although of magic to the towns of Tyrellspass in decided to use his home village of professional actors were used for major Maura Clancy County Westmeath and Daingean, Daingean for the majority of the shooting roles, a lot of extras came from the Mrs Brady, The Shopkeeper county Offaly when they were chosen as while Tyrellspass was also used for two Midlands. Johnnie Brady set locations for a new Irish film A days of filming. Nightingale Falling. “People were great, we got some 1920’s Mr Brady, The Publican “We were originally meant to film in Clare costumes, a threshing machine, props, but we decided to change to Offaly and and even some vintage cars came from Pat McEvoy Based on the book of the same name The Postman written by P.J. Curtis, this 1920’s drama film in Daingean, which used to be Mullingar,” he added. had heads turning across the Midlands known as Philipstown,” explained Martin McCourtney Garrett. Film extras from across Westmeath and as actors in period costumes as well as a Paul large crew rolled into town to film. the Midlands along with an array of Although Daingean contained most of props, not forgetting backdrops and film Paul Keating The film tells a story of war-torn Ireland the set requirements for the film, locations – made this a very local Paddy production travelled the short distance to production. during the War of Independence Michael O’Rourke concentrating on two women whose lives Tyrellspass as the main village backdrop. Michael are overtaken and changed forever as “The crescent was used a lot, and the old A Nightingale Falling should be ready for they care for a wounded soldier who school house was used as the doctor’s release in 2014, when viewers will get a arrives on their doorstep. house,” added Garrett. chance to see the Midlands in all its glory thanks to this independent M What transpires is a tragic love story of a “The locals both in Tyrellspass and production. Daingean were a great help. Tyrellspass The Naked Truth of the Painted Word by Patrick Conboy One county Longford poet is mirrors with snippets of my poems and people to witness her creative output we decided we’d like to explore the idea until now have been the members of her preparing to take the leap and further.” local writing group and followers of her reveal her work to the public blog, valeriemasters.blogspot.com. for the first time as part of a Her daughter, who at 22 years-old now “I’ve always written, but I really got runs her own studio in Limerick, serious about it in 1994 after my unique artistic collaboration subsequently received the Limerick Art youngest child was born. Then I joined with her daughter. Society Award for Excellence Shown, and the Ballymahon Writers Group in 1998. her work has already come to the The group really motivates me to write, The Naked Truth Series will open at the attention of art experts. and they’re bluntly honest.” Backstage Theatre’s Atrium Gallery on Thursday, November 7 – an exhibition Describing their collaborative process, While she chiefly focuses on poetry, consisting of Body Image paintings by Valerie said: “Before she completes the Valerie also writes short stories and she Lorraine Masters with her mother, paintings Lorraine passes them on to me explains that she explores juxtaposing Valerie, contributing poetry which will be and I’ll draw inspiration from the images themes in each discipline: “My poetry is incorporated into the artwork. for my writing. I then hand them back to dark, dealing with topics such as death her and she finishes off the art by adding and depression. “Lorraine has provided the inspiration for my words. me with her paintings,” Valerie admitted. “My short stories, on the other hand, tend “She completed her BA in Fine Art & “If this exhibition is successful,” she to funny although it’s difficult for me to Printing at the University of Limerick last added “we hope to bring The Naked Truth pin them to a specific genre. I’ve written year and as part of her graduate Series to other galleries as well.” 22 stories so far and I’d like to see if I can exhibition she featured a collection of publish them at some point.” Body Image works. She incorporated Valerie has been quietly working on her M writing for almost 20 years but the only Valerie Masters 4 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:49 Page 5 Taking the Choral

World by Storm Edward Denniston Longford poet publishes new collection by Patrick Conboy

During the summer, Longford poet Edward Denniston published a new collection of poetry The Scale of Things.

Edward, a teacher of English and Drama, has lived and worked in Tullamore Academy Chamber Choir Waterford with his wife and children since 1980. His family has historical links with the city, with one of his The multi award winning Tullamore Academy Chamber Choir has an array of prestigious awards Presbyterian ancestors having lived under its belt having scooped National Choir of the Year 2012 and topped the Navan and Kiltimagh and preached dissent in the area during the 18th century. Choral Festivals this year. The choir also secured a prestigious runner up place in the RTE Lyric FM Choirs for Christmas competition, which attracted 400 choirs nationally. The collection, published by Salmon Poetry, was launched at Greyfriars The Tullamore Academy Chamber Choir directed by Ciaran Brady who has an You can read more about the choir on Municipal Gallery in Waterford in July. comprises 21 local choral scholars from Honours MA in Music and Vocal www.theacademyofmusic.ie and if you The Tullamore Academy of Music and Performance from NUI Maynooth. would like to hear the choir perform, His other publications include The they have taken the choral world by Further post-graduate studies brought see them for free on Culture Night, Point of Singing, an ebook entitled storm with an innovative and eclectic him to Germany where he trained in September 20 at Birr Theatre and Arts Eskimo Advice and Interacting – 60 collection of choral music, specially Advanced Vocal Technique with Centre. M Drama Scripts. M chosen for their competitive show- Professor Markus Goritzky at the stopping nature. Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg. As winners of the National Choir of the Year 2012 the choir were this year Laois School of Music under pressure to present an even more Not surprisingly, prolific and challenging repertoire of the choir has been APPROVED FOR choral music to maintain and achieve European Union Funding an even more advanced standard of approached by choral excellence. several international Laois School of Music in Laois School of Music also intends to produce a 2013 was also the inauguration of a choral communities conjunction with Tallaght self-coaching toolbox to enable musicians to new competition on the Irish Choral requesting for them determine their degree of proficiency in a range scene called Irelands Choir of the Year, Community Arts has been of skills /competencies. Depending on the which was held at Cork International to compete abroad approved for funding under the outcome of the assessment there will be a Choral Festival, now acknowledged as suggested programme of work or direction one of Europe’s leading choral festivals. Ciaran is Director of the Academy of European Union’s Leonardo towards helpful resources to make good any The competition was held in Cork City Music in Tullamore and is also a full programme. identified deficiencies. Hall with most leading Irish choirs time professional Vocal Coach. Ciaran’s competing including The Academy Voice training started at the age of 10 The Leonardo programme is part of an initiative Chamber Choir. Adjudication came from as a boy treble and Head Chorister of by the EU to support Life Long Learning and is HISTORY The Laois School of Music opened in a panel of five of the top international the famous Palestrina Choir. specifically targeted at the Vocational September 2001 based in Portlaoise and adjudicators from the US, Hungary, Professionally he was a member of the Educational and Training Sector and its currently has 350 students, 16 part-time Finland, UK and Ireland. The Academy RTE Chamber Choir and founder relationship with the world of Work. Chamber Choir won third place, giving member of The National Chamber Choir. specialised music teachers, a full-time co- them the official ranking of being the He also has extensive work as a soloist ordinator and more than 900 Primary School The title of the project is Preparing for Success third best choir in Ireland. and recordings and has worked with pupils availing of Music Outreach. In providing in Music and Laois School of Music will be companies such as National Opera, quality tuition in Piano, Guitar, Strings, working with four other partners - Austria, With this achievement the choir Opera Northern Ireland and Opera Woodwind, Voice, Percussion, Kindermusic, Denmark, France and Turkey. The programme performed at the Navan Choral Festival Ireland. Ciaran is also a prolific choral Junior and Leaving Cert. music, the school has encourages organisations from around Europe where they swept the boards winning educator and conductor and is also become a recognised centre of excellence for to visit each others countries over a two year the top spot at both the Early Music and Director and Conductor of Moate Youth Laois and the surrounding counties. The LSM period and work together on delivering an the Irish Language competitions Choir and was Director of the Maynooth has also developed a Youth Orchestra with 34 agreed programme of work which will be of (performing a new work Siosuram So by University Chamber Choir. members age 12 to 18 and a Junior Orchestra leading Irish composer Michael benefit in the future to the Vocational Sector. (Orpheus) with 22 members age seven to 12. McGlynn) and walking away with second Each choral scholar is a student of voice prize in the Sacred Music competition. with The Academy and has a different The proposed programme of work includes Tallaght Community Arts is a pro-active arts and wide-ranging background in solo, exploring both the music and the non-music development organisation working with Not surprisingly, the choir has been operatic and competitive performance, skills which are necessary for a successful professional artists, local communities, schools approached by several international which enhances the choir’s ability to career in music. Music skills include proficiency and youth groups to activate arts programmes choral communities requesting for them undertake some of the more on one’s chosen instrument, ability to read in line with the needs of the wider Tallaght to compete abroad, which is under challenging choral works and music, vocal technique, etc. while non-music community: geographically, culturally and consideration for 2014. contributes to their fresh and unique skills include personal management, familiarity sound. The Academy Chamber Choir’s socially. with information technology, basic business and ABOUT THE CHOIR repertoire spans from early to marketing skills. The Tullamore Academy Chamber Choir contemporary music. was founded in September 2007 and is 5 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:50 Page 6

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2013 Alan McMonagle Stefanie Brüning

GERMAN ARTIST returns for inspiration

Visiting German artist Stefanie Brüning has taken up a three-month residency at the Arthouse, Stradbally.

Stefanie trained as a sculptor and art teacher in the Academy of Fine Arts Munich and since then she has worked as a freelance artist and PSYCHOTIC EPISODES university lecturer for art. “I pursue my professional career Longford author Alan McMonagle currently in Germany but since 2001 I maintain Ireland as my second place of residency. I enjoy a special launches book of short stories connection with the country, where I lived and worked permanently from by Patrick Conboy 2006-09 and draw my inspiration from the essence of its landscape and Alan McMonagle has received But, Alan has grown to love his On his stories, he revealed: “You get so nature.” She explained. widespread praise for his hometown again and these days even many ideas, and if you can just “Space and the line form the basis for drawing inspiration from it: “After all that coalesce one into a story, that’s one my artistic examination. Currently I writing at home and abroad time I still had all these places, streets idea dealt with and you can move onto am working mainly with paper, which I and the Longford writer has and alleys and lanes, and people’s the next one. It’s so satisfying to begin often fabricate myself. I like to names – nicknames in particular – something and then to finally nudge it manipulate it in colour, weight, been recognised with a which is why a lot of my stories have over the finish line. Then there’s the surface and dimension etc.” plethora of awards from the been inspired by Longford; early inevitable muddle which takes it from memories, which is why a lot of the the beginning to the end. I think it was Professional Artists Retreat, Stefanie added that her technical stories, also have a youthful voice to the brilliant British poet Philip Larkin approach to this material is the “cut”. the Fundacion Valparaiso, the them.” who said ‘every good short story has a “By ‘opening’ the paper surface with a beginning, a muddle, and an end’, so I Banff Centre for Creativity and scalpel, space is created- literally as Alan’s latest tome, a book of short find myself muddling quite a lot of the well as symbolically. The initial the Arts Council of Ireland. stories called Psychotic Episodes was time! But that’s what I enjoy.” exploring of the sheets by pencil launched in May. It’s a collection full of drawings is followed by cutting out the “I started to write when I was only about humour and anxiousness, with the His work isn’t limited to the short story fragile lines and grids - thus drawing seven years-old,” the author revealed. characters grappling for their place in format either. “I’ve had a couple of becomes tactile and fluctuates “One of the first stories I wrote was called the scheme of things. Portions of it may forays into a novel which is still resting between being two - and three The Ants Who Grew Into Gi-Ants – I already be familiar to some readers, in my drawer somewhere. I dabble in dimensional. In my paper cuts I am thought the title was so clever! But then I especially the title story, which was poetry, I dabble in radio plays – I still interested to reveal the skeleton, the started secondary school and there was a nominated for the Pushcart Prize in love writing drama – and this is all intrinsic fabric of a place, reducing it 20-year gap before I started to write 2011. fallout in the best possible way from sometimes to abstract laces or single again.” the MA in Writing I completed at NUI cyphers.” “It’s a rush, it’s really why you put your Galway in 2007. That gave me a His early enthusiasm may have been head on a plate,” he commented on foothold to tackle all these different Stefanie’s first week at the Arthouse tempered by an overwhelming desire to awards nominations. “It’s lovely, too, genres. The short stories are what I will in early august was spent working on break out into the world beyond especially if you have one of your peers – always return to, though.” the Arts Office Summer Programme. Longford. “I couldn’t wait to get out of one of your heroes – on the adjudicating M Longford as a teenager…I felt very panel.” M claustrophobic here.” 2013 Arthouse Studio Awards Laois County Council has Awards: €2,500 (3 months) €5000 (6 Also available is a professional artist’s announced the 2013 Arthouse months) €7,500 (9 months) studio with or without accommodation Studio Awards for Professional at the Arthouse, Stradbally. Facilities include Artists at the Arthouse, Stradbally. : A studio with accommodation at a rent of €200 per For further information and application The awards are intended to support month or a studio without forms contact the Arts Office, Laois emerging artists/designers to accommodation for €120 per month. County Council, Áras an Chontae, develop their professional practice The Arthouse complex includes an Portlaoise, Co Laois whilst engaging in a residency exhibition space, rehearsal space, kiln, Tel: 057 8664033/13 project and community context. garden space, a digital room, and library E:mail [email protected]. facilities. Web: www.laois.ie M 6 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:50 Page 7

And That’s Briefs Packed Programme a Wrap! of Fun, Music and FilmOffaly reports a Entertainment bumper year of filming AT MULLINGAR FilmOffaly: Sophie Scully in Men And Women across the county ARTS CENTRE Fans of theatre and music are going to be spoilt for choice at the Mullingar In 2013 FilmOffaly, Offaly’s Film Commission marks its 5th birthday and it is Arts Centre over the coming months celebrating its phenomenal successes with a new look website (www.filmoffaly.ie) with shows of all kinds are on offer. So, whether you like having Stones In Blockbuster film stars such as Brendan (The Tudors, Last Days of Anne Boleyn), purely interested in film as an economic Your Pockets, you like to live in your Gleeson (Noreen) and Anne Hathaway Muireann Bird and Gerard McCarthy driver, though that is something that we own Eden, or you like to rock out to your (Becoming Jane) have filmed here. (BBC’s The Fall) measure carefully too.” favourite Queen songs Mullingar Arts FilmOffaly funded short films have won at Centre will keep you entertained right the Galway Film Fleadh (Toy Soldiers 2012, Shooting on the peatlands in September is FILM AND ARTS CAN DRIVE REVENUES TO up and beyond the New Year. Noreen 2010) and the Belfast Film Festival Our Unfenced Country, by Swansong LOCAL ECONOMY (Toy Soldiers 2013). And, Rebecca Daly’s Films, winner of the Galway Film Film can bring big business to an area, with Upcoming events include: acclaimed debut The Other Side of Sleep Centre/RTE Award 2013. And during the production companies using hotels, September 17 – 21 brought attention on Offaly as a location, same month, in Kinnitty and the Slieve catering, taxi, and restaurants. Whistle Down The Wind as it screened internationally at Cannes, Bloom Mountains is Hunter Gatherer, For example, the recent US TV pilot in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical Toronto and Berlin before its IFTA written by Nick Wilkinson and directed by Charleville Castle saw 130 cast and crew comes to Mullingar. nomination and general release in Ireland. Diarmuid Goggins - winner of the come to Tullamore for six days. Other acclaimed Irish feature films such as FilmOffaly/Filmbase Award 2013. September 27 – 28 His and Hers and Garage also brought There was even an international “Way back when Pure Mule was shot in Tuesdays with Morrie national attention on Offaly as a location commercial for Buchanan Master Blend Banagher for RTÉ, we knew that it was A heart-warming exploration of primed for the film industry. Scotch Whiskey shot at Leap Castle worth around a €1m to the local economy,” friendship and life. recently! explained Sinead. Getting that baseline Flash Harry “Film activity is always brewing in Offaly”, data for spend from production companies October 4 says Arts Officer Sinéad O’Reilly, “and But the films just keep rolling in the county can be elusive, but it’s very convincing Flash Harry – 2013 has been amazing so far, and we are with numerous productions in the pipeline, information to have.” To that end FilmOffaly The Music of only half way through the year!” including a film in Rhode entitled are currently developing a vendor card in Queen Reawkening, Paddy Slattery’s The Pilgrims collaboration with businesses in Offaly, Stages a In March, US drama pilot, Reign (about Coat, the RTÉ series Tracks and Trails and which will be yet another way to support comeback in Mary Queen of Scots) wrapped up in a TG4/Tile Films production about sacred productions on location in Offaly. Mullingar Arts Charleville Castle, Tullamore, as did the sites in Ireland. Centre this short film Men & Women (winner of the BOARD MEMBERS October for one FilmOffaly Filmbase Award 2012) which Cllr Nichola Hogan, Chairperson of The Board of FilmOffaly currently consists night only to was shot in Cloghan and Croghan in March, FilmOffaly remarked on recent Offaly film of: Cllr Nichola Hogan (2012- Chairperson); recreate the timeless magic of Queen. and selected for screening at the Galway success on RTE: “The documentary A Cllr Molly Buckley (Chairperson 2010- Film Fleadh. Grand Experience reaching an audience of 2012); Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, TD October 5 565,000 last October was amazing and we (Chairperson 2008-2009); Sinead O’Reilly Eden Documentary film There’s Something are equally proud of two FilmOffaly Board (Arts Officer); Gary Hoctor (Hello Camera, Eugene O’Brien’s play is brought to life about Shinrone by Steven Goldsmith was members Ann Marie Kelly and Gary Hoctor Director of OFFline Film Festival); Cllr by Decadent Theatre. made in Shinrone and feature sci-fi The who made the documentary Wally, which Sinead Dooley; Paddy Slattery (Stand Participants by Still Films was on location also recently screened on RTÉ. Mantra Films); Ann Marie Kelly October 19 – 21 in Boora in August. (broadcaster and documentary maker) and Othello: Moor of Venice “Having filmmakers on our board has Vivienne Clarke (journalist) Presented by Icarus Theatre Collective Also on location over the summer was A always been so important as they know the and Kings Theatre, Southsea. Nightingale Falling which is feature film needs and trends of the industry better For more information see www.filmoffaly.ie adaptation of PJ Curtis’ novel by Mixed Bag than anyone. It is important that we are or follow FilmOffaly on Facebook and November 2 Media which was filmed in Daingean. The recognised by the film industry as being Twitter. M Stones in His Pockets illustrious cast included Tara Breathnach supportive of their needs, that we are not Marie Jones’s hilarious comedy is not to be missed

November 14 – 16 Athlone Literary Festival Patrick Cavalcaders McCabe is Billy Roche’s wonderful play is the WRITE IT INTO YOUR DIARY one of the NOMAD 2013 production. writers who Athlone Literary Festival’s 2013 weekend programme is will take part November 27 in the The Caucasian Chalk Circle bursting at the seams with events that include interviews upcoming From Bruiser Theatre Company with Ireland’s premier writers like Pat McCabe, Vona Groarke, Athlone presents this Bertolt Brecht offering, Literary translated by interactive workshops including Creative Writing with author Festival. Alistair Beaton James Lawless and lots more. Noirin ni Riain and directed by Lisa May Events will range from discussions on How-To-Get-Published and children’s events like our Monster Doodle, where children help complete a Giant Poster with a December 10 published illustrator of children’s books.The festival takes place from October 4 to Vladimir 6 in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel and other venues around Athlone. Vladimir’s debut For more details on our festival please visit Web: www.athloneliteraryfestival.com performance Email: [email protected] Tel: 086 367 1039 You can also find the at Mullingar festival on www.facebook.com/athloneliteraryfestival and on Arts Centre Vladimir Vladimir www.twitter.com/athloneliterary M CONTACT www.mullingarartscentre.ie 044 9347777 M 7 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:50 Page 8

Tuesdays with Morrie Following the phenomenally successful run at the Gaiety last year, Birr Theatre & Arts Centre is to host Tuesdays with Morrie Terry Byrne as Morrie a stage adaptation of the international best-selling novel by Mitch Albom with Performances in the Mullingar Arts Centre.

Tuesdays with Morrie, written for the stage Morrie on TV propelling Mitch into action smiling pride in his old mentor. As one “This is a play that by Mitch Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher, is the and take a flight from Detroit to Boston to Tuesday leads to the next, Byrne as Morrie autobiographical story of Mitch Albom, an see his old friend. It was a Tuesday, the enthralls and Murray as Mitch allows him might – incredibly, accomplished journalist driven solely by day of the week their lectures had been to do so. The pair have the most workable his career, and Morrie Schwartz, his held at university. One visit led to 14 chemistry and because of this the story just might – change former college professor. consecutive Tuesdays where Mitch flew flows and becomes utterly engaging. down to Massachusetts at considerable your life.” Some 16 years after graduation, Mitch professional sacrifice to spend time with Byrne steals the show as the clever, John Simon, New York Magazine happens to catch Morrie’s appearance on his old friend. humorous, no nonsense Morrie who a television news program and learns that imparts his own and WH Auden’s wisdoms his old professor is battling illness. Mitch Out of this true story, Mitch wrote the book as if indeed they were his own: “We must “Unforgettable! No is reunited with Morrie, and what starts as which became a bestseller and then love one another or die.” He is completely a simple visit turns into a weekly became a film with Jack Lemmon. Mitch convincing as the wise old man whose matter how well you pilgrimage and a last class in the meaning then collaborated with Jeffrey Hatcher to bedside you would buy tickets for if they of life. write the play, which Breda Cashe is now were on sale. Murray’s strength is to play tell the story, the play touring in Ireland. the bedside visitor as the questioning Little did Morrie Schwartz realise during enthralled student, while allowing the old makes it more vivid, his lifetime that his wisdom would touch Director Breda Cashe captures every man centre stage. millions; a book, a movie and then a play essence of this beautifully written play more shattering, and their cumulative impact on readers, down to the minutiae. As Morrie Schwartz It may reveal no fresh insights but it is one movie lovers and theatre goers certainly and Mitch Albom respectively, Terry Byrne of those Everyman, Everywoman plays more humorous.” proves the adage that one good teacher’s and Andrew Murray deserve the highest that comes along only once in a while to New York Magazine influence on just one good student can praise for their performances in what give us a break from the tragedies we affect positively on the lives of many.” could have been a difficult two hander to identify with only because human nature pull off. As each character navigates to is rarely this wise. It stirs the emotional “A touching, Mitch was a student of Professor Schwartz his destination, both actors carried them cauldron to bring to the surface life’s at Brandeis University in Massachusetts in off with deliberate and perfect pace. compass towards human fulfillment.” life-affirming, deeply the late seventies who went on to be an extremely successful sports journalist who When Mitch first introduces Morrie on a Tuesdays with Morrie is on at Birr Theatre emotional drama covered coveted calendar highlights such minimalist stage set of high bookshelves & Arts Centre Saturday, September, 21 AT as the Olympics and the Super Bowl. and two chairs (set design by Jack 8pm. Contact the Box Office on Tel: 057 with a generous Kirwan), there is an immediate warm 9122911 or buy tickets online at His life was frantic – planes, trains, copy connection with the audience. You like www.birrtheatre.com dose of humor.” deadlines and TV shows. Then one night, them both; Byrne playfully dancing the 16 years after he had last seen his old tango displays an utter lack of ego and Also on in Mullingar Arts Centre on 27th New York Daily News Professor, he saw an elderly and unwell Murray responds with an expression of and 28th September. M

Paul Roy and Clea Van Der Grijn discover Green is Pink

Green is Pink is a collaborative exploration and conversation on the nature of loss between artists Cléa Van Der Grijn and Westmeath artist Paul Roy.

Green is Pink is the beginning of the artist’s conversation on the nature of loss, viewed from difference perspectives. Green is Pink features at The Model, Sligo during the month of September.

See www.cleavandergrijn.com and www.paulroy.eu for more on the artists.

See next issue for article from Paul Roy on the project. M

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Culture Night in Laois Explore, Experience, Enjoy

Culture Night makes a return to Laois on On top of that, Abbeyleix is featuring a Music and Heritage talk while Portarlington will hold a drama open evening and Friday, September 20. A great selection of a poetry reading and heritage talk. In Rathdowney artists will events are scheduled for all around the hold a drop in art workshop for all ages and Mountmellick county with the highlight being a drama Library will be the venue for a cultural evening.

premier of From the Sod to the Sky in the Rural communities such as Arles, Vicarstown, Tinnakill House Dunamaise Arts Theatre starting at 8pm. Fisherstown, and Tolerton will also host an array of events including: exhibitions, drama and music, with What makes this play extra special is the fact it has been something for everybody. specially commissioned based on the writings of James Fintan Lalor and starring Paul Meade and Myles Dungan A brochure listing all events happening in Laois is as part of the James Fintan Lalor Inaurural School. available from the Laois Arts Office and from Libraries throughout the county. But, if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, other events in Portlaoise include a Drop in Art workshop in the Dunamaise, For more information contact: The Arts Office,Laois an adult drumming circle in County Hall, a dance and music County Council, Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise, County Laois event with the 50+ active age group and a Literary and Tel: 057 8664033/13 • Email: [email protected] music event with Laois Writers Group. Web: www.laois.ie M

James Fintan New school Lalor Stamp launched in honor of James Fintan Lalor The opening of the Inaugural James Fintan Lalor Mr Lalor, who died in 1849 lives on in memory as a man of passion school will take place on Culture Night, September and integrity dedicating his short 20 in the Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise. life to advocacy on behalf of those who were too weak and The school will bring together national and local writers, journalists, downtrodden to speak for broadcasters, academics, politicians, artists and Laois people to themselves. His writings influenced discuss, debate and celebrate the ideas of Lalor and their John Mitchell, Michael Davitt, James relevance to the Ireland of today and tomorrow. Larkin, Padraig Pearse and James Connolly. For more on the life, The opening night will include a staging of a specially writings and influence of James commissioned play, entitled From the Sod to the Sky, by playwright Fintan Lalor see and screenwriter, Mike Finn, based on the writings of James Fintan www.jamesfintanlalor.ie Lalor. In this two hander production, RTE Broadcaster Myles Dungan will be in conversation with James Fintan Lalor, the The event is being organised in historical figure being played by actor Paul Meade. partnership by a group comprising representatives of Laois County The following day, panellists including Diarmuid Ferriter, Myles Council and Laois Heritage Society. The Dungan, Ruth Dudley Edwards, John Drennan and Clare O’Brien Summer School will be a follow-on to will debate the themes, A Country in Crisis, Politics and the Press the commemorative monument and A Vision of Ireland. commemorating his life, officially unveiled by former Taoiseach, Brian The James Fintan Lalor Inaugural School is set to be a major event Cowen, in December, 2007. This in the cultural calendar of Laois, bringing together a variety of beautiful bronze sculpture, designed parties with an interest in Irish history, heritage, politics and and crafted by Mayo-based artist Rory current affairs, and welcoming home members of our diaspora to Breslin, stands outside the Council debate the future of Ireland in the year of the Gathering. Chambers, facing James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise’s main thoroughfare. This School will be a fitting tribute to him, a significant Laois-born On the limestone base on which he national figure who engaged directly with the political climate of his stands are his immortal words “Ireland time, fighting for land rights on behalf of the oppressed Irish her own, and all therein, from the sod to farming community and the working classes. the sky. The soil of Ireland for the people of Ireland”. M

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Culture Night in Offaly

Culture Night in Offaly has really taken off in 2103 with 15 FREE cultural events happening all over the county on Friday, September 20.

This year venues such as Daingean Courthouse, Clonony castle, Ballybritton Castle, Leap Castle, Belmont and Fancroft Mills have been added to the programme along as some pop up culture happening in places not advertised – just for a little surprise for the public! But, while events are free it is worth noting that most events have a booking requirement.

Clonony Castle Jacek Lomejko

Tullamore DEW Visitors’ Centre

Leap Castle

Hedge School

Tullamore Man-i-pulate Town Band

BIRR THEATRE AND ARTS CENTRE EDENDERRY LIBRARY SCULPTURE IN THE PARKLANDS BALLYBRITTAN CASTLE, EDENDERRY 8pm Guitarist and singer Aimee Molloy 5pm to 6.30pm - Hedge School 8pm to 9.30pm The multi award winning Tullamore alongside poetry recitals by the Acorn workshop Dearbhaile O’Donnell on piano with a Academy Chamber Choir, winners of Writers group and St Mary’s Secondary Family workshop with artists Tom programme of 18th Century Music. the National Choir of the Year 2012, School pupils and open mic. Meskell and Jean Conroy on how to Booking essential Tel: 057 93 57400. with an innovative and eclectic make sculptures and temporary collection of choral music, specially PUBLIC ACCESS ARTS, EDENDERRY landscape interventions. Booking FANCROFT MILL chosen for their competitive show- 7pm to late limited to 20 people. Tel: 057 9357400 8pm stopping nature; alongside the Kerman The biggest band in the smallest venue Talented Trio of Trad Padraic Keane Dance Company from France. in Ireland, MOR 40 professional BELMONT MILL (award winning uileann piper from Booking Essential. Tel: 057 9122911 musicians in a collaborative live lounge 6.30pm - National Gallery Talk and tour Galway) Sean Hughes (Tullamore fiddle music festival for a mini rotating of the Mill and flute) and Ruairi McGorman (fiddle BRIDGE CENTRE, TULLAMORE audiences of 4! Loiterers welcome The National Gallery talk encompasses and bouzouki county Meath) 4pm to 6pm - Art to the People outside to enjoy the music through the the finest works on paper and Booking essential. Tel:050 531484 or An eclectic mix of dance, music and window! concludes with Ireland’s favourite e-mail [email protected] poetry from Man I Pulate, Miles O’Bog painting Meeting on the Turret Stairs. Ensemble featuring Kate Flynn and the TULLAMORE DEW VISITORS CENTRE Maximum numbers are 22. Tel: 057 DAINGEAN TOWN HALL Tullamore Gospel Choir brings Culture 8.30pm 9357400 8pm to 9pm Night to shoppers as a platform for Broken Bottle Theatre Company Jacek Lomejko and friends play an professional music and dance based in presents extracts from Jimmy Murphy’s LEAP CASTLE eclectic mix of French and Polish Music County Offaly. award winning play Brothers of the 8pm to 9.30pm and a short historical account of the Brush. featuring Attracta Brady Trad Night of Irish music and dance. restored Daingean Courthouse by John TULLAMORE LIBRARY (fiddle/flute) and John O’Connell Kearney. Storytelling and Songs from Pat (guitar) CLONONY CASTLE, CROGHAN Speight (one of Ireland’s best known 8pm to 9.30pm POP UP POETRY, TULLAMORE storytellers) Dolores Keaveny (author CANAL QUARTER MUSIC AT KILBRIDE The Lyric String Quartet featuring ballet 4pm to 6pm and storyteller from Westmeath) Noel PARK, TULLAMORE performances. Richard Brennan and the Tullamore O’Farrell 7.30pm Booking essential. Tel: 057 93 57400. Rhymers in a random coffee shop in Tullamore Town Band with Diarmuid Tullamore Guinan on the site of the new arts centre hear big band swing sound!

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Culture Night in Westmeath Yarn Bombing Takes to the Streets of Mullingar Claire Delabre of Handmade Design Studio tells of the fun woolen plans in place as part of Culture Night in Westmeath.

For Culture Night this year, Mullingar is knitting and crocheting in the past couple of linking past and present ideas of a sense of belonging and highlights going to be yarn bombed with the help of of years is really inspiring and great to heritage together. features that can sometimes go the knitters and crocheters in the see. These are skills that have been unnoticed. Midlands and beyond. There is no doubt around for generations. Handed down As Claire explained: “Yarn bombing or Christo and Jeanne Claude would be well from grannies, mammies and aunties urban knitting, for anyone not familiar “Knitting and crocheting together as a impressed with the plans that are in learning to knit is part of many girls and with the practice, is a type of graffiti or group also means that we can share our place for September 20 as this group of boys personal and emotional heritage. street art that uses colourful displays of knowledge and learn from each other, creative wool enthusiasts takes to the knitted or crocheted work pieced meet new people and have some fun - streets in style. This is why Claire Delabre, has chosen together to cover buildings, statues, using yarns and telling them at the same the title for the Mullingar Yarn Bombing pavements or trees. Yarn installations time!” The idea behind the Mullingar Yarn art project to be As You Are Now So Once are fun, decorative, non-permanent Bombing group is to bring the yarn Were We. The title also hints at the revival forms of graffiti that are meant to bring Watch the streets of Mullingar on Culture crafters community together, share an art of the trend for craft and creativity that some colour into sometimes dull public Night as this unique and fun group takes project with the wider community, meet harks back to the values of an earlier era. spaces. Reclaiming a space in the its colourful and creative yarn art all people and have fun. The revival in This yarn bombing project is Claire’s way community and personalising it creates across the town. M

A beautiful piece of yarn bombing giving the country a new colourful look

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Isolation Perpetual

Artist Pat Byrne shares his experiences of the Nes Artist Residency In October 2011 I applied for a June was a busy month because as well preparations. Our input into the festival surrounding environments and areas three month residency with Nes as the festival we had the Open Studio was an entire weekend of Open Studios, either historical or as a result of progress, Artist Residency in Skagastrond, where we welcomed a lot of visitors in to meeting people and telling them about both natural and through the impact of see our work and we also had a visit from our work. human activity. Iceland - a small fishing town in the American Ambassador, Luis E. And, I did manage in the end to overshoot North-East Iceland, three hours Arreaga. Then, towards the end of the my target number of works by 1 extra The goal of working this way is primarily to from Reykjavik. month six of us climbed to the top of painting. simply have fun with the imagery while Spakonufell, the mountain overlooking the secondary aim is to subtly portray the I think for all of us new to the town it had the town for the Summer Solstice. The residency was of huge benefit to me. tones that run beneath the aesthetic. M a surreal feeling to it, partially due to the I returned to Ireland feeling more 24 hours of daylight and also how July saw the first batch of artists leave confident in my work and with new ideas isolated the town was as there was no and a new wave start their residency. July too in different media. I also met with I The Arthouse Gallery, Stradbally, regular bus service. seemed like a calmer month because the directors from other residencies based in county Laois opened Pat Byrne’s only event was the month’s Open Studio Iceland, Norway and Latvia and I met latest exhibition Excursion. The work I arrived at the start of June with 11 other and July also saw my work pick up some really nice people which I have kept includes new pieces from a three artists, mostly from the US, and almost momentum and take shape. in contact with. month residency with Nes Artist straight away set about exploring the At this point on the residency I had seen Residency in Skagastrond, Iceland. almost all the surrounding area and I was Painting themes surrounding area. I Excursion runs until October 4 and spending between 10 and 12 hours in The core theme of my painting is playing the artist will give a presentation and the studio aside for a visit to the with scale. This is achieved by placing The week we arrived was a very busy time talk at the Arthouse and Library, neighbouring town Saudarkrokur. locations, landscapes and scenes in, on in Skagastrond because everyone was Stradbally, on Friday, September 20 or around oversized everyday objects preparing for the weeklong Fisherman’s at 7pm as part of the county’s August again ushered in new artists and creating juxtapositions that give my work Festival. Culture Night celebration. All are the final month of my stay and it felt, a surrealist nature. I tend to arrive at this welcome and refreshments will be once again, like there was a constant point through the use of sketches, Throughout June I spent a lot of time served. experimenting in the studio and exploring buzz around the town. My time was collages and photography, experimenting I the surrounding mountains and rapidly counting down at this point and I with images to find what works well Opening hours: Tuesday – Friday: countryside and, of course, the 24 hour was trying to reach my goal of starting together. 1pm – 4pm; Saturday: Please daylight meant you didn’t have to worry five pieces before I left. contact Vernon McNicolas on Tel: about getting lost in the dark because the As well as the visual element this recent 057 864 1740 for further sun never even reached the horizon! The KantryBaer Festival was at the end of body of work has underlying layers that information. the month and again there were big look at issues and occurrences of our Singing her way to success For some time now Maria Beautiful are the Feet from Handel’s section, where everyone has to sing the she has a choice to make after being Messiah. I also performed a solo from a same piece of music first, and then the accepted by DIT, Maynooth and Trinity Matthews has been wowing musical, I Dreamed A Dream, from Les judges call back the finalists based on after auditioning at all three colleges. judges and audiences at Feis Misérables and then I did the vocal solo those performances and they get to sing “The place I really want to go to is DIT,” Ceoil competitions with her where I had to sing two contrasting a second piece of music. There were 22 Maria confessed. “I’d love to do pieces, so I did another piece by Handel in the competition, and only seven got a performance or vocal coaching. The exceptional singing talent. She called Lascia ch’io Pianga from the opera callback, and I was one of those. I didn’t course in DIT is very broad and you can was even awarded a bursary to Rinaldo.” finish first or second, but I received a branch tino many different areas. I don’t commendation.” have to make a decision until my third further her development as a Maria also received recognition from the year, so I still have time to think about it.” classical vocalist after she judges at the Dublin competition where The young soprano has been training as M she found herself up against vocalists a vocalist since her primary school days. Maria Matthews clinched first place at the Sligo from across the globe. “I’ve been having lessons with Derek Feis Ceoil earlier this year. Mahady in Rooskey since I was 10 years- “People come from Germany, America, old. And, I also train with Edith Forrest, “I took part in three comptitions and they and other countries all over the world for who is a lecturer in DIT. Edith was actually found the winner of the bursary by adding the Dublin Feis Ceoil,” she explains. “I Derek’s vocal coach when he was in the up each contestant’s total scores from only entered one competition there this college, and he recommended me to her each competition and finding the year because I was studying for my and arranged an audition.” average,” explained Maria who hails from Leaving Cert, and there would have been Moyne in County Longford. “This year I a lot of pressure if I had done any more. With her first year of college on the did an oratorio, or sacred solo, which is horizon, it comes as no surprise that she basically a religious song. I sang How “I entered the Vocal Solo Under-18 wants her studies to focus on music. But, 12 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:54 Page 13 Young Longford pianist has keys to success by Patrick Conboy Peter Regan

The great composer his studies ever since, as his rigorous Cert. I wanted to do Transition Year so I would really like to follow in his training schedule attests. could have time to focus on my music footsteps, and I hope to go on to do a Robert Shumann once for a while...Wesley is a school with a BA in Performance under him after the said “play always as if in “I practice for several hours each day,” great tradition in music and has Leaving Cert.” Peter said of his regimen. “I also had to fantastic facilities.” the presence of a give up playing the violin so I could Peter’s prospective career as a concert master”. That remains focus on the piano. I had to choose Overseeing Peter’s tuition nowadays is musician received yet another boost sound advice for any between both instruments and it was a John O’Conor, the Professor of Piano at this summer when he attended the tough decision because I love both. In the Royal Irish Academy of Music who is presigious Aspen Music Festival & musician and it’s the way the end I chose piano because I have also known for his masterclasses and School in the USA. And, at his mentor’s one young pianist from been playing it for longer, and also guest lectures at many of the world’s suggestion, he raised funds for the trip because I prefer the fullness of sound leading musical institutions, as well as by hosting a performance at St John’s Lanesborough in county you can achieve with it. With the violin being an internationally-acclaimed Church of Ireland in Longford town Longford is approaching you can only play one line at a time.” concert pianist himself. where he played alongside both O’Conor and violinist Phoebe White. “There was his craft. His musical vocation has even It’s a golden opportunity, the magnitude a great turnout on the evening”, he said influenced his choice of school: “I was of which is not lost on the aspiring of the concert. “It was just the right size, Peter Regan has been playing the piano attending St Finian’s College in virtuoso. “I’m really lucky to be able to the acoustics were wonderful and it was since the age of eight and the Leaving Mullingar but transferred to Wesley study under him” admitted Peter. “He a warm, personal space in which to Cert student has remained dedicated to College in Dublin after doing my Junior has been a huge influence on me and I perform.” M

Knitting their way into the Movies

A knitting project that started out in the (606AD), recounting the death of Aedh glimpse into the timeless and tranquil Tullamore Library last year by the on the way back from a pilgrimage at treasures of Offaly and the surrounding renowned textile artist Kathryn O’ Clonmacnoise, Ireland’s earliest midlands.” Brien, is now being developed into a pilgrimage site. He was buried in movie which will be set in the midlands Kilcormac church and it’s this story that However, before production gets under of Ireland and directed by well known the film will pay particular attention to. way they must raise the funds Offaly filmmaker, Paddy Slattery. independently in order to make the film. The film will be aptly titled The Pilgrim’s “Since it’s proving impossible to get What was known as The Pilgrim’s Coat Coat and along with directing duties, support from the Arts Council, we have Textile Project involved a local knitting Paddy Slattery will share the producing decided to go down the road of online community who volunteered their time responsibilities with Emma Owen of crowd-funding once more following the to creating a beautiful knitted coat. Babyjane Productions, an emerging success of a previous campaign. In a Each person contributed by knitting company based in Galway. way, this is a good thing because this way their own pieces. Their goal was to we find ourselves under no creative or create a coat using only tones of the Through an episodic series of interwoven aesthetic obligation to an organisation, surrounding countryside and Slieve stories, poetry, dance and mystic nor is there any pressure to meet a Bloom Mountains, with the textured imagery, this non-narrative film will deadline. In other words; this film will be stitch structures suggesting unique highlight the significant connection that very much our own, to deliver how and patterns from ancient stone sculpture, exists between Aedh and us. when we choose,” explained Paddy. rock carvings, mountain ridges and the ploughed landscape. Using wool and yarn as a narrative tool, For more information on this exciting they will metaphorically explore the project check out official Facebook page The coat itself was created for the vibrant fabric of Aedh’s existence and The Pilgrim’s Coat where you can also mythical character Aedh, who features in examine the patterns of his behaviour. find regular updates on their fundraising many of WB Yeat’s poems, most notably campaign and how you can become Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven. According to Paddy: The Pilgrim’s Coat involved. History also mentions an Irish Chief of the will be a film for all ages and cultures to same name in The Annals of Tigernack enjoy offering audiences a unique www.facebook.com/ThePilgrimsCoat M 13 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:54 Page 14

Glimpses Of James Fintan Lalor Through The Eyes Of Children With Ann Egan

Laois County Council and Arts Office invited Ann Egan, Writer and Historian, to facilitate creative writing workshops, inspired by the life of James Fintan Lalor, with Third and Fourth Classes in Seomra Beatha an Óige, Tobar an Léinn National School, Raheen, Mountrath, County Laois. Siobhan Cassidy, Siobhan Harton and William O'Connor Photo by Shelley Corcoran WThis original process has several stages having special regard to the ages of the children and their ability to grasp and imagine life in the 1800’s. There are 23 children and their ages range from 8 to 10 years. Laois native and former Laois writer- in- residence, Ann wrote a story based LUS NA GRÉINE on an outing to Tenakill House, homeplace of James Fintan Lalor. The children wrote their stories and a hub for creativity in north Longfordby Patrick Conboy perceptions into the great man’s life, The north Longford town of Granard is home to Lus na Gréine, a family resource centre which guided by the historical and creative approach devised by Ann. offers a wide range of services to the local community, one major aspect being the provision of There was an inspirational outing to several arts and crafts courses. Tenakill House hosted by Kevin Lalor- Fitzpatrick. The children, under the tutelage of their teacher, Ms Marie “There wasn’t much to do arts-wise in The centre’s pre-employment mornings which makes everything from Moore, prepared an art display to Granard before,” said the centre’s programmes also incorporate creative patchwork quilts and knitwear to reflect all they observed on their visit. Community Development Officer, elements and the local Men’s Shed also candlestick holders. They’re hoping to Siobhan Harton. “But the centre is meets at the premises to work on hold a craft fair to display and sell their In September when the school pushing arts in a big way here now. We projects. “They undertake more heavy- work.” reopens, the final stage of the project have a busy programme and we have duty work,” Siobhan says. “Pre- will be developed for the James something to suit everyone. employment courses cover stuff like As if all that wasn’t enough, this autumn Fintan Lalor Inaugural School. The mosaicing and wood sculpting and the will see even more artistic activity at Lus children’s work will be showcased by “Mary Gray oversees a lot of the art Men’s Shed recently worked on an na Gréine. “A woodwork and paint the launch of their book, their art classes, including a mixed group installation for the Love Longford finishing course by Carol McCabe- display and a photographic archive focusing on watercolours, which meets festival which turned out to be very Browne will teach people how to upcycle capturing the entire project.For more up on Wednesday mornings. As well as popular.” old furniture,” Siobhan revealed. “And, information contact: The Arts the classes, they also arrange outings there will also be interior design Office,Laois County Council, Áras an and field trips, and organise their own Other artistic disciplines covered classes, drama and theatre, and Chontae, Portlaoise, County Laois exhibitions.” include pottery and lino-printing. “We hopefully a film course. Then on Tel: 057 8664033/13 • Email: have a kiln for the pottery classes, Saturday mornings there will be a glee [email protected] Siobhan herself also teaches art, which are taught by Marina Harten, and club aimed at children between the Web: www.laois.ie M holding a class for children: “The kids we have have a lino-print press at the ages of six and 12.” learn to see everything with an artist’s centre which artists can use to create eye. They learn how to draw and sketch gifts, cards and other products.” For more information on Lus na Gréine’s properly and they take on the role of a services Tel: 043 6660977, true artist. It’s a real confidence-builder More traditional tastes are also catered Email:[email protected]. for them and it proves that everyone for. Siobhan explained: “We have a craft M has talent waiting to be unlocked.” group which meets on Thursday

Marian Masterson, Philomena Kelly, Rosemary Reilly and Sadie Sheridan Photo by Shelley Corcoran

14 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:55 Page 15

Anti-Drugs Category Winners; Meán Scoil Mhuire, with Fergus Kennedy Arts Officer, Shelley Corcoran, Cllr. Tony Overall winner from Flaherty, Fiadhnait Cnoc Mhuire, McDonnell, Anita Griffin T.Y Eoghan Gilchrist Co-Ordinator, Jim Maher.

Longford Schools Winning Ant-Drugs Photograph Shelley underlined the philosophy of the course by saying: “We need to understand the rules of composition, the effect of perspective and the significance PHOTOGRAPHER of light but it is the development of a critical eye, an aesthetic awareness and conceptual way of thinking that makes a photographic artist.”

WINNERS Schools Photographers of the Year: of the Year I Daniel Howlin (Mercy Secondary by Patrick Conboy School, Ballymahon) I Rebecca Badrick (Cnoc Mhuire, Bang, Bang, She Shot Me The third annual Longford , which shows highlights the social issue of drink and Granard) Longford really is at the centre of drugs.” Schools Photographer of the I Laura Healy (Moyne Community innovation in photography education in School) the Midlands.” Expanding on this, Shelley said: “The Year awards were held earlier I Celine Bolger (Mean Scoil Mhuire, this year with more than 90 artist’s role in society is to attempt to Longford) Speaking at the exhibition, the create works that stimulate the minds of I Katarzyna Religa (Templemichael students selected from six of programme’s director and facilitator, a society. If art has the responsibility of College, Longford) Shelley Corcoran, said: “The quality and making society aware of social issues the county’s secondary I Siobhan Campbell (Ardscoil Phádraig, diversity of the work on display is then the Longford Schools Photography Granard) schools exhibiting work at the symptomatic of the amount of creative Programme definitely achieved this, with event which was held in the talent possessed by our young people students creating many highly conceptual Longford Schools Photograph of the here in Longford.” photographs, in relation to its new Year: Backstage Theatre’s Atrium module. ” I Eoghan Gilchrist (Cnoc Mhuire, Gallery. With regards to the new module added, Granard) Shelley explained: “Artists make culture Those involved were asked to create a “It’s part of the Longford Schools by commenting on culture with whatever piece through image and words that Longford Schools Photography School Photography Programme which is the media they work with, an effort to would prick the conscience of the society of the Year: convince, enlighten, topple or improve. we live in. Students from all schools largest and longest-running programme I Moyne Community School of its kind in the country,” explained This year the Longford Schools reflected on this issue and came together County Longford Arts Officer, Fergus Photography Programme, added a new to create works that had both artistic Anti-Drugs Photograph of the Year: module and award, this module merit and were accessible to the Kennedy. “From the programme came I Mean Scoil Mhuire, Longford M the publication of the Photography book audience.

the chance to be selected for a festival OFFline Film Festival Stages Sequel screening. This year’s OFFline Film Festival takes one to attract visitors into Offaly and One of the main features of the festival is “To date our numbers are up on last place from October 9 to 13 in Birr with give local businesses a boost and the Short Film Making Challenge, which year” commented Hoctor “and that was different ‘off-shoots’ around the county. securing a firm footing on the national to date has been attracting film teams our first year running that aspect, so The festival is fast becoming the main calendar of film festivals. from Ireland and the UK to compete for we’re delighted with the large number of the coveted prize for an automatic entry quality submissions.” Gary Hoctor, Eugene O'Brien, Kathleen McInnis and Steph Green at into the Galway Film Fleadh. “We expect OFFline Film Festival’s Screenwriting workshop at the Galway Film Fleadh. more teams to enter this year, particularly The festival is also planning a Drive-In it being the year of the Gathering”, said movie venue this year and a fuill Festival Director, Gary Hoctor. programme of film screenings and build In July last, OFFline and FilmOffaly hosted on its programmes for youth audiences its annual barbeque at the Galway Film which previously had films screened in Fleadh to build up the Offaly film family Edenderry, Tullamore and Birr. and this year OFFline also hosted a scriptwriting workshop with Oscar To make sure you’re part of this growing nominated director Steph Green and festival taking place throughout Offaly Offaly screenwriter Eugene O’Brien which you can follow the programme as it gets highlighted the short film making announced on website challenge and many other workshops www.offlinefilmfestival.com or by organised by OFFline each October. following it on Facebook and Twitter. Tel: festival line on 085 2389416. Entries are also growing for the Short Film M Completion, as many filmmakers relish 15 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:56 Page 16

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2013

Lucy, Rosie and Flanagan Photo Lisa Reynolds, Jade and Erin Berrigan Photo by Shelley Corcoran Shelley Corcora

The inaugural Love Longford festival took place in Longford town, at the end of ❤ June with huge L VE in volumes of people by Patrick Conboy from as far away as

France coming to view Locally-based artists such as Amanda Shannonside camera clubs provided included a trad session headlined by Graham, Gordon Farrell, Gary Robinson an outlet for the burgeoning talent of the well-known traditional group Four the wealth of artistic and Pat Hourican drew extremely their members. Men & A Dog; local trad group The high praise from everyone who Scattering and an unforgettable talent, through viewed their work, for their vision and The public Art Features by Luis Na performance by the Biggest Choir Ever distinctiveness. Greinne, Attic Youth Group, Ard Scoil in Longford and a host of local pop-up art and Phadraig and St Christopher’s really musicians who entertained the crowds Similarly, lens-based exhibits displayed proved to be a big hit with both locals in the Market Square on Sunday literary exhibitions, by photographer Shelley Corcoran and and tourists queuing to be afternoon. Out-Take Films were greeted with photographed beside towering LOVE and live musical enthusiasm. letters and peering through imaginative Due to the resounding success of this mirrors. year’s festival, Love Longford 2014 is performances that Meanwhile, group exhibits from the already highly anticipated and promises Brushstrokes and Annaly artists Music was another important aspect of to be even better than the first. took over the town. groups, and Longford and the four-day event, and highlights M

Amanda Graham Exhibition Pat Hourican Exhibition Babby Walsh and Amanda Graham at Amanda Graham's Exhibition Photo by Shelley Corcoran

Pat Hourican and Stephen O'Hara at the Pat Hourican Exhibition Photo by Shelley Corcoran

Gordan Farrell Exhibition Photo by Shelley Corcoran

Ellen Prendergast, Emilie Dugdale, Laura McCullagh Photo by Shelley Corcoran

M

Gordon Farrell Exhibition M ❤16 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:56 Page 17

e and Emily Photo by rcoran LONGFORD Gary Robinson Gary Robinson Exhibition Photo by Shelley Corcoran

Patricia McKeon at the Gary Robinson Exhibition Photo by Shelley Corcoran

Longford Camera Club Exhibition Chloe Coyle, Shelley Corcoran and Shaena Keenan at the Shelley Shelley Corcoran Exhibition Corcoran Exhibition Photo by Shelley Corcoran

Paddy McPhipps, Fiona Fenlon, Michael O'Donnell, Tom Keenan and Anne Mulligan at the Camera Clubs Exhibition Photo by Shelley Corcoran

Out Take Film Group Danielle Campbell, Shania Small, Niamh Harte, Mairead Barnes, Ard Scoil Padraig P.A. Installation Photo by Shelley Corcoran Out Take Film Group who showed as part of the Love Longford Festival: Pat Conboy, Seamus Clarke, Bobby Walsh, Brendan Magan, Gary Robinson, Amanda Graham, Shelley Corcoran, Evelyn Kelly Photo by Shelley Corcoran ❤17 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:56 Page 18 DUNAMAISEMidland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2013 OPEN CALL to Midland Artists Dunamaise Arts Centre is delighted to announce details of this year’s Open Exhibition. For this year’s Open Submission Group Ireland) has been invited to select work Gaining support from arts officers in encouragement received from Muireann Show, running from mid November by artists originally from, or living in, neighbouring counties has resulted in Ní Chonaill, Bridie Keenan, Fergus through December, new Director of these four counties. Dunamaise Gallery the presentation of this year Open Show Kennedy, Sinead O'Reilly and Muireann Dunamaise, Michelle de Forge, aims to will showcase this selection, which in conjunction with the Local Authority Mulrennan for this project. further promote and strengthen the promises to present a great breadth Arts Offices of Counties Laois, Longford, connectivity and collaboration of the and depth of artistic expression by Offaly and Westmeath. Submission entries will be received at visual arts community featured emerging and established midlands Dunamaise Arts Centre on Monday, prominently in the Midlands Arts based artists. A fantastic prize of a A professional development workshop November 4. The Exhibition will be Magazine since 2006. month long residency at The Arthouse, on making successful submissions official opened at a reception on Friday, Stradbally, county Laois will be offered. will be hosted at Dunamaise by November 15. This offers a rare opportunity to a independent curator Eilís Lavelle, on Noel Kelly, (CEO/Director of Visual selected artist to focus on creating new Saturday, October 12. Full details and application forms are Artists Ireland and President of AICA work in state of the art studio facilities available from www.dunamaise.ie, and a supportive environment. Dunamaise Arts Centre wishes to Dunamaise Box Office on acknowledge the support and 057 8663355 M Slieve Bloom is the Setting for STORYTELLING FESTIVAL There are very few settings more befitting a storytelling festival than the Slieve Bloom Mountains on the Laois/Offaly border. Unspoiled and ancient, it is the backdrop to many Irish legends and the natural home to the Slieve Bloom Storytelling Festival. Now in its 11th year the festival takes place from October 9 to 12 in different villages in the mountains. The festival brings the past to life, “Conversation is becoming A special feature of the festival is the Ireland’s rich oral tradition. He combines carrying on the oral tradition in the great Rambling House, which encourages folkloric elements with ancient Irish houses and castle halls that have played a lost art form, as well as festival-goers to participate by telling a myths, wonder tales and tall tales. His host to many tales told over the the community bonds that story, singing a song, reciting a poem or stories have been heard by audiences in centuries. This year’s festival features come with it. This festival playing a tune. Everyone has a party Ireland, England, Scotland, France, veterans Jack Lynch and Paddy O’Brien piece and the Rambling House is the Germany, Belgium, Estonia, Jordan, the as well as a host of local raconteurs is all about keeping perfect excuse to bring it out and dust if West Indies and the United States (most singers and musicians. conversation and the art of off. The festival kicks off with a Rambling recently at the Smithsonian Institute House at Brearton’s pub, in Ballybritt at Folklife Festival. He is a founding member Paddy Flynn one of the organisers said: storytelling alive today.” 8pm on Wednesday, October 9 in what of the Dublin Yarnspinners and of “We’re delighted to feature Jack and promises to be an entertaining night of Storytellers of Ireland/ Aos Sceal Éireann) Paddy as our guest storytellers this year, seasons, at a particular time of day, or in music, stories and songs. Storytelling both are experienced and much travelled specific places. In the same vein, some nights then move around the mountains ABOUT PADDY O’BRIEN storytellers and they will bring their own stories are meant to be heard only by with Roundwood House (outside Paddy O’Brien is a teacher, storyteller distinctive styles to the event. specific people. These stories often teach Mountrath) playing host to the festival on and actor from Kerry, who lights up a important lessons about a given society’s October 10 and then Leap Castle room with his personality. Paddy has “Conversation is becoming a lost art culture, the land, and the ways in which (Kinnitty) on October 11 and 12. performed on RTÉ and at festivals form, as well as the community bonds people are expected to interact with each throughout Ireland, where he offers a that come with it. This festival is all other and their environment. One of the important aspects of the feast of contemporary, traditional and about keeping conversation and the art Slieve Bloom Storytelling Festival is the humorous stories enhanced by his of storytelling alive today. “The passing on of these stories from annual school visits by the visiting imaginative delivery and own style of generation to generation keeps the social storytellers. During the day, the wit and humour. “We used to rely heavily on the oral order intact! At the Slieve Bloom storytellers travel to local primary transmission of stories, histories, lessons Storytelling Festival we feel a cultural schools, to talk about the art of For further information contact: and other knowledge to maintain a responsibility to preserve and promote storytelling and hopefully inspiring a few Web: www.slievebloom.ie historical record and sustain Irish culture this tradition. Relying solely on memory future yarn spinners. E-mail: [email protected] and identity. Stories were frequently told and improvisation, we celebrate the Facebook: as evening family entertainment to pass storytellers who create an enduring ABOUT JACK LYNCH www.fb.com/storytellingfestival along local or family knowledge. Stories legacy of tales still told in the same Jack Lynch has featured at two previous Tickets for the storytelling nights are were also told more formally, in manner today as when they were created Slieve Bloom festivals. A regular on the €15.00 ceremonies or gatherings. In the old days, generations ago.” storytelling festival circuit, Jack tells a M some stories were told only during certain wide range of stories that draw on

18 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:56 Page 19

The Biggest Choir ever in Longford Photo by Shelley Corcoran

A SPARK OF GENIUS Celebrating Cultural Heritage in Westmeath Westmeath has a long and celebrated literary tradition but it sometimes seems that there is less awareness about other aspects of our cultural heritage. George Bernard Shaw said about creativity “You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say ‘Why not?”. Thankfully M Westmeath is today, and probably always has been, a hive of creativity with artists and writers busily making their dreams come true. Westmeath Library Service has long recognised that the county is rich in Longford’s BIGGEST creativity and has tried to celebrate this not only through promotion of literature by readings, book-launches and author visits, but also through ever choral performance our promotion of the visual arts through the purchase of important works by local artists and by the holding of occasional art exhibitions The Love Longford festival which was the Longford County Choir and Innyside exciting repertoire featuring a mix of in our branch libraries. This year held in late June featured a record- Singers along with choirs from Drumlish, classical and contemporary pieces which Westmeath Library Service decided breaking event, for the county at least, Edgeworthstown, Lanesborough, Moyne, delighted the crowd. And as well as to celebrate the rich cultural heritage writes Patrick Conboy. ‘The Biggest Choir and Newtowncashel for a feast of choral combined efforts, there were also of the County during Heritage Week. Ever in Longford’ brought together a singing in the town’s Market Square. opportunities for each individual group to number of local vocal groups including Choral Director, Edel Loftus lead an showcase it’s abilities. M For Heritage Week this year Westmeath County Library Service picked 12 individuals who represented a range in terms of geography, medium and period to help focus on the creative heritage of Offaly Libraries Autumn the county at large. The resulting exhibition was a series of posters which celebrated the life and works of individuals as diverse as Oliver Goldsmith and John Count McCormack, Mullingar’s favourite son AUTHOR VISITS Joe Dolan and the poet of Fore, WRITING FOR PUBLISHING WITH released in the UK and commonwealth GERALDINE O’ NEILL Michael Walsh. Current writers and illustrators are represented by OSCAR DUGGAN in June and in the US in March 2014. Geraldine grew up in Cleland, Caroline Barry and Dolores Keaveney, Topics covered include: Overview of the Donal’s second novel, The Thing About Lanarkshire, Scotland and in 1991 she both fine examples of people who are Publishing Process, Self-Publishing, E- December, will be published in moved to Daingean in county Offaly to working in the county and engaging Publishing and the Rise of the E-Book September 2013. teach in Daingean National School. with the next generation to inspire and building and managing your web September 27, Birr Library Geraldine has published 10 bestselling the spark of genius which allows presence as an author. This self starting at 8pm novels and from the beginning of the Westmeath to remain firmly on the publishing workshop is an educational Tara Flynn trilogy to her latest Music cultural map. initiative which has been devised JEAN O’BRIEN from Home the books have all been set specifically for authors, writers and Jean won the Arvon International Poetry in Offaly, bringing the county to an Given the wealth of talent discovered, anyone interested in writing to and for a Award in 2010 for her poem Merman. international audience. 2013 is only a first step and this is clearly a project which will be built on public audience. The aim is to help Jean lives in Portarlington, county Offaly Tullamore Library, October, 19 at 1pm in the coming years. authors and writers to develop their and will recite from her collections of skills with a view to getting their work poetry including Merman, and Lovely To find out more about Westmeath published and is run in association with Legs. and A Spark of Genius visit the Offaly County Enterprise Board Edenderry Library on National Poetry www.westmeathcoco.ie/library. M September 21, 28; October 5, 12. Day, October 3. Workshops start at 2pm. Cost per workshop is €5 per workshop or €15 ALEX BARCLAY for four. Alex Barclay is the author of several bestselling thrillers. She studied DONAL RYAN journalism in college and went on to Donal Ryan is from Nenagh, county work as a journalist and copywriter Tipperary and currently lives in Limerick. before writing her first novel, Darkhouse Donal’s debut novel, The Spinning - a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller Heart, is co-published by The Lilliput featuring NYPD detective Joe Lucchesi. Press and Doubleday Ireland. The Alex won the Ireland AM Crime Fiction Spinning Heart was voted overall Book Award at the Irish Book Awards for her of the Year at the 2012 Irish Book third novel Blood Runs Cold. Awards. Donal also won Newcomer of (use Alex Barclay image supplied) the Year for 2012. The Spinning Heart Tullamore Library, October 17 from Alex Barclay coming to Tullamore has been selected for this year’s 8pm Library in October Waterstones’ Eleven and is due to be 19 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:57 Page 20

Making a Hullabaloo at Offaly’s Children’s Arts Festival Now in its seventh year Hullabaloo! Offaly’s Children’s Arts Festival has gone from strength to strength, with more than 1,200 children participating in 2012 as young audiences and makers of Cillian Sherry enjoying SPRAOI’s art. Looking to the festival, which is taking place from October 30 to November 2 - to coincide with Theatre for 3 year olds. the mid-term break - the festival organisers reflect on the values of the festival and what is driving its development to expand into Edenderry in 2013. Initiated by Offaly County Arts Office in Sinéad O’Reilly. charter is generating a lot of discussion participate in activities in the arts, they partnership with Birr Theatre and Arts Finding resources for making projects and focus on existing good practice, the are using sound, movement, gesture, Centre back in 2007, Hullabaloo! began bigger is certainly difficult, but the gaps in provision and the importance of marks, form and image to express their in Birr and then extended into Clara in organizers of Hullabaloo! are committed access to the arts for children in non- ideas and feelings. The key learning 2010. This year, the festival will further to the value and importance of the arts formal education settings. area of the arts is able to provide reach into Edenderry, making the for young people and are determined to children with unique and multiple ways festival as county wide as possible, keep the festival growing. Recently, a conference by the Council of of exploring, forming, expressing, which was always the original intention. National Cultural Intuitions on Arts in communicating and understanding their For many young people, participating in Education (held in the National Gallery own and others’ ideas and feelings.” “It was always our aim to make this a the arts happens both in school and of Ireland) highlighted that “It is large county festival, accessible to every outside; however some schools are important that we have a dialogue But she added: “Of course, we don’t child in Offaly under the age of 12. We more arts rich than others and outside between theories of pedagogy and present the festival in such a serious can only extend this festival outwards in of the school gates, there are many artistic expression as well as having an way to children, they would run a mile… partnership with the communities in factors that influence whether a child ongoing curiosity on how to use these to this is all wrapped up in an exciting four each town; the library service has been has access to music, drama or dance. make the arts live more vividly in days of magic and mayhem during a great partner and in Clara, the Family everyone’s experience”. Hullabaloo!” Resource Centre has been a fantastic The Government’s recent Arts in collaborator hosting and organising Education Charter, published jointly by With more of national focus than ever A programme for the festival can be events on the ground. In Edenderry, this the Department of Arts and Department on children accessing the arts, (Music accessed online at www.birrtheatre.com year, it will really be a taste of the of Education represents for the first Generation being another major or at www.offaly.ie/arts. Tel: 057 festival with events and workshops time a need to recognise, co-ordinate influence) the importance of Hullabaloo 9122911 or follow Hullabaloo! mainly in the library and Public Access and promote greater access to the arts is clear. Emma Nee Haslam, founder of Children’s Arts Festival on Facebook. Arts,” explained the county Arts Officer, during school education. This new the festival and Manager of Birr Theatre M and Arts Centre said: “When children Katie Hutchinson Photo by Shelley Looking ahead to Corcoran Aisling 2013 is Childs Play This October sees the return of the annual Angela explains: “The festival will open with a Family Fun Day at St Michael's National School in Longford town, with Aisling Children's Arts Festival in Longford. The workshops and other free activities. Then throughout the week county-wide event is now in its 16th year and there will be more workshops at various locations, exhibitions, has remained entirely volunteer-run since its dramatic performances and a Mimirichi show at the Backstage Theatre. We incorporate a number of outreach programmes, inception in 1998.… too. Some of the workshops have to be pre-booked, so we advise parents to check our brochures and local media for “The main objective is to reach out to all kids and bring the details.” arts to them,” says Aisling committee member, Angela Crossan. “We want to encourage children from all walks of life, “Aisling is completely non-profit,” Angela adds. “We rely on the and that's why we have free open days and subsidised support of local sponsors, Longford County Council, the HSE, performances.” and the Arts Council to ensure the festival continues to be a success.” During the week-long festival, these events will take place in schools and other venues around the county, fostering The Aisling Festival runs from October 20 to 26. Visit creativity in children and showcasing local artists. www.aislingfestival.ie or email [email protected] for Aoife Jones, Caoimhe Casey, more information. M Leanne Diviney and Elaine Murphy Photo by Shelley Corcoran 20 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 11/9/13 11:22 Page 21 Exploration of an Old Process Offaly artist Michael Michael Thatcher Fukushima Ontagion Thatcher has been working on a new process to create a body of work over the past five years combining ancient techniques with The artist Michael Thatcher presenting one of his paintings to President Higgins modern technology. at Aras an Uachtarain.

Starting with the traditional and ancient Michael explained: “My work is mainly print shops to denote high quality The boundaries of this area are painting technique of fresco, then using concerned with the development of printing. It is a process that is used by confined carefully along contour lines, the modern Giclee process (pronounced painting techniques; I am always many national cultural institutions, so that the edges, or joints, of each zhee-clay – a long lasting digital Fine Art looking for ways to create exciting new including the Royal Academy of Arts in successive section of fresh plastering reproduction process) to reproduce the imagery. As an artist I have always been London. are imperceptible. A correctly prepared paintings, Michael has produced a interested in exploring new materials intonaco will hold its moisture for limited edition collection of 10 paintings and methods and incorporating new ABOUT FRESCO PAINTING many hours, while the painter dilutes which are set for imminent launch. technologies into my work. In my own Fresco Painting is a method of his colours with water and applies way, I am embracing Ireland’s call for painting water-based pigments on them with brushstrokes to the plaster, Michael explained that the reason he innovation and its need to create a new freshly applied plaster, usually on wall the colours are imbibed into the decided to use this ancient method of and dynamic economy. I am interested surfaces. The colours are made by surface, and as the wall dries and painting in combination with to see if I can contribute to that grinding dry-powder pigments in pure sets, the pigment particles become developments in digital technology was conversation!” water, which dry and set with the bound or cemented along with the because he discovered “by chance (or plaster to become a permanent part of lime and sand particles. This gives was it intuition?), the very fine reflective ABOUT GICLÉE the wall. True fresco is the most the colours great permanence and quality of fresco materials which resistance to aging, since they are an Giclée was developed in 1991 by durable technique and consists of the respond brilliantly when subjected to integral part of the wall surface, rather printmaker Jack Duganne for fine art following process; three successive light. than a superimposed layer of paint digital prints made on inkjet printers. It coats of specially prepared plaster, on it. is a reproduction process controlled by sand, and sometimes marble dust are “I found that this reflectivity also a crystal frequency that applies millions troweled onto a wall. Each of the first transferred dramatically when subject The medium of fresco makes great of pigment ink particles in a two rough coats is applied and then to the light involved at the different demands on a painter’s technical skill, microscopic inkjet spray. The name allowed to set while, the artist stages of digitally reproducing the work. since he must work fast (while the originally applied to fine art prints transfers the outlines of the design I use the fresco technique on board, plaster is wet) but cannot correct created on IRIS printers in a process onto the wall. The final, smooth coat creating texture, movement and in mistakes by over painting; invented in the late 1980s but has (intonaco) of plaster is then troweled particular, reflective-ness.” since come to mean any inkjet print. It onto as much of the wall as can be M is often used by artists, galleries, and painted in one session. INDEPENDENCE HERO UNVEILED BY TAOISEACH The county Longford village of Ballinalee paid homage to its most famous son this summer when a statue of General Seán Mac Eoin was unveiled by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. Speaking in Ballinalee, Mr Kenny described General Mac The bronze statue, designed by Mayo sculptor Rory Breslin, Eoin as an “inspirational and motivational” leader. depicts a youthful Mac Eoin in his military uniform, standing next to an anvil with a copy of the Constitution of Ireland in Local Councillor, Michael Carrigy, who led efforts to have the his hand. “This seemingly simple presentation tells the story sculpture erected, said: “The monument will not just be a of his background, his daring and courageous youth, and his testament to the man himself, it will also stand as later dedication to constitutional politics”, Breslin exlplains. recognition of the courage and patriotism of all of the men “This narrative encapsulates the brief while retaining a and women of North Longford in the nation’s struggle for freshness capturing the vitality of the man.” independence”. The County’s Arts Officer, Fergus Kennedy, added that the Known as The Blacksmith of Ballinalee due to his peacetime Seán Mac Eoin statue is part of a wider plan by the County profession, Genera;Mac Eoin lead the North Longford Flying Council to introduce public art installations throughout Column during the War of Independence and later took Longford: “Not only is this project a fitting memorial to a charge of the army’s Western Command, headquarterd at Longford man who has achieved historical status, it will also Custume Barracks in Athlone. After retiring from the army as contribute to the visual enhancement of the attractive village its Chief of Staff, he turned to politics and held the posts of of Ballinalee. It is just one of a number of public art Minister for Justice and Minister for Defence before running commissions being undertaken by Longford County Council unsuccessfully for president on two occasions. in 2012 and 2013.” M 21 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:57 Page 22

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2013

Mary Clifford Clifford ‘Making Tracks’ in the RHA

Louise Coghlan spoke to open submission and then through a ordinary landscape to something very “Professionally it’s vigorous screening process those special. There is a farm behind my Midlands based artist pieces were then reduced down to house and one morning I went out Mary Clifford about her the highest accolade 1700 and I was very excited when two walking the dogs in the field,” explained of my paintings made the cut. Mary. acceptance to the RHA a professional artist and what it means to “And when the news came through that “The farmer had already been out in his my painting Making Tracks was chosen tractor and there was a very distinct receive such an accolade. can receive in as one of the selected 300 pieces, it track through the snow and the minute I really was such fantastic news. Being saw it, I said I had to paint it. And it was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said: Ireland because selected to be part of the RHA this very picture that was chosen by the “Every day we should hear at least one Exhibition never loses its exciting RHA. I guess in life we are all making little song, read one good poem, see appeal and means so much on two tracks so I think it is an apt title. one exquisite picture, and, if possible, the membership levels really; one being professionally Sometimes we can see the tracks and speak a few sensible words.” and the other being personal. other times we can’t but no matter And when speaking to Westmeath- base consists what, these tracks are part of our lives based artist Mary Clifford on her recent “Professionally it’s the highest accolade and part of our landscapes.” acceptance to the RHA, I listened to a a professional artist can receive in very enchanting lady who spoke nothing of artists considered Ireland because the membership base Westmeath-based artist Terence but sensible words and from observing consists of artists considered to be O’Connell spoke of his admiration for her work, I quickly found out, this lady to be excelling in excelling in their field. There is also Mary: “I’m delighted she got selected, paints quite a lot of exquisite pictures. recognition from people who invest in particularly for the work she does. This art of the status and quality of being is a major recognition for her years Mary, a native of Tralee is married to Bill their field.” accepted by the RHA selection painting landscapes and it really is good with one daughter Sarah, has lived in committee. news. I first met Mary when we were Athlone, “longer than she has lived In speaking to Mary, her instant warmth both part of The Midlands Watercolour anywhere else”. of character is tangible. Within seconds, “Personally being an artist is a solitary Society, which ran back in the 1990’s. you can sense her caring and attention profession, constantly drawing on your We would have put on group exhibitions With her birth roots in the Kingdom and to detail in conversation and when internal resources, keeping faith with together and I’m really happy for her. her schooling and college years in examining her work closely, it is these yourself, your ability and dreams, can The part I like best is that she paints Limerick, Mary has seen many a fantastic characteristics that positively be a long lonely journey. Therefore landscapes from around the area which beautiful landscape. Even though her seep from her paintings. having your work selected by artists of is great as to know the Midlands is early years were centered in Munster, the caliber of the RHA selection represented in such a recognised Mary’s heart has been very much firmly Speaking of her recent success at the committee is an affirmation of all the exhibition in Dublin means so much.” grounded in the Midlands for the last RHA Exhibition the grounded Mary effort.” 30 years. simply said: “I’m very lucky that this is This accolade goes some way to actually my second time to be accepted Making Tracks offers the onlooker more demonstrate how Mary’s friendly The recent announcement that Mary’s into the RHA exhibition. My first piece than just a picture, as it really is an personality and creative view on the painting Making Tracks was selected to was chosen in 1997 and it was a very exquisite representation of capturing a world has transferred so fluently to the be part of the longest running open exciting time for me - but to be chosen moment in time and telling a tale as easel of her watercolour outlook. submission exhibition in the country for a second time, really means just well. The 183rd Annual Exhibition at the Royal as much.” Landscapes will always be magical and Hibernian Academy (RHA) in Dublin, “What I see, you might see completely mastered with Mary in this world once again reminds us all why she is Mary also explained the ardous process differently. Making Tracks was a picture bringing colour and creations to life and such a unique and treasured painter of to secure a place in the exhibition. I painted around the time of the heavy by her very brush stroke; she too is our time. “With over 3,000 entries in the initial snowfall. I love painting snow. I really ‘making tracks’ wherever she goes. think snow can transform the most M

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Offaly Youth Theatre at their 2012 Easter Showcase Photo by Clare Dunne

Offaly Youth Theatre EXPANDS TO EDENDERRY Chairperson of Offaly Youth Theatre, Cllr Molly Buckley She added: I have no doubt that this is one of the best Offaly Youth Theatre (Birr and said: It is all about young people being freely and safely be youth projects to happen in Offaly for many years and rest Tullamore) has expanded in 2013 expressive; it is not necessarily about creating Oscar assured - the adults, quietly behind the scenes in this to include a new chapter in winning actors - although wouldn’t that be great - but project - will make sure that then young voice is the most about being able to imagine that anything is possible. important voice in this project.” Edenderry. The project teaches acting for the stage and screen “I’ve noticed that whatever teen-agers sometimes lack in To join Offaly Youth Theatre please contact Janine vocabulary they make up by adding drama to everything, Wilson at [email protected] or follow and is aimed at the 14 and over so I am sure that getting involved in Youth Theatre is a Offaly Youth Theatre on Facebook and Twitter. Offaly age group. natural progression for many young people!” Youth Theatre is affiliated with the National Association of Youth Drama. M

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Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2013

Young artists Shania McCormack and Jade Feeney Pictured with a Picture sample of their work Denis Byrne. for the "Little Women" exhibition were St. Joseph G.N.S pupils Susie Manzye, Hannah Ledesma and Pictured at the Little Women Exhibiton at Alannah Conroy. Mountmellick Art Gallery was Artist and Tutor, Picture Denis Byrne. Gemma Guihan with Sister Rosarii, Rachel McInerney, Hannah Ledesma and Thailer Smith. Picture Denis Byrne. Little Women The exhibition Little Women, launched in Mountmellick Library, Laois in May was the culmination of a collaborative arts residency with Artist Gemma Guihan in St Josephs Girls NS, Mountmellick, as part of the Laois Artists in Schools Programme 2012. The students made wonderful figurines based on the characters of the novel Little Women.

Gemma worked over a period of eight was prompted by my own long-held or sit in the pose chosen for their Women exhibition in Mountmellick weeks with the students, introducing interest in 19th century classic novels, sculpture the better to understand it. Library was certainly one of the most them to the classic novel Little Women by and so, believing that if I am passionate Manipulating the wire armatures, the memorable from the library’s Louisa May Alcott, written in 1860. about the project that I proposed, it students gained instruction on basic perspective. I think this was because the would in turn convey itself to the anatomy, portraiture and in time exhibition was the perfect way to mark The students embarked on a visual students. modelling and sculpting skills, and the end stage of the project, and it acted exploration of the novel through listening discovering the qualities and possibilities as an ideal showcase of the entire to readings, accompanied by visuals of “Through experience I have found that of paper along the way.” process - starting with the Arts Office’s dress design and fashion of the 19th working with a tutor who has passion for initiation of the project, followed by the century, gradually becoming acquainted their subject matter will, in time, engage Each student created a sculpture actual creation and decoration of the with the four main characters in the book even the most reluctant student; and so inspired by one of the March sisters. figurines. - the March sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and it was, the entire project from beginning During this time they were also guided Amy. to end flowed naturally with full support through studio practice and colour The project is one of a number of from students, teachers, principal and mixing, and finally clay modelling, residencies funded through the Artists in Materials associated with this particular staff.” designing and painting the base on which Schools Scheme with Laois Arts Office. era were introduced to the class to inform their sculpture would eventually be The scheme allows students to have an them of various textures and colours that Gemma said that the only stipulation secured and displayed. Materials, in-depth experience with the professional may have been worn by the sisters. regarding this project from the class jewellery, and objects were brought into artist and the opportunity to experience teacher was that each student could take the class room to convey the textures and different art media. Choosing a particular March sister, the home an individual piece of work at the atmosphere of the 1860’s. students explored movement and end of the eight weeks. “It seemed a During the last nine years of the structure, sometimes encouraged to natural progression therefore for me to Gemma added: “In conjunction with programme up to 80 schools in Laois actually physically stand in the actual choose papier mache, a favourite these workshops I introduced the class to have benefited from some wonderfully pose they had chosen for their figure, to medium of mine, for the students to my own sculptures and paintings, giving creative and imaginative arts projects, come to a better understanding of the create and model their own sculpture, them an insight into my daily practice and and worked with highly professional character’s movement and structure. based on the knowledge they would gain the processes involved in creating my artists. Building up, and modelling with various as we explored the lives and world of work.” papers, the figures were finally painted Little Women reading the novel and For more information contact the Arts and placed on to clay stands designed researching and viewing visuals of the The Library Office, Laois County Council, Tel: 057 and modelled by each student. fashions of the period. Speaking after the exhibition, Librarian 8664033 or email [email protected] Gemma said: “The Little Women project “They were encouraged to actually stand Enda McEvoy said: “The recent Little or see www.laois.ie. M

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Artist Karen Hendry is Shaped by The Absent Ocean Karen Hendy is a nomadic painter. The paints, charcoal and pastel. These are, however, often adventurously combined with unconventional ACCOLADES influences of traveling the country and materials and pigments such as moorland peat, from staying in unfamiliar places shells and bark. They give the work a strong texture She will soon return to Annaghmakerrig, as she inform her artistic practice, visual and tactile quality and further increase the was recently granted the County Laois bursary painting’s three-dimensional aspects. (each county council offers one residency a year language and colour pallet. to a local professional artist). Beside the main focus on her own painting, Karen Born and reared in Kenmare, the sea and rocky also delivered a number of community workshops I Karen was awarded a fellowship at the coastline of Ireland’s Atlantic seaboard must have and projects as part of the residency at the Ballinglen Arts Foundation, an international been a significant influence in her childhood and Arthouse. art centre based run by artistic entrepreneurs possibly on her artistic ideas and perception. from the US which saw Karen spend her time During another brief residency for Abbeyleix Arts photograph and document the rich Although her family later moved to Laois, her work Festival in 2011 Karen held a four day workshop archaeology and natural environment of still continues to centre on the sea. project with the local children from Scoil Mhuire in North Mayo. which children explored different ways of using Given that her work appears mature and solidly materials to draw and paint, which was informed by I Karen was invited to be the first resident founded, it may come as a surprise that Karen is a her own practice. artist of Artistic Alliance relative newcomer in the Irish art scene. In 2006 (www.artisticalliance.eu) in Cobh, county she decided to give up a promising bank career to Various other projects involved one-day workshops Cork. This inspiring residency opportunity was fulfill a lifelong interest in art and to study painting in her studio and on one occasion working with founded and is run by Richard Scott, an at NCAD and later at the Burren College of Art. children from Chernobyl. Adults on National enthusiastic art lover, cultural entrepreneur Drawing day, Open studios on Culture night, and collector from Cork. Here she spent six Fairly quickly she gained a reputation as a painter Bealtaine Festival, Christmas workshops and weeks May to June focusing on new work on a national scale with her work being shown at summer camps for children provided other inspired by the historic maritime environment Eigse, The Royal Ulster Academy, Royal Hibernian opportunities for outreach work. of the town. While this solitary, yet very Academy and most recently at Ev+a International. comfortable set-up offered a very different In fact, her work was acquired for national On a very different level of producing work for and experience from all other residencies, it collections including the Houses of Oireachtas. with members of the public, she was involved in a resulted in great inspiration with recognisable recycling projected for the Electric Picnic Music influence in her latest work. In 2011, Karen was chosen as one of the first Festival, both in 2012 and 2013. Along with four professional artists in residence based in The other artists she was chosen to design and build a Karen’s will hold a solo show in the Dunamaise Arthouse, Stradbally located in the re-developed old lighting installation using 2,000 recycled bottles in Art Centre, Portlaoise in October and if you miss courthouse and managed by county Laois Arts combination with LED lights. The honeycomb shape that, her work will be on show in Ballymaloe officer Muireann Ní Chonaíll. installation was installed on the Art Trail for the House, Shanagarry, county Cork in November duration of the festival. During the first year the after her. Karen's paintings and drawings are grounded in the installation developed into an interactive piece for philosophical theories of change and permanence. the children who had great fun trying to assemble See www.karenhendyartist.com Despite being void of any realism in their nature, after some sections had been removed during the Karen states that landscape is the underlying source first night of the festival. of her paintings. This hidden reality appears to be a constant preoccupation, forming a consistently While The Arthouse offers Karen a regular studio recurring thread in Karen’s work to date. base to work in, she has spent much of her career as a painter as artist-in residence in art centres A current series of paintings and drawings clearly including The Cill Rialaig Project in Kerry and the shows the influence of landscape elements, Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Monaghan. M geological features and - surprisingly - curachs (Karen has recently taken up rowing these iconic West coast boats!). The initial source of this this sea-influenced work is Horse Island, a small, now uninhabited offshore island near Ballycastle, which she explored during a stay at the Ballinglen Arts Foundation in 2012. Greys of rocks, deep blues of the ocean and yellows and greens from the land amalgamate in a rich tapestry of colours and shapes that have become a dominant aspect of Karen’s pallet.

These blocks of tones often form the background to a maze of interwoven lines and marks, sometimes incorporating and utilising found objects (objets trouvé) that she encounters during her travels: nets, ropes and sticks form. These various elements form the core vocabulary of Karen’s visual language.

As a painter, she is proficient in a wide range of artistic media that include inks, oil and acrylic

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Ollie Byrne Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2013

Time and Place Captured From an early age photography was a huge passion for Edenderry man Ollie Byrne and although other interests came and went his love of the photographic medium never faded.

In 2010 Ollie made a decision and decided to focus on his passion full time and through self- study, courses and constantly photographing the landscape, he worked on refining his photographic style.

His strict aesthetic is striking and seems to help him avoid the trap of imitation or the creation of decorative art but instead to create images of true meaning and value. His current collection of works titled Of Time And Place consists of 10 pieces of monochrome landscape photography taken between 2011 and 2013. It will be exhibiting at Public Access Arts, Edenderry, county Offaly until October 4 and at the Arthouse, Stradbally, county Laois from October 17 until November 15.

See www.olliebyrne.com for more information. M

Lone Boat by Ollie Byrne John Lennon Bus Parks Up in Laois Music Generation has bring a real sense of excitement to music education across Ireland this partnered with the John summer. Lennon Educational Tour “We commend Yoko Ono for mobilising Bus to run its first a Irish such a wonderful resource for young tour which had a stop off people as a way in which to create Nigel Rolfe: Mire Fall Body better access to music – a vision that is in Laois this summer. shared by Music Generation’s philanthropic donors U2 and The Ireland Claire Chaney: Latex House The bus, which contains state of the art Funds and the Local Music Education recording studios made a visit to Áras Partnerships with whom we work.” an Chontae, Portlaoise, in August and eight lucky students from Music Brian Rothschild, Executive Director of Tullamore Lays Foundations Generation Laois got the opportunity to The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, experience this extraordinary vehicle. said: “It is fantastic to be touring Ireland and meeting so many vibrant young The John Lennon Educational bus is people.” for Town Art dedicated to providing the young people of Europe with free, hands- The bus has worked with a variety of on opportunities to produce original local charities and artists across the UK A new exhibition trail has Claire Chaney, Aoife Carbury, David Fox, music, video, photo, game app and with visitors including legendary Ian Keaveny, Tim Mann, Nicky Hooper broadcast projects. guitarist Earl Slick and Yoko Ono herself. been created around and Veronica Nicholson. With the increasing number of empty commercial Commenting on the tour, Rosaleen The UK and European tour schedule Tullamore to celebrate units all over Ireland, artists and their Molloy, National Director of Music plus interactive map can be found Tullamore Community Arts work have become progressively visible Generation, said: “We are delighted to at www.lennonbus.org where visitors on high streets and other designated have this fantastic opportunity to work can also see all of the content created Centre’s foundations commercial areas. with the John Lennon Bus team and on board. M being laid at the end of As a result of the trend in occupying Pictured at the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus during its stop at County Hall, Portlaoise , otherwise unused spaces and often were, participants: Sarah Luttrell, Ballybrittas; Ruth Hyland, Clough; Ciara Faherty, the year. working more and more with Portarlington; Grace Flanagan, Abbeyleix; Yellana Dunne, Portlaoise; Alison Sweeney, Music communities, contemporary arts Generation Laois; Pietro Rossi. Lennon Bus Producer; Corey Marum, Portlaoise; Ciaran Foundation 13, curated by Tullamore practice has evolved. Pop-up Art spaces Rowney, Ballyfin and Vojtech Dzudza, Portlaoise. Photo: Michael Scully artist Brendan Fox in partnership with are now thriving amidst the saturation Offaly County Arts Office and the board of advertisements and the bombarding of the Arts Centre, is aimed at commerce of town and city centres, highlighting international contemporary offering the public a window into an arts practice in preparation for the alternative use of shared public space. opening of the centre. The event includes workshops, talks with artists, curators, gallery owners “Rather than focusing on two and facilitators, theatre and art house dimensional or traditional wall hung cinema nights, tours and more will be work, Foundation 13 will encompass officially launched at Tullamore Library innovative yet accessible video, on September 26 at 6.30pm. It will then sculpture, installation, multimedia, run from this date until October 24. performance, light and sound and will occupy multiple spaces in Tullamore For more information see town,” explained Brendan. www.foundation-13.com or Email: [email protected]. The lineup of artists includes renowned Opening days and times: Thursday - artist Nigel Rolfe along with many Sunday, 11am to 6pm emerging and local artists such as M 26 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:58 Page 27

St Colmcille’s Pipe Band St Colmcille's Pipe Band from Tullamore were victorious at the World Championships in Glasgow on Saturday Aug 17th. Hundreds lined the streets of Tullamore to welcome home the pipers, whose remarkable season included being crowned British Champions on May 25th 2013. The Band was founded in 1911, making it the third oldest in Pipe Band in Ireland. The band practices collectively twice weekly, with classes in piping and drumming available for new members. Pipe Major John Leamy said, “We’ve enjoyed tremendous support from the people of Tullamore and we’re delighted to give something back to them in the shape of this world title. I hope that this success will encourage more people to join the band as we need to swell the ranks as we move up through the grades. “ for more information on the band Pat Middleton, Joe Mooney and John Leamy of St. Colmchille’s .contact Pat Nolan - 087 610 1773 or email [email protected] of follow them on Facebook. M Pipe Band, pictured at Tullamore Train Station where they performed for National Music Day. Pic: Clare Dunne BALLET IRELAND puts best foot forward in Laois This autumn ballet enthusiasts can take RTE National in Ballet Ireland’s new ballet, Carmen. Against the backdrop of Bizet’s Runacre-Temple’s up to date style “gets passionate score this scorching story it”, according to the Irish Times, unleashes the creative talents of Ballet stretching classical ballet to new Symphony Ireland’s choreographer in residence, heights. Morgann Runacre-Temple. Carmen follows the story of a young, naïve Passion, drama and colour in soldier Jose, who is bewitched by the abundance! Ballet Ireland’s talented ORCHESTRA beautiful and fiery gypsy, Carmen dancers will sizzle in this fantastic new ballet. Obsessed and reckless, Jose turns his back on respectable life to be with her. Dunamaise, Portlaoise But Carmen, like love, is a bird that Tuesday, November 26 at 7.30pm in Tullamore cannot be tamed and Jose’s desire to Ticket prices: €20 / €18 / On December 4th perform on the night alongside some posses her eventually destroys them €56 (Family of 4) of their new ‘tutors’ and to be both. Booking: Tel: 057 8663355 conducted by Fergus Sheil. www.dunamaise.ie 2013, the RTÉ National This age old story, as relevant today as www.balletreland.ie Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Fergus Sheil, this high- ever, will be re-told in a modern setting. M octane concert has a virtuosic and will play in the colourful symphonic repertoire. Max Tullamore Court Hotel. Bruch's Scottish Fantasy, a rhythmic and colourful classical interpretation of Scotland's sights and sounds and It is not often that the RTÉ National Stravinsky's ballet suite The Firebird Symphony Orchestra play outside the deploying the full orchestral resources Dublin, Cork or Limerick and the to depict a celebrated Russian opportunity to play in Tullamore has fairytale. Coupled with these, two more come about through Wide Open Music recent works, Danzón No. 2, an and an Arts Council Touring Grant, infectiously joyous Latin American which also include dates in Castlebar dance by Mexican composer Arturo and Kilkenny. Márquez and the improbable dance of Chairman Mao from John Adams' The tour concept developed by Wide opera Nixon in China will ensure Open Music includes an opportunity audiences will hear the orchestra at its for local young musicians to receive absolute best. master classes from some of the NSO musicians leading up to the concert. TICKETS: €16 (€14 conc.) BOOKING: The students will also get a chance to 057 934 6666 M 27 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:58 Page 28

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2013 There's more to Offaly's GERARD BYRNE than FAIR CITY

Talk to Offaly actor Gerard Byrne for even five minutes and you can pretty quickly hear this is a man who was always destined to work with his voice. A gifted communicator, he speaks in a deep, mellifluous tone which is easy on the ear and easy to understand.

But the way he tells it, there was no was the invention of the Swish curtain rail for car manufacturer Saab as an In 1986, Joe Dowling set up the Gaiety history of performing in his family apart that got me started. The red velvet interpreter -- translating from German to School of Acting. You had to audition to be from occasional sing-songs at family curtains were drawn back and I would English before returning to Dublin after his accepted in the school. With the help of gatherings. He doesn’t recall performing play music.’’ father had a stroke. his teachers in the Brendan Smith in plays at St. Mary’s National School in Theatre Academy, Byrne made the grade Edenderry or even at secondary school, The son of an Offaly businessman, who Finding himself unexpectedly back in alongside about 20 others. There, his though he remembers being fascinated had worked in a shoe factory before Ireland, he finally decided to venture for classmates included Claudia Carroll, by life on the stage when he went on setting up his own grocery and the first time into acting by enrolling in the Deirdre O’Kane and Sheila McWade. school trips to see the pantomime. newsagents, Byrne was one of a renowned and long-established Brendan So why did he get in to acting? “I am not family of five. Smith Academy of Acting. Theatre After completing the Gaiety School of really sure. There was no real history of impresario Brendan Smith, had formerly Acting, Byrne auditioned for, and got, his formal performance in the family. But as In his teen years, Byrne did have a notion run the Olympia Theatre and was the first ever professional role with the kids we had family get-togethers with he might like to act, but had no plans to founder in 1957 of the Dublin Theatre Passion Machine Theatre Company. It was relations who would visit us from the follow through on what was then only a Festival. At the time Byrne was working in a play called THE BIRDTABLE, and was United States or when we visited Granny vague idea. Indeed, when in the late a shipping company by day and doing the written and directed by Brendan Gleeson, near Rathkeale, Co. Limerick. We always seventies he went to University College, acting course by night. But when the who later would make it big both in had gatherings and sing-songs. I learned Dublin to study French and German, he shipping company asked him to take up a Ireland and in Hollywood. Playwright and the piano and the violin. Like many Irish was too afraid to join the Drama Society position in Hamburg, where he could put Artistic Director of Passion Machine Paul families, the violins and tin whistles would which was touting for members during his German to use on behalf of his Mercier, followed up by offering him the be trotted out at family gatherings.’’ He Freshers’ Week. employer, Byrne decided he wanted to lead role in HOME, this time acting jokingly hazards a guess that modern stay in Dublin because the acting bug had alongside Gleeson, who played his close curtain technology may have played a role Byrne graduated from UCD in 1981 and bitten him hard. friend. Indeed they have remained real-life in developing his appetite for the stage: “It went to live in Frankfurt where he worked close friends ever since! "HOME put both

L-R Stephen Swift (Bilton), Killian Burke (Stephen), Aonghus Óg McAnally Jonathan Gunning, Peter Daly and Gerard Byrne in Mary Murray, Peter Daly, Ruth Lehane, (Charles Lomax), Gerard Byrne (Morrison) and Liz Fitzgibbon (Sarah) during ARRAH-NA-POGUE by Dion Boucicault, directed by Jonathan Gunning, Gerard Byrne, rehearsals for Major Barbara by Bernard Shaw. Photography: Ros Kavanagh. Mikel Murfi. Photography: Colm Hogan. Ciarán O'Brien, Rory Nolan in rehearsal for ARRAH-NA-POGUE. Photography: Ros Kavanagh.

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Gerard has appeared in several stage and television productions through his illustrious career

2010 Noreen 2009 Fair City (from 1996) 2004 Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde 2002 The Last 2001 Tupperware 1998 Crushproof 1997 Before I Sleep 1993 The Snapper 1992 Heaven Only Knows 1991 Brutal Glory 1991 Nighthawks (from 1988) 1990 After Midnight 1990 The Truth About Claire 1989 Clara Schumann 1988 A Matter Of Life And Debt

of us on the map", he now recalls. The play was a great It was a success not just at home, but also in Scotland, Abbey. He has also starred in other recent Abbey success, transferring to the Olympia in 1988. England and especially France where he still recalls a productions including Drum Belly and Oscar Wilde’s The To this day, Byrne considers the part he played in Home rapturous Paris audience insisting on a twenty minute Picture of Dorian Gray. as one of his favourite roles. “Home was about a chap curtain call. from Westmeath called Michael. He came up to Dublin These days Byrne lives in Dublin, but retains links to from Westmeath during the eighties recession. He had Observe the Sons of Ulster took Byrne out of circulation Offaly where his brother, niece and cousins still live. broken the apron strings with Mammy and gone to Dublin for the best part of two years until 1996. Until that time, Asked if Eugene O’Brien’s Pure Mule TV series and play to train as a hotel manager. I played Michael, a country he had done relatively little screen work, apart from some Eden were reflective of the reality of life in Edenderry, boy stuck in city-land.’’ small movie roles and a brief stint as a school teacher in Byrne said that he thought O’Brien had captured RTE’s Fair City. Edenderry very well on both screen and stage. “It was a Byrne had another lucky break when Mercier offered him But then RTE came knocking again, this time offering him small town with very big, colourful characters.’’ (and Gleeson) a part in Roddy Doyle's comedy the role of a priest in Fair City. Byrne was fearful of BROWNBREAD, after two other actors pulled out. He becoming typecast as a parish priest, especially given Looking back, Byrne (54) reckons too that as a shy played the part of a kidnapped bishop. 'For years that he had already played various ecclesiastical roles no person, he needed to find a way to express himself afterwards - and probably still - the framed poster of me fewer than nine times. He didn’t want to end up as just artistically and that acting was a way of doing that. It as the bishop with a gun to his head, hung in the bar in another traditional parish priest. certainly seems to have been the right career choice: “I the Olympia, much to the amusement of hundreds of But the winds of change were blowing in Ireland and am very happy I left the shipping,’’ he said. theatre punters!", he says. Byrne was persuaded by the character of Malachy, a M radical missionary priest who had a moral dilemma Another favourite role was the part of John Millen in Frank around having an affair while remaining in the Gerard Byrne McGuinness’s play Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching priesthood, a role in which many TV viewers will still playing Walter Towards the Somme. The play was revived in 1994 to remember him, though he left the series five years ago. Sorrow in Drum coincide with the IRA ceasefire and the beginning of the Byrne has since returned to theatre and is currently Belly by Richard peace process in Northern Ireland. starring in George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara at the Dormer. Photography: Anthony Woods Bob Kelly, Gerard Byrne, Emmet Kirwan and Charlotte McCurry in the Abbey Theatre production of Oscar Wilde’s THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, adapted and directed by Neil Bartlett. Photography: Ros Kavanagh. Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:58 Page 30

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2013 Following the appointment of its Development Officer, Margaret Broome, Music Generation Offaly/ Westmeath is working hard to be ready for the new academic year.

Margaret Broome Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath… strumming to the future

Music Generation Offaly/ Westmeath is establishment of the first strand of its access to music education across the I’ve spoken too is so enthusiastic and led in partnership by Offaly and ambitious 3 strand project, The Early two counties for all children, when interested. Our timeline is very tight, Westmeath County Councils, and is Years Kodály Programme. tutors begin visiting them in October. but we are currently in touch with 25 part of Music Generation, a national schools across Offaly and Westmeath programme for music education SO WHAT IS THE KODÁLY WAY? One participating school principal said: that we hope to be working in by initiated by Music Network with seed (pronounced ‘Co-dye-ae’) “We are very excited to get the October. But we haven’t forgotten all funding from U2 and the Ireland Funds. Approaching music education through opportunity to participate in this the other primary schools out there Kodály will allow for the creation of a project and are looking forward to looking to get involved with Music Margaret Broome joins Music programme that uses singing as its ‘making music education happen’.... Generation Offaly/ Westmeath. Generation Offaly/Westmeath having main method of teaching because The Early Years Kodály Programme Together with our partners in Athlone previously held posts as a Principal singing is one of the most natural, sounds like a fantastic programme Education Centre, we are developing Teacher of music in Fife, Scotland and participative and enjoyable ways to and I have no doubt that it (will) ways of engaging with them too. as a performance tutor (voice and make music. This way, children learn complement our Music Programme. piano) at NUI Maynooth. Originally from about music through ‘doing’. Music The other important feature of the Planning is well underway with our Edinburgh, Scotland, Margaret is a Generation Offaly/ Westmeath have programme is the opportunity for partners at DIT Conservatory of Music graduate of The Royal Scottish designed The Early Years Kodály teachers to get involved and learn new and Drama, and the Kodály Society of Academy of Music, Glasgow (B.Ed Programme to be a school based music methods and skills which will enhance Ireland, our training partners in The (music), piano and education), and education programme, delivered to the teaching of music in the years Early Years Kodály Programme who will from the University of York, England whole classes by tutors supported by ahead”. provide professional development for (M.A (music), performance and class teachers. Over the next 3 years, the musicians who will become our education). Margaret brings substantial the programme will be extended and The music community will benefit from Music Education Practitioners. and varied experience of music offered to more schools interested in involvement in this project too, as The education in a number of contexts to joining ‘the singing revolution’. Early Years Kodály Programme will not And as for all the fantastic musicians Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath, a only provide new work opportunities for who have been working all over Offaly project which will widen access to Initially working with classes from talented musicians, but also allow for and Westmeath for years, Music music education for children across the Junior Infants to 3rd class, tutors will the development of new skills through Generation Offaly/ Westmeath is two counties over the next 3 years. develop programmes that emphasize partnership with DIT, The Kodály looking forward to working and singing, and that will, over time, allow Society of Ireland and Athlone developing new ideas with them. It’s Already underway in 8 other counties school participation to evolve into area Education Centre. going to be a busy year!” across the country, including Laois, and county choirs providing youngsters Music Generation is extending with new musical opportunities and Margaret Broome, Music Generation For more information on the project, opportunities for children and young experiences. Offaly/ Westmeath’s Development Margaret Broome can be contacted on people to be able to participate in high Officer has been overwhelmed by the Tel: 057 9346898 or quality performance music education in Now schools are being invited to join positive responses received so far: [email protected] or follow their locality. with Music Generation Offaly/ “...to get the chance to talk with Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath on Westmeath in the introduction of The Principals and musicians, and explain Facebook for regular updates. During 2013/2014, Music Generation Early Years Kodály Programme which what it is that we will be doing, has M Offaly/ Westmeath will focus on the will be the first step towards widening been great, especially when everyone

30 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:58 Page 31

On the set of the short film DTA

In the Can (but not in the Cannes)

Jonathan Sheehan a filmmaker, writer, director and stand up artist from Tullamore, writes about ‘getting it in the can’ and the on-set and offline learning experience of his first film.

On August 2011, I finished the last day (of a two day shoot) filming my short film perhaps I expected the same level of ‘preparation’ from the cast and crew. My DTA. It had been goal of mine to make a film since I was a kid. At twenty seven expectations were actually quite low. I just wanted to make a film and be able to years old I finally did it! show it to people and for it to look OK. In retrospection, some of the crew had higher expectations than me, maybe However, the experience wasn’t what I thought it would be. The two days of even higher expectations of themselves, but that’s OK, we all have different shooting had not gone as smoothly as I hoped. Every page of the script had learning curves when starting out. been shot, which is a success in itself, but certain things did not come off as well as I hoped and little did I know the long road ahead to finish the film. In post production, I didn’t see it coming, how hard it would be to get it finished. I really thought it wouldn’t take so long or be so hard. DTA is a short 10 minute film about a young guy called “I was dependent In the end, I’m just glad it’s done and looking at it Garth who falls in love with a girl he meets online called honestly I think it’s OK. But I don’t think it lives’ up to Astrid. She lives in terror of upsetting her father, who what I wanted and the long journey to completion took doesn’t want her to have a life because he fears he will on finding an some of the fun out it. lose her, like he did her mother. The film tells the story of how they meet face to face for the first time, when they editor who was Disappointed but wiser begin to fall in love with each other and how they deal I might sound a bit downbeat about the whole thing, it with Astrid’s father. willing to work for was disappointing, but hopefully I’m wiser as a result! I would still encourage anyone to make their own film, The film was shot HD mini-tape and I misjudged how free. That was but prepare for an up-hill battle. difficult it would be to edit. Not having the right equipment or the money (or know-how), I was dependent I think these are the trials everyone goes through on on finding an editor who was willing to work basically for hard to find!” their first film and I am optimistic about making more; free. This was hard to find! hopefully the next time the process will be faster and smoother. I am working on a 2 min short with some friends; it will be shot on a Many people said they would/could but in the end they didn’t come through, home video camera which I will edit myself. (one even lied for six months, telling me he was working on it, when in reality he did nothing). After a year and half of looking for help, salvation came in the form For those wondering what DTA. stands for, well, you will have to watch the film to of Kenny Gaughan, the Galway based stand-up comedian who very kindly find out. You can judge it for yourself. On YouTube, type in D.T.A Short Irish Film offered to edit the film for me. Kenny cut through a lot of the footage that wasn’t and see what you think. working and made a film that belies the difficulty in making it. Almost two years after shooting, in April 2013 I finally saw DTA! Jonathan Sheehan is writer/director and stand up artist. You can contact him on [email protected] M In hindsight, I think pre and during production I was personally well prepared, Laois Youth Theatre Open Call Where: Dunamaise Arts Centre When: Saturday, October 5 11am-1pm Why not come along and meet current members and leaders and find out all about Laois Youth Theatre? Explore drama through theatre games, get creative, learn about production processes; onstage, back stage and technical, while having fun, gaining confidence and making new friends. New members always welcome.

Book now as places are limited for the theatre workshops which are designed for ages 12-18. Laois Youth Theatre Workshops are run in Portlaoise, Stradbally and Portarlington throughout the school term from October to December and February to June for just €60 per term. For further information contact the Arts Office at Laois County Council on Tel: 057 8664033/13 M 31 Smock Alley Trip Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:58 Page 32

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2013

Eileen Coghlan

Who is Eileen Coghlan by TP O’Gorman If you find yourself asking this question then maybe this piece can provide the answer. If you were? born before 1980 and attended your local national school in Ireland it’s very likely that you have spent quite an amount of time looking at her work but not having any knowledge as to who she was or anything about her.

You see, Eileen Coghlan illustrated many farm, village or parish with which so series of three much praised children’s workmanship is good and the drawing of the schoolbooks used predominantly many of us from those decades are so books written by Longford author and excellent. Miss Coghlan’s forte is the in Irish primary schools, but also less so familiar. primary teacher Mary Flynn all based on drawing of babies; every child in her in Secondary Schools, during the 40’s, the character Cornelius Rabbit in collection is immensely attractive. Her 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and even into the 80’s. Eileen was born in Kilbeggan on May 18, 1944/’45. adult portraits are good also. She has a 1909 to parents William Coghlan, one of nice sense of composition and no mean Her illustrations were used in English the local tailors and Mary Coghlan (nee Among the many important children’s painter of light.” readers, Irish readers and workbooks, McClelland). Typical of the time Eileen authors whose books were illustrated by history and poetry books and given that came from a large family; she had three Eileen as EC, were Patricia Lynch Four of her watercolours are proudly on we all went to primary school then it’s sisters, Mary, Una, Josephine and five (Strangers at the Fair and The Turf show in Kilbeggan Library and one in unlikely you didn’t at some stage see brothers Michael, Des, Gerald, John, Cutter’s Donkey Kicks up his Heels), Athlone Library while more of her work is her illustrations and maybe ponder on Fergus and Dermot. Maura Laverty (The Cottage in the Bog) in private ownership. Eileen continued to their content or daydream about being and Eileen O’ Faolain (Miss Pennyfeather paint and illustrate until ill health part of the action. She went to the local Convent Primary and the Pooka). intervened in her latter years. School and then to secondary school and “Miss Coghlan’s from there to the Dublin Metropolitan Sinead De Valera had four of her very She died following a short illness at School of Art where she studied her craft popular children’s books illustrated by EC Midland General Hospital, Tullamore, forte is the drawing for a short time in the company of other in the 50’s, namely, The Magic Girdle and county Offaly on Good Friday, April 13, greats in the pantheon of Irish art of the other stories, The Emerald Ring and other 1990 (I’m sure Eileen would have a wry of babies; every early 20th century. stories, The Four-Leafed Shamrock and smile at that one) and was buried in other tales and finally Fairy Tales. Kilbeggan Cemetery on Easter Sunday child in her Eileen devoted herself early in her career (Cornelius Rabbit playing a part there to commercial art in an obvious need to At that time resident in Dublin, Eileen maybe!) collection is fund her move to Dublin and later joined the Water Colour Society of Ireland concentrated almost exclusively on book and exhibited her work through them. She Her outstanding legacy is I think immensely illustration, particularly children’s books also contributed the odd cartoon to the undoubtedly the volume of children’s attractive. Her and schoolbooks for the Dublin based Dublin Opinion and also her illustrated work created for primary school books Browne and Nolan Ltd, The Educational articles appeared in the Irish Digest. In and browsing through those illustrations adult portraits are Company of Ireland, Fallons and prior to the 1960’s she penned a weekly- brings back many a happy memory from her retirement Folens Publishers. illustrated topical and generally witty schooldays past. good also.” article to the much beloved Irish Press. The Irish Times But, Eileen also carved out a niche for What can be said is that Eileen Coghlan is herself as the illustrator of dust jackets All the while she was also painting a true creative national treasure and has for many of the important authors of the portraits, landscapes, towns and country left quite the colourful and nostalgic Signing herself Eileen Coghlan, Eibhlin time, among the more noted examples scenes. An art critic writing in the Irish legacy behind her, never to be forgotten. Ni Chochlain or more commonly EC, being Paradise Alley by John D Sheridan Independent in 1936 wrote describing those illustrations served to brighten up and Statue for a Square by Francis her first exhibition of watercolours and If you would like more information or many a dreary lesson or story and McManus. drawings in the Country Shop Gallery, St have an interest in Eileen Coghlan perhaps gave rise to many a discussion Stephen’s Green: “It is a simple, please contact Westmeath Arts Office about a historical character, hero or She also provided the illustrations for a unpretentious collection, but the on [email protected] M heroine or happening at home or in the

32 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:58 Page 33

Literary Awards acknowledge talented Longford writers by Patrick Conboy

The first ever Longford Leader Literary Awards were held on June 27 to coincide with the Writers Love Longford aspect of the successful Love Longford festival.

There was an enthusiastic response to the call for entries from poets and writers from right across the region and a large group of them were present at the Longford Arms Hotel for the occasion. Gerry Warnock, Alan McMonigle, Rose Beirne, Sheila Reilly, Fergus Kennedy Photo by Shelley Corcoran The County’s Arts Officer, Fergus Kennedy, got proceedings underway, while there were also introductions from local town councillor Gerry Warnock, one of the main an extract from his latest book of short stories Psychotic Episodes. organisers of Love Longford, and the Editor of the Longford Leader, Sheila Reilly. The award for Best Poem was presented to Mary Melvin Geoghegan for her Also present at the event was local author Alan McMonagle, who was given the composition, The Geography of a Writer, while The Return Visit by Rose Byrne was unenviable task of choosing the winners from the impressively large number of chosen as the winner in the Best Prose category. Both writers received plaques to entries. Before making the big announcement, Mr McMonagle was invited to read mark their success, with the presentations being made by Sheila. M

Some of the Team Castle volunteers taking in the beautiful views of Athlone.

Westmeath Volunteers Injecting Magic into The Midlands

Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine speaks to Ian O’Flynn, Manager of Westmeath Volunteer Centre about the fun and friendships formed by those who get involved in the arts world in Westmeath.

“Managing Westmeath Volunteer Centre called volunteering, it was just based on in the Volunteer Centre would use them a gallery, to stewarding at an event is a pleasure. Each and every day we the willingness to help and the passion as a good role model when explaining keeping everyone safe, all of these roles meet wonderful people brimming with for the arts. Lifelong friends with widely best practice to other not for profit make a big difference and also uplifts skills and enthusiasm and finding them ranging backgrounds, skills and organisations who are looking for the soul. a worthwhile volunteering opportunity is passions were made and some went on volunteers.” something we hold very dear,” enthused to thread the boards on big stages,” “Many of the volunteers I have met Ian. continued Ian. Ian was also keen to stress that anyone through the arts had no idea when they with a passion or interest in the Arts can began their volunteering journey that “The opportunity to work with Ian highlighted the opportunity of make for a good volunteer. “One they would fall in love with the arts as organisations who promote the arts in working with other branches of the arts interesting thing I have always found much as they did. The arts, craic agus Westmeath was something that in the volunteer centre such as Athlone was that volunteers do not need to be a ceol are an integral part of our society Westmeath Volunteer Centre jumped Art & Heritage to advise on Volunteer Picasso or Oscar winning actors to be and the more we can all help to at.” Management. involved in the arts. Volunteering is promote it, the better our land will be.” about passion and the Volunteer Perhaps given Ian’s artistic pedigree “Through this we have been able to find Centre’s role when dealing with the Volunteers are essential to the Arts and such enthusiasm is not a surprise. “I matches between our volunteers and volunteers is to find the passion within without them many initiatives would fall came from a theatrical background opportunities within Athlone Art & and help the volunteer with options by the wayside. As Ian pointed out: “In what with my mother being a playwright Heritage such as the Artists Studio, the about roles.” the Midlands there are many art and my father managing the opera Luan Gallery, Hilltown Festival, galleries, artist’s collectives, theatres, house in Cork and so it was more or Mullingart, Charleville Castle and, of “Being involved in the arts is an uplifting drama groups, poetry and spoken word, less in my blood. course, Athlone Castle. and inspiring experience. From helping photography societies and many, many children to discover colour, to helping an more arts inspired associations that, “Growing up, volunteering was a given “The staff in Athlone Arts & Heritage are actor to learn their lines, to sharing the without volunteers would not exist.” thing, although, back then, it wasn’t exceptional with the volunteers and we emotion and passion of a piece of art in M 33 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:59 Page 34

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2013

Music Network in association with The Arts Office, Laois County Council presents Bridge, Bellows and Bow with Liam O’Connor, fiddle, viola; Caoimhín O’ Fearghail, uilleann pipes, flute, guitar, vocals and Noel Hill in the wonderful surroundings of Emo Court, Emo , Portlaoise, Co Laois on Monday, September 16. Bridge, Bellows and Bow with Noel Hill, Caoimhín O’ Fearghail and Liam O’Connor Bridge, Bellows and Bow for Emo

“Breathtaking... a young musician who is winners – are united by a deep and sean nós songs. Thanks in no small The workshops are supported by Music essentially standing on the shoulders of knowledge and love for the music of the measure to multi-instrumentalist Ó Generation Laois. giants, but who has worked his way legendary masters of Irish tradition such Fearghail, there’s also a wide range of through these influences and created as Coleman, Ennis, Clancy, Potts and sounds and instrumentation to drink in: Concert/Workshop tickets are now on something of his own,” said Dermot Tóibín. with fiddle, viola, concertina, uilleann sale from the box office at the McLaughlin in the Journal of Music in pipes, flute, guitar and singing in various Dunamaise Arts Centre on Tel: 057 Ireland on Liam O’Connor. For this tour, these three stellar soloists combinations – all laced with a healthy 8663355. are sure to delight trad fans with their dose of folklore, personal anecdotes Concert Tickets cost €15/€12 and Similarly, PJ Curtis said of Noel Hill: fresh, vibrant take on the classic Irish and a splash of good humour. Workshop Tickets are €12 and include “Here we have a stylist who has taken traditional music repertoire, as well as free admission to Concert. Advance his instrument to new heights… Noel digging deep into the vaults to unearth Group workshops in the uilleann pipes, booking is essential. shapes each tune as a finely sculpted some lesser-known melodies from fiddle and Concertina led by the piece of intricate musical art, delicacy manuscript sources. performers will take place on Monday For more information about the event and beauty.” 16 from 5.30pm to 7pm in Emo. When contact: The Arts Office, Laois County Expect to hear everything from powerful booking a workshop, please state clearly Council. Tel: 057 8664033/13. Spanning three generations, Liam, Noel dance music, lively jigs and melancholic the instrument required and give a M and Caoimhín – all TG4 Gradam Ceoil hornpipes to poignant Gaelic slow airs name and contact number. DINNER OFFER Make an evening of it by booking a pre-concert four course dinner at Emo Tea rooms, Emo Court for €24.00. To book call: 057 8633964 There’s Something about Shinrone A short film about Shinrone has just be The idea of making a film with the fund question, ‘What makes Shinrone The free DVD of the film is completed under Offaly County Council’s came about following a public meeting special?’ I hope the film will be passed available in the local Centra Per Cent for Art scheme with a free DVD when people recalled the RTÉ around the families, and over time or through Offaly County Arts available to the public. documentary about Shinrone 45 years dusted off and reminisced over. previously and thought it might be a Office. Tel: 057 9357400. Written and directed by Steven good starting point to make a film about “Who knows, in 45 years time, maybe M Goldsmith the short film touches on Shinrone today. another filmmaker will come across it what Shinrone is renowned for - its Importantly, everyone was keen to and revisit Shinrone on film again! 1960’s RTE documentaries, concerts by ensure that, however the fund was Arlo Guthrie, The Waterboys and Nancy spent that it would involve many people Griffith and, of course, the infamous in the community and have a far- Barack Obama connection whose reaching impact, particularly for those Kearney ancestors are buried locally. not living in the area anymore. However, the story the film tells is that despite these recognised incidental Steven expanded: “This was not meant connections, what makes Shinrone to be another documentary but rather special are the people who call it home. an exploration of the deeper heart of the Shinrone community, asking the

34 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:59 Page 35

Yvonne Claffey Devil’s Matchsticks New Legends fromOld Woods

Sisters and artists Tina and Yvonne Claffey, were awarded the commission to create artworks as part of the Per Cent for art scheme for Crinkle National School, Birr following the completion of their extension.

Speaking of the opportunity Tina said: “It was an “Once our proposal was accepted and the project Old Woods in ancient Irish. However we both absolute honour for us both to be chosen and all was under way {October 2012}, we completed the interpreted the subject in different ways, which the more special that we both have children works for the official opening in April 2013. We were complemented one another.” attending the school. both inspired by the translation of Crinkle-meaning M

Yvonne Claffey Sli an Eolais - Crinkle National School YVONNE CLAFFEY “I decided to have ceramic workshops with each class to show them what the whole process of working with clay is about. I explained the process from pressing it, moulding it, stamping it, and adding to it and firing in the kiln to a temperature of 950C degrees, in a process called bisque firing. It is then glazed and fired again to a higher temperature of 1060C degrees to give the clay its high gloss sheen.

“All the students and staff members in Crinkle created their own tile stamping into it and adding on to it in relief. The large ceramic panel ‘Sli an Eolais’ (Pathway of Learning), was inspired by the old Irish meaning of Crinkle - Crion Choill meaning Old Woods. The pathway going through the wood represents the pathway or journey of learning.

There are eight trees along the pathway representing the eight years of Primary Education. The panel openly invites you onto the path which gives the illusion of perspective and distance. The journey does not end here but continues on throughout a lifetime of learning.”

TINA CLAFFEY “Inspired by the theme Old Wood, I decided to base my photography on trees from the surrounding area, using the images as a metaphor for positive affirmations for the children.

“I have always thought that the happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts, based on the theory that whatever we think about ourselves, the body responds; whatever we believe in ourselves – it usually manifests. Children respond so well to positive comments. They thrive in positive atmospheres.

“Each class had an affirmation to work on, and I chose texts that the children created with crayon, to incorporate their affirmation into the image.

“There are five pieces in total; four are A1 images framed behind acrylic, with one large photographic Led light panel 5ft x 3ft.’

Tina Claffey LED Light - Crinkle National School

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Writer Ann Egan Eilis Crean speaks with Angela Delaney, Artist and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Art Therapy Interventions in the HSE Mental Health Services and Curator of, Let’s Connect Art Exhibition.

Niamh Boyce

ANGELA TALKS ABOUT HER WORK “As a CNS in Art Therapy Interventions, I work with a great Let’ Connect team in the Rehabilitation Service, s while also supporting the Acute During Laois Mental Health Awareness Week Psychiatric Service and Community Care. One important area is working From September 5 to October 5, provides an opportunity to normalise medium to communicate ideas or stir directly to encourage and support Angela Delaney, Artist and Clinical the experience and prevent memories. people who experience mental health Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Art Therapy stigmatisation and exclusion of people problems, use their strengths and Interventions in the HSE Mental Health who may experience mental health Art is useful in developing creative interests in art as a tool in their Services, will curate, Let’s Connect - an difficulties. Let’s Connect offers a problem-solving through experimenting recovery. exhibition of artwork by artists platform to explore some of these with materials, because the artist can exploring how visual art intersects and ideas. explore and create new realities. “Art is not for everyone and is part of contributes to health and wellbeing - in Creating art can increase self- a package of care offered. The the Dunamaise Arts Centre. Artists from all different disciplines confidence and improve our self- process of creating is important and responded to Angela’s brief for artwork esteem. For some people experiencing not all the art produced is for This exhibition will form part of Laois that explored a personal response to mental health difficulties, art can open exhibition. Some of these artists Mental Health Awareness Week. Laois the links between Art and Mental pathways for opportunities and pierce desire to exhibit and sell their art like Community Forum is a collaborative Health. Some are established through the stigma that continues to regular artists but due to group which consists of a number of international artists and others are first exist around mental health problems. circumstances, have difficulty partners including the HSE; Laois time exhibitors. There are contributions What makes a great piece of artwork is accessing exhibiting opportunities. Sports Partnership; Mental Health from artists working in the area of Art its ability to communicate with the Ireland; SHINE; GROW; Laois County Therapy or Community Arts. viewer – it’s that moment when the “Another aspect of my work is Council; Laois Partnership Company penny drops! Sometimes it’s the lovely advocacy. This involves collaborating and Laois VEC. It highlights the Angela sais: “In my role as a CNS, I’ve aftertaste of an image that lingers. with organisations in our community importance of taking care of mental been privileged to support and work who can support these artists such health, through engaging with each with some amazing service user artists “With any exhibition you hope for a as the local arts office, galleries, other and participation in activities in whose art speaks personally of their large audience,” added Angela. “Art county councils and voluntary and the local community. mental health concerns. The validity of needs to be experienced and engaged statutory agencies. this work is on a par with any other with to bring it to life. People come to There are significant connections artwork I have curated and I am art with their personal histories and “As citizens these artists should have between art and mental health. Art delighted that some of these artists experiences and that influences their the same rights as everyone else. can play an important role in shaping will also contribute to the show. perceptions. But I hope people will Exhibiting alongside other artists ideas. come to the exhibition with an open promotes socialisation and helps It can also provide a strong medium to “I’m very excited about creating new mind. For some people, the stigma of remove some of the stigma around communicate for people who otherwise work for the show. It offers me an mental health is greater than the mental illness that continues to exist struggle to engage with society. opportunity to reflect on and respond mental illness itself. I don’t want the but thankfully is changing. Art is filled with meaning that goes to the influences that my clinical work exhibition to be about people who have beyond the visual surface of the art has had on my personal artwork. It has a mental health history or about “Art has played a role in this change. object. While art intersects and opened up new avenues of exploration professional artists who are showing There are many studies that show the contributes to wellbeing, it offers for me as an artist.” internationally but about artwork that creation of art, and participating in meaning not just for the individual helps us feel connected. art programmes helped to facilitate making it, but also for a society. Art plays a very important role in life internal changes of recovery and with Angela explaining that for some “By exhibiting all the ‘artists’ work acceptance in the wider community. By exhibiting artwork by people from people it’s inseparable. But art is a together in a professional gallery space different backgrounds such as artists very subjective experience. It can be like the Dunamaise Arts Centre, you æThe individual experiencing mental and mental health service users, it fun, a great source of enjoyment, a destigmatise the artwork.” health problems moves beyond the M label of their psychiatric diagnosis to their identity as an artist. Producing Geraldine O’Reilly art can give a sense of worth and value. Because art originates in many places and intersects different areas of our lives, it has the potential to break down the stigma around mental illness.”

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The trumpet section of the Mullingar Town Band as they took part in the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, Holland in recent time

Greg Mimnagh Dunne and Caroline Oakes of the Drum Section after the Showband Marching competition

Greg Mimnagh Dunne and Caroline Oakes of the Drum The band gathered around in the car park along with their director Hubert Magee and conductor for the concert competition Harry Kelly, as they read out the judges comments from the concert band competition - from the smiling faces, the comments were not too bad! MULLINGAR TOWN BAND Scoop Silver and Bronze at World Music Contest The past year has been hectic for the members and committee of the Mullingar Town Band as it prepared for a world music contest, and came home with medals.

Back in August 2012 the band decided it would make the trip to the World Music Mullingar Town Band had a Contest in Kerkrade, Holland for July fantastic welcoming 2013 and from then preparation began. committee awaiting their arrival home after their great achievements at the It was a year of big thinking for the band, World Music Contest in which decided to base its 2013 Summer Holland Marching Show on The Gathering – a national campaign encouraging Irish diaspora to visit the country at some point during the year.

Each year the band prepares a show for a series of marching competitions run by the Irish Marching Bands Association and Drum Corp Europe. Six to eight bands generally take part in these competitions and both associations judge them.

The Mullingar Town Band’s show The Pennsylvania. Ed has been coming to TIME OFF When everyone was back on the bus, Gathering includes music by John Mullingar to do Band Camps since On Sunday evening the band members they were truly worn out and ready for Williams from the film Far and Away, U2’s 1990. However it had been five years packed their bags and headed up to home! Beautiful Day, the song Sinead O Connor since Ed worked with the band. For four Utrecht where they were going to spend brought to number 1, Nothing Compares days, the band members practiced the next three nights on vacation visiting The bus departed from Rotterdam port to You and a snippet of The Spanish Lady hard, attending camp from 10am to Walibi World Theme Park. on Wednesday evening at 8.45 pm and Dance. In what took hours of planning 7pm. The band then had a few days to arrived in Mullingar almost 24 hours later and execution, Eoin O’Keeffe arranged practice what they learned from camp On Tuesday, they visited Amsterdam and to a surprise party organised by parents Music for the show especially for the before heading off to Holland bright and then drove to the small village of and committee members. Mullingar Town Band; Remco early on Thursday, July 18. Oosthuizen 30 minutes away where they Groenewegen arranged the percussion stayed on their first trip abroad to the Members of the band said that this trip and the drill/marching design was written During their time in Kerkrade, the band Pumerend Band Festival in 1974 and would not have happened without the by Jon Bilby. stayed in school hall accommodation every four years after that until a decade support of the people and businesses of where they lived for three days during the ago. After spending the day in hot Mullingar and Westmeath who they were COMPETITION RESULTS World Music Contest. The band competed Amsterdam, the band members were very grateful to. In Arklow on July 6, the Mullingar Town in the Show Band competition on delighted to hop in for a relaxing swim Band came second place and won ‘Best Saturday afternoon and came away with and some water games in the warm As always, the band will be recruiting in Band’ on parade after the show a Bronze Award. waters of the Ijsselmeer or locally known September and this will be advertised in competition. as the Dike near Oosthuizen. local newspapers as well as the band’s Their work wasn’t finished just yet as they social media. The next competition was to be on the competed again on Sunday afternoon in The journey continued on Wednesday European stage two weeks later and to the Concert Band section, playing the test when the band caught the ferry in For more information, visit Web: prepare for this prestigious event the piece Seventh Suite for Band by Alfred Rotterdam and then visited the heritage www.mullingartownband.ie or see band invited back American Band Reed and The Four Nobel Truths by Philip town of Volendam and the famous village Facebook page Mullingar Town Band - Instructor and long time workshop Sparke. From this, the team took a well- of Edam. Celtic Crusaders or Tel: 086 1999497. instructor, Ed Otto - Director of earned Silver Award – and finally M Downingtown University Band, everyone could relax. 37 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 12:59 Page 38

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2013 LAOIS ARTS OFFICE: Summer Arts Programme

Laois Summer2013 Arts Programme featured a busy 5 weeks of workshops in dance, pottery, creative writing, drawing and painting with artists Erica Borges, Finn O’Hara, Siobahn Keogh, Conor Brennan, Ann Egan, Orla McDonagh and Stefanie Bruning. For more information or to register your name for the 2014 Summer Arts Programme contact the Laois Arts Office Tel: 057 8664033/13 • Email: [email protected] • Web: www.laois.ie M

Luan Gallery Showcases Music and Visual Arts exhibition comprised of work by artists than in Athlone, the birth place of John who have completed residencies in the McCormack, and enjoy a recital of and Scoops Major Award gallery’s sister venue Abbey Road Count’s songs with a local baritone As discussed in our Best Cultural Building in the Irish Artists’ Studios. Darren O’Hara. Architecture awards by the Royal previous Issue, the Luan Institute of the Architects of The second part of the March-May It’s looking set to continue to be Ireland (RIAI). programme was A Very Grand Canal, a another busy couple of months for the Gallery in Athlone was collection of artistic responses to the gallery with upcoming shows include opened to a great start. The The award was presented to the Luan’s Grand Canal in county Offaly including two exhibitions, one from the work by regional artists beneficiaries of The RDS Student Art pace has not slowed down architect Keith Williams, founder and design director of Keith Williams Awards, second from James Hanley, a for the gallery as ay has Architects, by Minister for Education Following on from the success of mainly portraiture painter.The RDS and Skills Ruairi Quinn and Michelle workshops A Grand Series in April, A Student Art Awards Exhibition been a busy few months in Fagan, president of the RIAI, at Dublin’s Print Series turned focus to printing represents the fine arts with works in Luan Gallery between new City Hall recently. techniques and processes. Featuring painting, sculpture, drawing, and practical print workshops facilitated by printmaking to name but a few. exhibitions, workshops, There have been a series of different current studio members Claire heritage lectures, portfolio events and exhibitions in the gallery Henderson and Niamh Flanagan, the To broaden exposure for the over the last couple of months. An technicalities and products of prizewinners, the RDS organises the course, summer camps, Luan Gallery’s spring exhibition monoprints and dry point were annual RDS Student Art Awards weddings and a recital. programme was firmly grounded in the explored and received great feedback. Travelling Exhibition which sees the work of artists and projects from the works tour regional venues throughout Midlands. Meanwhile in June, the gallery the country and the Luan Gallery was And, it seems apt that the Luan Gallery celebrated National Music Day – and chosen to be one of the hosts this year. has been recognised as an artistic where better to celebrate such a day M winner for and of itself when named Such as Engaged which was a group 38 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 13:00 Page 39

Joanna Grobosz (Guide), Victor Ambrus (Illustrator), Mary Bannon (Guide) at one of Victor’s illustrations.

Some of the soldiers who fought here during the 1691 Siege on display in People of the Siege

View of Athlone Castle keep and entrance to new visitor centre ATHLONE CASTLE Attracting Visitors from Across the Globe

artefacts that reflect the depth of heart of the great Siege of Athlone, Lower Keep. This circular room displays Mary Bannon brings history in Athlone down through the demonstrating the fighting and the role a range of implements, tools and centuries. the castle played. A short film playing all household items that reflect life in the the past to life by around the circular room with 4D town. The Old Athlone Society and local EACH ROOM TELLS ITS STORY IN A layering surrounds the visitor. brothers Cecil and N.W. (Billy) English taking us through UNIQUE WAY: (RIP) are to be credited with the The Early Settlement in Athlone has a Then, meet eight life size figures of provision of many of the artefacts on some of the fantastic 3D interactive map of Ireland soldiers from both sides in full army display throughout the castle. In fact, that explains the five early periods of dress with weaponry created by during the summer the brothers were highlights of settlement at Athlone through a variety specialist art and design company commemorated with the unveiling of a of audio and visual displays, with Windsor Workshop whose artists have plaque by Mayor of Athlone Jim Henson Athlone Castle. artefacts from early settlers on display. been prop and model maker on films in the Lower Keep in honour thof their such as Harry Potter, Star Wars, James contribution. Athlone Castle is firmly establishing The Athlone Castle’s first 400 years Bond and Charlie and the Chocolate itself on the cutural tourism path with space tells the story of the early Factory. Recyclable materials including Death and Destruction marks the final celebrity visitors Steve Peacocke better development of the castle. Visitors can steel, wood, resin, wire mesh and room. It is dimly lit and reflects the known as Brax from Home and Away test their strength as a medieval soldier foamex were used as much as possible. challenges faced by Athlonians directly and Irish actor Eamon Morissey, (known by trying their hand at some weapons of after the siege in 1691 who faced most recently for his role in Fair City) the period or ‘Build a Castle’ through The last room, The Fabric of Athlone, disease and a grim future. Athlone Art recently popping in to take a look. the use of interactive touch screens. highlights the aftermath of the siege in and Heritage Ltd runs of Athlone Castle Budding soldiers can also attempt to the town and goes on to deal with Visitor Centre, the Luan Gallery and the Perhaps it’s not surprising that the ‘Capture the Castle’ and survive the Athlone’s military history, trade, Abbey Road Artists’ Studios. M castle would peak their interest as the attack with as many men as possible commerce, politics and religion over new visitor centre is attracting the remaining! recent centuries. Military uniforms are crowds in their droves with tourists showcased and are explained through coming not just from local counties but Upstairs in Athlone Besieged you will an interactive experience. Local World ALSO AT ATHLONE CASTLE from all across the country - and across find vivid illustrations from Victor War memorabilia is also on display. VISITOR CENTRE: the globe. Ambrus, which depict the fighting that A 3D timeline along the wall highlights I Tea/Coffee & Refreshments was ongoing between the Jacobite different events throughout Athlone’s I Athlone Castle Visitor Centre now soldiers fighting for King James of history. Items on display include a Children’s colouring in activities boasts eight new exhibition spaces and England and the Williamite soldiers sample of Athlone tweed and an I Educational Programme a beautifully renovated courtyard as fighting for King William of Orange. Athlone Woollen Mills brass plate. Short I School Tours well as spectacular views of Athlone Victor, a renowned illustrator of history, video clips highlight interesting events I Group Bookings (on request) and the River Shannon from various folk tale and animal story books is that occurred in Athlone including the viewing areas inside and out. probably best known for his work on the British Army leaving Athlone in 1922 I Athlone Castle handling collection Channel 4’s archaeological show Time with Séan Mac Eoin raising the tricolour I Temporary Exhibitions The story unfolds for the visitor through Team where he visualises how sites at the castle, Athlone Flooding and I Lectures and Demonstrations a mix of audio-visual, interactive games under excavation might once have highlights of the Athlone verses AC and information points, a looked. Milan game in 1975. I Evening receptions 360oexperience of the Siege of Athlone I Wedding Photography in 1691, figures from the siege made Next door in Siege 360 the story The final two rooms are located in the (by pre-arrangement only) from recycled materials, vivid continues placing the visitor at the courtyard of the castle - the first in the illustrations as well as countless

ARTS OFFICE CONTACTS Have Muireann Ní Chonaill, Arts Officer Laois County Council, Portlaoise Tel: 057 8664025 • [email protected] your story www.laois.ie/arts Sinead O’Reilly, Arts Officer covered… Offaly County Council, Charleville Road, Tullamore Tel: 057 9357400 • [email protected] If you have a story or news www.offaly.ie/arts relating to the arts in the Miriam Mulrennan, Arts Officer Westmeath County Council County Buildings, Mullingar Midlands that you would like Tel: 044 9332016 • [email protected] to see covered in Midlands www.westmeathcoco.ie/arts Arts and Culture Magazine, Fergus Kennedy, Arts Officer contact your local Arts Officer Longford County Council County, Great Water St., Longford Tel: 086 8517595 • [email protected] (details opposite). www.longfordcoco.ie/arts_office.html 39 Issue 20 Midlands Arts 3:Layout 1 10/9/13 13:00 Page 40 I.F. O.N.L.Y. 2013 Celebrating Female Dance Makers Between Tradition and Innovation I.F. O.N.L.Y. the dance festival dedicated to contemporary dance solo authors is delighted to announce the participation of Jean Butler in this year’s festival writes Cristina Goletti, Artistic Director of I.F. O.N.L.Y.

The festival was initiated in 2007 as one of Legitimate Bodies Dance Company and re-examine their forms and present them to the general audience in a different activities to increase and promote contemporary dance in Offaly and although the and renew way. Evolving a traditional style, which is usually considered by the rest company is no longer in residence in Offaly, I.F. O.N.L.Y. remains an important part of the society an important aspect of national culture and pride, is a complex issue, of the cultural landscape of the county and a successful reality, which owes its which necessarily stimulates a dialogue with society at large. success to the unique characteristics of the venue and its community. One of the best examples of a female dance artist working between tradition and This year I.F. O.N.L.Y. celebrates its sixth festival and is entirely dedicated to female innovation is surely Jean Butler. I.F. O.N.L.Y. is extremely proud to count such an dance makers - a courageous choice designed to offer an opportunity for the artists important artist amongst its participant for this year. Her contribution to Irish Dance invited as well as the audience to reflect on the role genders play in the contemporary is well known nationally and internationally. Yet in the past few years she has been dance scene. investigating a more contemporary approach to her traditional roots. At I.F. O.N.L.Y. she is presenting hurry, a new solo in which Butler reconnects with her considerable Dance is an interesting example of a male dominated field, most choreographers history and training in Irish Step Dance. A personal and expressive work, offers a and successful artists are male, yet is an overtly female profession, with most resolution to the task of balancing her past and present dancing sensibilities. companies and schools around the world made mostly of females. This work was presented to great acclaim at the 2013 Dublin Dance Festival. Butler will also be the guest of a public talk in Birr Library on Saturday, November 9. But gender is not the only theme of this year’s edition. Another important aspect of the 2013 festival is the ability of the artists presented to work between tradition and Therefore this year more than ever, the entire community is invited to take part in the innovation in a fusion style, which is more and more common in contemporary dance. several appointments of the festival, from workshops, lectures, performances, Some of the artists have been working within the field of traditional dance, like screenings and much more.It is yet another attempt of the festival to establish itself African or Indian classical dance, and recently started to investigate the possibility in the community that hosts it, foster a frank dialogue about dance, creating the of re-framing their styles within a more contemporary approach. This will certainly conditions for such festival to become a sustainable artistic reality. make this year festival a very interesting and thought-provoking one. M

All these artists have spent years mastering the necessary skills to become icons within their specific genre, yet they have also been courageous enough to question

DETAILS I.F. O.N.L.Y. International Festival of A Necessarily Lonely You November 8-9 Birr Theatre and Arts Centre Birr Public Library and other venues Performances, Workshops, Screenings, Exhibitions, Public Talks, Residency. Full program to be released Friday, October 4. See: www.birrtheatre.com

I.F. O.N.L.Y. Workshop in 2012 MidlandsArts andCultureMagazine A REVIEW OF THE ARTS IN LAOIS, LONGFORD OFFALY AND WESTMEATH

PUBLISHED FOR THE ARTS OFFICES OF LAOIS, LONGFORD, OFFALY & WESTMEATH COUNTY COUNCILS BY TEMPUS MEDIA • DESIGNED & PRINTED BY BROSNA PRESS