VISUAL ARTS MUSIC & DANCE ISSUE & FILM THEATRE THE WRITTEN WORD A REVIEW OF THE ARTS IN LAOIS, LONGFORD, OFFALY AND WESTMEATH SPRING 2014

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15 Wayne Brennan to Release 23 Longford Welcomes Second Studio Album Public Art Projects 8 Brendan Gleeson 24/25 Nick Miller – Helps Offaly Celebrate Portrait of an Artist and his forthcoming visit to 21 The Muse of the Laois Arthouse Francis Bacon & Lucien Freud who lived 33 Neil Delamere in Roundwood House Smart Bomb Tour Longford public arts projects...... Page 3 When I grow up I want to be... • Briefs Tullamore author pens best seller ...... Page 4 Delvin Book Fair seeks writers • Briefs Midlands Heffernan nominated for major award...... Page 5 andCulture Kinnegad postman publishes first novel • Briefs Human Chain – Remembering Seamus Heaney ....Page 6 A Word from Arts Magazine From little acorns grow big trees Tullamore graduate wins top design award ...... Page 7 Portlaoise artist publishes book to the Editor Oscar Wilde, in his 1889 essay The Decay of celebrate Joyce • Briefs Lying said that, “Life imitates Art far more than Brendan Gleeson helps Offaly celebrate...... Page 8 Art imitates Life”. Hollywood star Brendan Gleeson That may be true but in this edition of Midlands praises FilmOffaly ...... Page 9 Arts and Culture magazine is fair to say that there is a lot of art imitating life. A Little Mór ...... Page 10 5 HEFFERNAN We have artists such as Eoin MacLochlainn, Web & Social Media Strategies Kate Heffernan and Maisie Lee expressing NOMINATED FOR for Visual Artists • Briefs their differing idea of home and what home is. MAJOR AWARD Jack L launches School of Rock & Pop ...... Page 11 And in an extension of home, or home and Commemorative coin to celebrate environment influencing art, which in turn mimics John Count McCormack • Briefs life is the work of Veronica Nicholson. In this issue she talks about being an artist on a farm Contemplation on a residency ...... Page 12 and how she seeks out its relevance to her Bealtaine festival 2014 in Laois practice through international online rural art Celebration of positive mental health...... Page 13 dialogues. Second book for Longford writer Then there are those such as Kate Heffernan using her own experience of hitting the big 3-0 Percent for Art Scheme for Loreto College ...... Page 14 in her in her comic production In Dog Years I’m 6 JEAN O’BRIEN Leinster Fleadh Cheoil for Moate • Briefs Dead; she considers her life and what these REMEMBERS SÉAMUS Wayne Brennan to release second album ...... Page 15 passing and future decades offer and how they Tullamore man voted best in the world should be viewed. Art, very definitely imitating HEANEY life or at least exploring life and using the Poetry in the park ...... Page 16 feelings life brings to the surface to form ideas Longford artist contributes to new and shape writing. art publication • Briefs Jean O’Brien’s poem penned in memory of Eoin MacLochlainn explores the Seamus Heaney is very much shaped by life notion of Dídean (home) ...... Page 17 experiences of knowing and sharing moments with the former Bellaghy poet making use of Artists explore the idea of home...... Page 18 some of his own poetic language and turns of The relevance of rural art dialogues ...... Page 19 phrase about a life that was his. Sean-nós dancing makes steady progress And there’s MÓR – where a number of Midland musicians from different musical backgrounds Dun na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park opens ...... Page 20 have come together to form Public Access Arts’ 8 BRENDAN GLEESON Longford teen hitting all the right notes historic collaborative house band. The band HELPS OFFALY The deeply troubled London socialite aims to develop how original music is made, who lived in Roundwood House ...... Page 21 performed and brings art to life by pulling CELEBRATE down barriers and performing amongst the 1,500 children are singing...... Page 22 world – art and life intertwining, becoming one. Orchestra on tour wins accolade Others are trying to visualize what life will be like Visual art projects in Longford ...... Page 23 in one Per Cent for Art project for a school from Olive Cuskelly “When I grown up I want to be…” Portrait of an artist – Nick Miller...... Page 24-25 This is a simple, yet intriguing concept of how Face to Face – John Ennis...... Page 26-27 children view themselves in a future world and Slamming doors, open mics ...... Page 28 also goes a long way to revealing what they have Seek and you shall find also absorbed. Every one of the 187 pupils was involved making the scheme truly inclusive – Snap happy...... Page 29 and perhaps one worthy of a follow-up survey Hoggs latest exhibition...... Page 30 as to the most common professions chosen by Events at Belvedere House & Gardens those involved! So while Wilde said that “Life imitates Art far Museum keeps tradition of embroidery alive...... Page 31 more than Art imitates Life” I feel that without Luan gallery events 24/25 33 NEIL life’s experiences and the emotions its conjures Midsummer music at the mill ...... Page 32 up there would be less art – or less good art. ARTIST DELAMERE Helium – children’s arts & health organisation Whether conscious or subconscious life influences what we see and how we see things NICK SMART Neil Delamere – Smart bomb tour ...... Page 33 and how we express things and ultimately in MILLER BOMB TOUR Small landscapes at the bottom of the tea cup ...... Page 34 many, many cases the art that is born from it. Work from the middle And, As far as the Midlands goes there is TALKS TO BY ANN plenty of Art imitating life! Structures of devotion & other stories...... Page 35 ANGELA MARIE Angela Madden, Editor Dunamaise Arts Centre celebrates 15 years ...... Page 36 MADDEN KELLY Download new Lakeland Treasures app Wayne Brennan is pictured on the front cover.

A look inside Photo by Jon Hernandez.

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 www.laois.ie/arts www.longfordcoco.ie/arts_office.html 2 Briefs

Chatroom Longford welcomes showcases at Dunamaise public art projects Laois Youth Theatre presents Chatroom at the Dunamaise Arts Centre on by Aoife Carberry Saturday, April 12 at 3pm. Featuring the Portlaoise and Stradbally Strokestown Road. The brief for the The areas were carefully selected by an 2014 is already shaping up to be groups, along with members from piece received a lot of interest and the adjudication committee, who chose the an exciting year for art in county Kildare Youth Theatre, Chatroom, by adjudication committee was deadlocked villages that hadn’t benefited recently Longford, with three huge projects Enda Walsh, features six teenagers in their deliberations so re-evaluated from public art. in the pipeline. who communicate in Internet two short-listed artists, before deciding In the end, Ballymahon, Kenagh, Ardagh, chatrooms. The first of the public art pieces is set to on the piece. be installed this month. Abbeylara, Granard, Newtownforbes, Their conversations range in subject The winning proposal was from the Drumlish and Aughnacliffe were chosen Longford County Council’s Public Art from Willy Wonka to Britney Spears to creative partnership of two Dublin for the project. JK Rowling to – suicide. Committee commissioned a sculpture for brothers Joe and Pat Walker. The Walker the new N5 bypass, and submissions Brothers proposal in highly abstract and The committee is expecting a good Jim is depressed and talks of ending were made by artists throughout the conceptual in that it will be a casting in response to the brief, which is seeking an his life. He ventures into cyberspace country and abroad for the project. stainless steel of the negative space artist to create eight unique pieces, each seeking advice and soon encounters In the end, it was Cork artist Alex Pentek between the letter “I” and “f” in the with a common thematic or design a faceless twosome who do their who impressed the committee, with a conjunction “If”. feature. utmost to convince him to make good his escape... M sculpture of a violin, designed to look as The artists are fascinated by the often un- When all eight pieces are created and though it is embedded in the ground. The noticed abstract spaces between letters installed, they will form a county-wide This play is only suitable for people piece, which is being fabricated and and the significance of the conjunction sculpture trail and it is hoped that a aged 13 and over. assembled in the National Sculpture “If” is that it opens up the sense of tourism trail can then be established Tickets are available from the Box Factory in Cork is a nod to the rich musical possibility for the entire community of this around the artwork. Office Dunamaise Arts Centre on heritage of the county. regenerated urban area. 057 8663355 or online at M www.dunamaise.ie and cost €8 for The second of the public art projects is Last, but certainly not least, the largest of due to be completed this summer. adults and €5 for Youth Theatre the three projects will see sculptures Details of this commission are available members and students. This sculpture has been commissioned for erected in eight villages throughout the at www.longfordcoco.ie/arts_office.html the junction of St Michael’s Road and the county. and www.visuallongford.ie

When I grow up I want to be... A Writer! Scoil Sheosaimh Naofa, Ballinagar, recently commissioned visual artist Olive Cuskelly to undertake the Per Cent for Art project for their newly built school.

Cuskelly’s winning proposal ‘When I grow Cuskelly then completed a series of large widely with her work held in many private and up I want to be...’ was to create a collection of oil on canvas paintings inspired by the public collections. Her work is inspired by paintings inspired by children’s imagination children themselves, incorporating her her natural surroundings and in the power and aspirations. own style of painting together with that of and energy of the human figure. She began the project in January 2013 by the children’s artwork. Where possible she Principal O’Connor concludes: “The Board holding workshops to engage all 187 pupils depicted familiar local scenes as backdrops to of Management wish to thank Olive for as she felt this was an important first step help the children appreciate and respect their undertaking and completing the project, giving the children the opportunity to immediate and wider environment. The Department of Education and Skills for understand how art is made. Denis O’Connor, the School Principal, says: its foresight in ensuring that such schemes Following the workshops, 48 canvas pieces “All the paintings are beautiful in their own are provided for in new public building created by the children depicting their right; vivid, bright, imaginative and painted projects, Offaly County Council Arts Office, ambitions when they grow up was mounted by an artist who is obviously very talented for advice and guidance and The Board and framed together to produce a large and creative.” of Management’s Committee that was vibrant piece for the entrance foyer of the Cuskelly has worked as a professional artist established to initiate and oversee the new school. both at home and abroad and has exhibited project.” M 3 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014 Tullamore Author Pens BEST SELLER

Would Kate Do 2? The Diary of a way for someone to better Human Train Wreck and is also their mind is through writing a second musical with Joseph education so I pursued mine Alexander called Grim, with both to be for as long as it held my launched in 2014. interest. She told me the Her biography is impressive; she is a best way for me to broaden writer, producer, journalist, columnist, my mind was through travel. poet, co-founder of The Untold So I travelled as often as I Theatre Company and a contributor had the opportunity. She told to Vogue, the Sunday Times, the Irish me to soak up as much Times and the Observer. “I applied information as I could from for Vogue 106 times before I got it everything around me so I which means I was rejected 105 learned from the learned times. There are only two things and the uneducated, the positive and getting in the way of success – hard the negative, the wise and the paid off and they were offered a slot in a Fiona O’Malley’s novella Goodbye work and rejection, so I put the hard innocent.“ theatre off London’s West End for a Mrs Robinson, a black Irish comedy, work in and rejected rejection. Pain is Goodbye Mrs Robinson she week. was on the Amazon British and Irish temporary. Rejection is temporary. If acknowledges is the riskiest thing she “We had two months to put it on and crime, thriller & mystery ebook top 10 you give up, it’s forever.” has ever written, written in similar make it a better show. We got four- list on Christmas Day 2013, sitting She adds: “It’s flattering when people risqué politically incorrect humour as star reviews, which we were very comfortably alongside JK say, “you’ve done so much at such a the films The Guard or In Bruges, happy with. The experience, even Rowling’s The Cuckoo’s Calling. young age” but I also think that’s an both works of the Galway McDonagh though it was crazy, taught me that The 25 year old who is now based in ageist attitude. Why should I wait brothers who she admires. anything is possible if you’re London and who grew up in until I’m older to succeed or fail? Meanwhile, Fiona is enjoying the determined, nice to people and stick Tullamore says: “I am absolutely That’s wasting time. I hate waste.” opportunities that life in London to your strengths.” overwhelmed by the fact that it was a She moved to Tullamore from Dublin brings. Moving there three years ago Of future plans, Fiona shares: “I’d like Christmas bestseller. Even though with her Mother and her brother in to pursue her MA in journalism and to someday have an international we’re in the same category I wouldn’t 1995 when she was six years old. more writing opportunities, she says, number one bestseller; have a few compare my work to JK Rowling’s. “I love the go-go-go mentality.” musicals on The West End and That’s like comparing Tesco value “Some of the people who were the There she has teamed up with Broadway; write a few blockbuster wine to Moët!” biggest influences on my development as a writer are in theatre director, Adam Wollerton and movies…and then after I’ve done that Not wanting to be pigeonholed, Fiona Tullamore, like my wonderful English together they cooked up a plan to I’m sure I’ll create more boxes I want is also the writer of the highly regarded teachers, Pauline McKenna and submit to the International Youth Arts to tick. I know that all sounds very What Would Kate Do? The Diary of a Jacinta Gallagher during my time at Festival, find a composer (they ended ambitious but go big or go home, and Walking Disaster The Daily Fail: the the Sacred Heart.” up with the very gifted Joseph right?” M Musical. She has almost finished the Alexander), a cast, rehearsal space, Fiona’s credits her mother with giving Follow Fiona’s progress and more on her second in the trilogy of the What set, props, costume, mics and her the tools to find inspiration to blog http://alliwanttodoiswritesally.blog Would Kate Do books, entitled What lighting, all within a few months. It spot.co.uk/ write. “My mother told me the best DELVIN BOOK FAIR SEEKS SELF-PUBLISHED WRITERS On Sunday, May 4 the village of Delvin and who allegedly used the publication The Burning of Brinsley of Delvin in County Westmeath book to discredit some of the residents MacNamara. of the village at the time. will host its annual book fair This year, to add an extra dimension to Following its publication the book the fair, there will be a writer’s corner which, while only running since became infamous after angry scenes specifically for self-published writers. 2010 already claims to be the where some people recognised Writers will be encouraged to promote largest one-day book fair in themselves within the pages which their self-published works, read from Ireland. resulted in a public burning of the them if they want, and be given an book followed by threats to the author opportunity to sell their work. This To give the event a link to Delvin’s and his family. Then followed several writer’s corner might also be a valuable cultural past, Garradrimna has been court cases and 90 years of ridicule day out for aspiring writers who would included in the title. Garradrimma is a from Delvin’s association with The like to meet and talk to their peers and CONTACT: Micheal Murphy on 087 9409913 or Paul Carolan on 087 7436776 or see reference to the 1918 book The Valley valley of the Squinting Windows. exchange their difficulties in getting to Facebook. of the Squinting Windows written by These events were chronicled by the publishing stage. Brinsley MacNamara who was a native Padraic O’Farrell in his 1990 M

4 SILK ROAD FILM FESTIVAL Portarlington filmmakers Delwyn and Carla Mooney & Steinar Oli Jonsson (Icelandic) are founders of the Silk Road Film Festival that takes place for the second year in Dublin from March 19-25, 2014. The festival welcomes films from countries, which were once part of the Silk Road historical network of ancient trade routes and focuses in particular on Asian, Arab, Persian and Middle Eastern cinema. The primary reason behind the creation of the SRFF is the establishment of a dedicated intellectual platform to introduce and study the cinema of these countries, their diverse concerns, varied aesthetic approaches and authors. SRFF is collaborating with Bahar – Centre for Intercultural Collaboration, an organisation in Ireland promoting HEFFERNAN the integration of Middle Eastern and Central Asian cultures living in Ireland. Apart from screenings, the SRFF NOMINATED FOR features premieres, exhibitions, panels, chats with industry guests, free courses and workshops. M For more information see MAJOR AWARD www.silkroadfilmfestival.com Kate Heffernan looks and desires,” Kate tells us. “They compared themselves to their parents at a similar set to follow in the age. Others spoke about not being where Kinnegad Postman footsteps of Sebastian they thought they would be. Ten-year school reunions had come and gone and Barry, Michael Harding, no one could believe it. Receding hairlines Publishes First Novel Conor McPherson, and wrinkles were a hot topic.” Everywhere, the phrase ‘turning 30’ sent Kinnegad postman Hugh Flanagan at the present time, so I made the Enda Walsh and Eugene shivers down spines! But what exactly is has published his first novel entitled decision to self-publish with Amazon O’Brien having been it about 'turning 30’ that sets our pulses Hiding Ugly Children. “Not a lot of and CreateSpace…It has worked for threading? With “smart dialogue, zingy people know that I write fiction, but E L James, author of Fifty Shades of shortlisted for the gags and winning performances” (Irish I've been writing for the last 10 Grey and others, so you'd never know!” Stewart Parker Trust Times), In Dog Years I’m Dead brought years,” says Hugh. the ideas from the ‘29ish’ support group Hiding Ugly Children is an amateur Awards 2013. to the stage, in a comic coming-to-terms Flanagan, who is originally from detective story set in the Irish tale for the newly grown-up. Selling out on Cabbage Patch Kids, Chicken McNuggets, county Offaly, admits that he is a Midlands. Joggy Jackson is asked by its initial run during Dublin Fringe Festival Super Mario Brothers, The Moonwalk and latecomer to the writing scene. “I friend Luke who is convicted for a 2013, In Dog Years I’m Dead comes to Portlaoise-native writer Kate Heffernan – started about 12 years ago. I wrote murder to clear his name. But he Dunamaise after a all of these things turned the eulogy for my father's funeral opens up old but still sore wounds month-long revival at 30 in 2013! Does Super and afterwards someone said it was within the small village of Kilpatrick Bewleys Café Theatre in Mario worry about his so moving that I should try my hand – “secrets were like ugly children “I am so February. moustache going grey? at writing. After a few false starts I hidden in the dark… and until I Is there a Cabbage Patch honoured – The show was recently found my way to the Offaly Writers’ started this thing I had no idea how nominated for the Stewart Kid out there crying over Group and came under the watchful many of them were hiding.” M and frankly, a Parker Trust Awards their disappearing youth? editorial eye of Malcolm Ross little shocked 2013. This distinguished Hiding Ugly Children is available from “On my 29th birthday I award, set up in honour of MacDonald.” panicked about growing to have been Flemings in Kinnegad, Days Bazaar in the late Belfast playwright, Hiding Ugly Children was his second Mullingar and all Midland bookshops, older for the first time seeks to encourage new shortlisted for attempt at a book. “I got good feedback,” from Amazon in paperback and by ever,” Heffernan confesses. writers for theatre in says Flanagan. Robert Hale Ltd in download for Kindle and on Hugh’s “My twenties were gone such a Ireland, North and South. and I didn’t know what I The main award is the London called it “a very impressive own website www.hughflanagan.ie had to show for it.” prestigious typescript” but thought that the New Playwright Bursary, Until the end of April, magazine readers awarded annually to an religious connotations in the story Kate’s comedy for MIRARI award,” can avail of the special price of €9.99 Productions In Dog Years emerging playwright. would not sell well in Britain. including post and packaging. I’m Dead is directed by “However they sent it to their agent As part of the nomination, Kate will also www.hughflanagan.ie Maisie Lee and takes a comic look at this spend a week at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland, Somerville Press, who enduring obsession with ‘The Big 3-0’. in Annaghmakerrig with the other really liked it but, they had already Kate and Maisie are Theatre Artists in nominees in May, at an intensive made the decision of discontinuing Residence at Dunamaise Arts Centre residential writing workshop led by fiction from the start of 2013.” during 2014. former Literary Manager of The Royal Then Brian Langan of Transworld In late 2012, Kate and Maisie joined Court, Graham Whybrow. said: “I think you are a strong writer actors Marie Ruane and Rob Bannon to “I am so honoured – and frankly, a little with a strong sense of time and set up a temporary ‘29ish’ support group, shocked to have been shortlisted for meeting with men and women aged such a prestigious award,” Heffernan place,” but he advised he could not 25–35 who shared their thoughts and says. “I am such an admirer of the work take a chance on a new writer. feelings as they moved beyond their of the late, great Stewart Parker.” “It is possibly easier to win the twenties. The winner of the bursary will be National Lottery than to get published “People chatted about hopes and announced at a ceremony at the Lyric regrets, marriage and children, values Theatre in Belfast in April. M

5 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014

Jean O’Brien remembers Seamus Heaney and pens poem in his honour.

The human soul is the weight of a snipe Like most members of what Theo Dorgan could “feck off” and that he was much older On the day Séamus Heaney died, the children had describes as ‘The Standing Army’ (of poets), than I. He took it in the spirit it was intended just returned to school, suddenly the park was deserted. I was lucky enough to have occasional with a loud laugh and that famous twinkle. Those same children were even now opening their books contact with our late and much-loved His wife, seeing that he appeared to be to recite Mid-Term Break or When All The Others Were Away Laureate, Seamus Heaney. To me, as to safe and comfortable in my company, at Mass and knew there would be no more. all whom he came in contact with, he was went on ahead and joined some friends. At the river, the red rust of hidden bridge girders endlessly kind and patient, despite living We talked a little about the poetry of Robert was exposed as I dipped below them onto the shore. what can only have been a busy, busy life, Frost and other things. I then mentioned Skeins of words purled over stones with many and various calls on his time. that if we were in Heaney’s hometown of cutting channels in the gravelly river bed. I just want to recall my last contact with Bellaghy we would be walking uphill behind The blue of sky lying shadow-trapped on the surface of the stream. Heaney, which I am now so grateful for. a lone piper as is the tradition there. Exhorted to keep alive the child within the well spring of poetry, Heaney chuckled and said “Dennis would On the day before Christmas 2012 we lost I thought it fitting to ride the high zip-wire, be horrified at the idea of that, he would another great critic and poet Dennis straddling its seat, I clutched the chain and just let go. want Gregorian chant at the least”. We O’Driscoll. O’Driscoll was a close friend of Bright air parted had a good laugh and were then joined by Heaney’s and published a book of interviews as I skelped by, hair billowing, squalls surged and curled in my wake. others; my brief private audience was over. with Heaney called Stepping Stones. I plunged and plunged again through gauzy space Little did either of us know then that a almost tumbling into the circling wall of murmuring hazel and alder. I found myself walking up the hill to the few short months later he too would be Light as a rising bog bleater this green last day of summer broke open. graveyard in Naas beside Heaney and his dead. One day last August I opened the wife Marie – it was a rare thing to find Irish Times to the poignant picture of a him alone. I made some comment about lone, kilted piper leading Heaney’s coffin Break. ‘A four foot box, a foot for every poetry and it’s true – I did fly down the the difficulty of walking up the hill with a through the streets of Bellaghy to St Mary’s year’. I thought of our conversation and zip wire in a quiet park in the Midlands, cardiac pacemaker, having one myself Church. He was buried just yards away burst into tears. pacemaker notwithstanding. In the words and knowing that Heaney had one also. from his brother Christopher, who died This poem is a small offering to my reaction of Father Dolan, the priest who presided He made some reply about our age, at as a child and for whom Seamus wrote to the news of Seamus Heaney’s death. over Heaney’s funeral: “May the green which I responded indignantly, that he the haunting lines in his poem Mid-Term The title is taken from a line of his own sods of Bellaghy rest gently upon him.” M

Organic growth a key feature Culture Night last September. of emerging gallery spaces in It has also been a place for artists to work Westmeath as garden centre with the pupils of St Patrick’s local primary school and host art and craft workshops. transforms into gallery The range of art over the years went In early 2010 the garden centre in from being mainly local artists to include Crowenstown, Delvin, run by Hazel exceptional national and international Revington-Cross and Dave O’Shea made artists. O’Shea organised the first space on one wall to hang some art. It exhibition by an international artist last was an experiment to see the reaction of July (2013) when Mike Hamblin flew in customers coming into a rural garden from the US to exhibit in the space. His from little acorns

changed, but where there was once a garden centre has now been made into grow big trees much needed parking space. Purple Raven Art is being run by Revington-Cross and as well as exhibiting art it will now centre. It was so well received by locals exhibition Inspirations included a very the duo free to put all their energy into also be a local and Irish craft centre, that they knew immediately it had to special portrait of the late Dublin promoting art in Westmeath. where it is hoped there will be stay. And so a major transformation took footballer and Australian Rules legend It had also become apparent that there workshops throughout the year. place and what was once a garden shed Jim Stynes, which was presented at a just wasn’t enough wall space to hold The second gallery, The Chimera Gallery was converted into a permanent art private viewing to his parents, who were the growing number of works by artists is being run by O’Shea and is located in gallery, officially opened by artist home from Australia. Bernard Flynn who who wanted to exhibit their work in the Mullingar on Spout Well Lane. The Graham Knuttel. was a good friend of Stynes officially Garden Gallery. opened the exhibition the next day. Chimera Gallery is a larger space and Over the next three years the gallery And so, they found another premise for can hold a lot more artwork. M At the end of 2013 to O’Shea and developed and occasionally served as a some of the work. What was once the For more information see: Revington-Cross decided to get out of mini theatre, where actress Mary McEvoy Garden Gallery has now been renamed www.purpleravenart.com and performed plays with the most recent the business of selling plants and the Purple Raven Art. The location hasn’t www.chimera-gallery.com being Waiting by Jennifer Johnson for garden centre was dismantled leaving

6 Briefs SCHOOLS IN LAOIS GET ARTISTIC Laois runs the Artists-in-Schools Scheme allowing collaboration between artists in any art form and pupils from primary and second level schools. During the 10 years of the programme, up to 80 Laois schools have benefitted from some wonderfully creative and imaginative arts projects, and worked with highly professional artists. Following an application and selection process seven schools were selected to be included in the 2013 programme. Tullamore Graduate Emo National School worked with visual artist Vera McEvoy on a fibre art project and students and teachers collectively enjoyed the whole experience which included revisiting or learning the practice of sewing. Wins Top Design Killanure National School worked on a living willow sculpture project with artist Nora Reilly that including weaving and constructing processes. Student Fiona Delaney says of the project: “It was fun to Award in China build it together. It was really interesting and we loved learning about trees, especially Lara Hanlon, a recent graduate of the Visual Communications willow and how to plant them properly.” Maryborough National School, Portlaoise programme at IADT Dun Laoghaire has won the New Star Award worked with dance artist Erica Borges on at the Shenzhen Design Award for Young Talents in China. Design Schools. a creative dance project. Erica used the connection between maths and dance to Lara travelled from Ireland to Shenzhen Lara’s multi-disciplinary visual that includes information about develop the students’ artistic ability and in March 2014 to receive her award and communications project entomophagy (the practice of eating understanding of dance, encouraging prize of $5,000 and three nights’ www.entomoproject.eu attempted to insects), original insect recipes, user them to see dance as an art form. As well accommodation in the city at a gala as contributing to the Physical Educational answer the questions: could insects offer testing videos, infographics and more. ceremony. Her work was showcased at a Programme it presented mathematics in a a new sustainable food source? and if so “My project showcased my skills major exhibition alongside all of the less daunting and more appealing way, what cultural prejudices would need to and abilities in both design for digital international submissions. using time, shape, figures and space. be overcome before insects could form a and print media, as well as concept Student Caitlin says: “I really enjoyed the “Winning this award has been outstanding part of our daily diet? development and editorial work,” creative sessions that involved solving and completely unexpected. The project, Lara explains: “Insects provide a healthy she says. maths problems.” At end of the project although, in many ways hypothetical, may students performed for teachers, fellow alternative to beef, pork, and poultry and The Shenzhen Design Award was organised allow me to pursue further development students and parents. Less limitations are promoted by international organisations by the city of Shenzhen in China as part and exploration of éntomo as a digital multiplied by creativity. including the UN as a feasible and of its UNESCO City of Design programme educational tool and/or brand for Rosenallis National School completed a wholesome option for ending world hunger. and attracted entries from established sustainable foods. I believe there is real drama project with drama tutor Siobhan Through education and promotion of professionals and graduate designers potential in éntomo and could open Coffey where students learned new gourmet cuisine, éntomo challenges techniques and gained confidence. Class around the world. some very exciting doors for me.” cultural prejudices associated with eating Lara’s award in Shenzhen is further teacher says: “Siobhan’s enthusiasm was She is currently working in Dublin as a infectious and the use of photographs to insects in the western world and provides recognition of the quality and innovation people with the means to explore bugs graphic designer. Following graduation capture different dramatic scenes created of design graduates emerging from third Hanlon joined Atelier David Smith – an by the children was fantastic.” A performance as a sustainable, tasty and nutritious level design programmes in Ireland. drawing on material covered in the workshops food source.” independent graphic design practice in IADT is currently the only Irish institution Dublin, after which she worked at the took place on the last day of the workshops Her winning project is an online resource on the list of the top 100 European with parents and all students from the Science Gallery in the capital city. school attending. M Newtown National School worked with drumming tutor Eddie O’Neill where the PORTLAOISE ARTIST PUBLISHES students learned a lot about rhythm and beat and were given the opportunity to put it into practice. The programme included BOOK TO CELEBRATE JOYCE an outdoor performance of a piece called Cuckoo and all students in the school June 16 marks the 110th the two protagonists: the self-righteous participated. anniversary of Bloomsday – and power-hungry Ondt and the whimsical St Joseph’s National School, Borris in Ossory enjoyed visits from writer Jean O’Brien for the day that the writings of and lazy Gracehoper. Above all, the a poetry and literature project. The children James Joyce are celebrated images highlight Joyce’s use of comedic got the opportunity to write their own poems throughout the world – and to and farcical elements in telling his story. that are now laminated and displayed in commemorate this, Portlaoise the school. Luke from 6th Class says: “I liked McNally has created these illustrations artist Thomas McNally will when Jean came to us. I had lots of fun. with the intention of offering readers a She did haikus and poems with us. I wish publish a book of illustrations much-needed entry-point into Joyce’s she could stay with us for longer. I wanted based on Joyce’s last great Finnegans Wake, which is often said to be to be good at poems and now I am thanks masterpiece, Finnegans Wake. one of the most difficult books to to Jean.” McNally’s book called The Ondt and the understand. However, McNally is convinced Visual artist Kathleen Garrett who worked visited St Francis Special School, Portlaoise Gracehoper by James Joyce, focuses that the humour and wordplay that are on a mixed media arts project. M specifically on Joyce’s re-telling of Aesop’s present throughout Joyce’s book can be ancient fable of The Ant and Grasshopper. enjoyed by everyone as soon as they go The Arts Office, Laois County Council is committed beyond its difficult surface. to sustainable educational programmes in the The book consists of a series of high- arts that support opportunities for learning as well quality colour illustrations alongside Joyce’s His goal is to use Joyce’s fable of The Ondt as developing skills in a range of art forms both In addition to Joyce’s text and the illustrations, within and outside of the formal education sector. text. Although Aesop’s fable is well known and the Gracehoper to highlight to the book contains an illustrator’s introduction The Artist-in-Schools Programme allows the and has been illustrated many times over readers the kind of enjoyment that can be by McNally and an essay by Danis Rose, students to have an in-depth experience with the the centuries, Joyce’s peculiar take on it experienced by focusing on Joyce’s professional artist and gives them the opportunity one of the world’s leading experts on to experience different art media. has never been illustrated before. strange use of language. The illustrations Joyce and Finnegans Wake. guide readers through the text and Contact the [email protected] or visit www.laois.ie McNally’s illustrations depict the hilarious for more info on the Artists in Schools Scheme. present a unique visual re-imagining of M events that unfold around the rivalry between the tale. 7 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014

Birr Theatre 125th Anniversary. L-R Michael McGoldrick, Emma Nee Haslam (Venue Manager), Brendan Gleeson, Marcela Corcoran Kennedy TD, (Chair of Birr Theatre and Arts Centre) Dirk Powell, Francis Gaffney (Photo: Ger Rogers) Star of the screen Brendan Gleeson helps Offaly celebrate

However, in the manager’s preliminaries filled, jammed to the door; some 150 instruments and acoutrements of the Comparisons to the evening’s entertainment on the who had no tickets having forced the musicians to come. and contrasts, January 15, 2014, ‘Please switch off cash into the doorkeepers’ hands and your mobile phones’ would not have themselves into the porch,” reports at But first, the speeches: Emma Nee Haslam, imagined and been heard from the stage in 1889. the time said. who has been manager of the arts centre for over a decade introduced the actual, can be Arriving at its familiar portal, the building A much more tame and well-ordered ‘very special occasion’, with an extract is a whimsical vision of heraldic carvings crowd arrived at the theatre this first from a witty poem. It had been written made between and half-timbering: as incongruous to its month night in 2014. Full to the brim is and read by Toler Garvey, JP before the sedate Georgian neighbours across the now 220. This concert had sold out well curtain was raised on the opening concert the opening of mall, as it was back then. before the night, with 40 on a waiting list. and home-grown ‘dramatic entertainment’. These were organised by Cassandra, Oxmantown Hall The Birr Theatre & Arts Centre (renamed The original, small vestibule with cloakrooms Countess of Rosse and performed by after its 1996 restoration) was originally for ladies and gentlemen to left and right, her illustrious party, which included an in January 1989 described as being ‘framed by tall has undergone two transformations. astronomer. Emma on the other hand, ancestral Elms’. Now the mullioned and Nowadays, one steps into a brightly-lit equipped with the opportune tour schedule and the 125th leaded windows in its facade look out reception area. White walls and white for illustrious Powell, Gleeson, McGoldrick upon mature horse chestnut trees. In tiled floor, with a contrasting rich, dark and Gaffney, persuaded Music Network anniversary late spring their blossom-candles wood reception counter. to alter their route dates via central Birr. celebrated perfume the night air; in late autumn, they shed their conkers for collecting, or One Victorian fireplace remains, aflame Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, TD, Secretary this year, says crunching under foot. with tall candles. It’s a spacious reception of the Stage Guild, gave some of the that is also very much a gallery for background as to the purchase of the Rosalind Fanning Enter the concert-goers on a chilly night: changing art exhibitions. Courteously theatre – private and public funding – an ebullient account was printed in the milling, ticket-holders were still able to complimenting Frank McNamara’s King’s County Chronicle two days after enjoy the annual Common Ground tenacity and the committee which the opening event in 1889. Well over exhibition, entitled New Beginnings. rallied around him, and thanked many 300 people had crowded in. Booked of the people long-associated with tickets at three shillings had gone on Calming, soft jazz was playing in the the Stage Guild. sale a week before but the great un- background while people were escorted She introduced Maureen de Forge, a booked at one shilling a head had to with smiles and seated within. On stage, stalwart of the Stage Guild, in particular muscle in. “By 8.15 the Hall was completely four red chairs. Between them, the to her promotion of dance, who in glowing

8 admiration for her hard work, made an unexpected presentation to Emma. Hollywood star Following the applause and a warm introduction, the musicians came on stage. All were straining and holding breath to catch first sight of Brendan Gleeson. Perhaps too many not quite as Brendan Gleeson aware that the famed and remarkable actor before us, was playing with legendary musical geniuses Dirk, Michael and Francis. Their first tune was a slow one from praises FilmOffaly West Virginia, which led seamlessly into a vivacious Irish jig. Through the concert won the first FilmOffaly bursary award. award. Another previous winner of the they switched effortlessly to other Offaly’s film commission FilmOffaly has been given He went on to direct and shoot the film award was Toy Soldiers, which went on instruments: the fiddler picked up his on location in the county in January 2010. to win Best First Short at Galway Film mandolin, the fluter gathered up uillean a welcome boost from Fleadh in 2012 and Best Short at the In a recent exclusive interview with the pipes, the banjo player reached for his Hollywood actor Brendan Belfast Film Festival in 2013. red and gold accordian and the guitarist commission, Gleeson revealed: “There reached for a different guitar. Gleeson who has endorsed was a real can-do kind of feeling The interview with Gleeson was premiered the county as a production amongst the people here…everything at the launch of the FilmOffaly Vendor that we needed was there, it was there Card which also received special praise. Between their rustic-voiced songs and location and praised Offaly by hook or by crook or it was there dreamtime music, the gentlemen Naoise Barry of the Irish Film Board County Council’s commission because it was well prepared.” recounted some charming stories, remarked: “Offaly is now well tooled up made quips and told a few quirky jokes. for its “can-do” attitude. He said “not being at the centre of Los to attract big productions in the county, How pleasingly it all melded – roots And in efforts to attract even more films Angles or not being in a massive and this proactive scheme no doubt will intertwining – Irish traditional and old to the county Offaly has introduced the cosmopolitan urban centre has its own be emulated, which makes our job, pitching time American music of the Appalachian FilmOffaly Vendor Card. The card – the strength”. And added: “I would have no Ireland as allocation much easier.” problem at all coming down here and mountains, Kentucky, Lousiana-Cajun first of its kind in Ireland – entitles Offaly is already proving a popular shooting again, or rather, I would look and more. How comfortably the new production companies to a discount of location for film crews such as The forward to it. We had a great experience foursome played together. And though up to 25 per cent on accommodation Participants, Our Unfenced Country, here.” they’d formed together only a week ago, and services with participating Hunter Gatherer and A Nightingale Falling declared it was the most enjoyable of tours. businesses in the county. Offaly County Council Arts Officer all due to hit screens this year. M Sinead O’Reilly was delighted Gleeson No stranger to Offaly, Gleeson starred For more information about FilmOffaly, agreed to the interview.“We absolutely On this January night it was the magic alongside his son Brian in his eldest son its bursaries or to support the film appreciate what he did and I was of ‘the four’, their good company and Domhnall’s short film Noreen which was industry please see www.filmoffaly.ie their great music-making which awoke shot in Offaly. amazed at how much time he gave us.” an exuberance in the audience: whoops, Domhnall’s script, selected from 120 O’Reilly also said that she believes whistles, HOORAYS! throughout, and at entries by professional script readers, Domhnall Gleeson’s film Noreen set the the end thundering feet, brought them standard for the FilmOffaly bursary situation for everyone and highlights a back for a short but memorable encore compelling case for the innovative way the and a greatly-deserved standing ovation. Ireland first film arts can bring economic development to a catering, tool hire, taxi’s and more. county,” says Cllr Nichola Hogan, vendor card is good Chairperson of FilmOffaly. At its conception in the late-1880s, the The recent TV pilot for Reign in Charleville hall had been built for 'multifarious use' for Offaly businesses Castle in 2013 saw 130 cast and crew Participating businesses are advertised and benefit of all in the town. Since its FilmOffaly, Offaly County Council’s Film come to Tullamore for six days using a wide free of charge on www.filmoffaly.ie (a one- reincarnation in the mid-1990s it has Commision, has launched the FilmOffaly range of services from local petrol stations stop shop for Film Companies wishing to been rightfully described as, ‘the Vendor Card. The Vendor Card seeks to to hotels and restaurants. film in Offaly). Film companies are issued with a card to present to participating backbone of the local community and attract more film production companies Already this year, a feature Irish film is set business for their discount while they are wider catchment area’. This little theatre into Offaly and give participating local to go on location this February and March on location. is the key element in support of so businesses a chance to share in the in various locations around the county. many aspects of the arts in Birr and the lucrative film market. Already 30 Businesses interested in participating “This is a unique project for a local county: it an essential venue for the OFFline businesses in Offaly have signed up should contact FilmOffaly at authority in Ireland, and it will give us a film festival; I.F.O.N.L.Y. Dance, Hullabaloo to the scheme, offering productions [email protected] or on 057 better competitive edge when attracting 10–25 per cent discount on services 9357400 to request an application form. Children’s Arts Festival and of course, film productions into Offaly. It is a win/win one of the longest running arts festivals such as accommodation, restaurants, in the country, Birr Vintage Week.

Brendan Gleeson had spoken of ‘the power of music and trust, to break down barriers’. One imagines the theatre’s quaint and magical appearance helps to entice all levels of society and age groups through its doors. Management has always made the effort to include a richly diverse range of entertainments and creative workshops in its quarterly programmes. 125 years ago the ticket holders for the opening event had been described as wearing formal ‘full dress’. Though a few may mourn the days of such corsetted elegance; ribbons, frills, stiff collars and tails, in these egalitarian days of the 21st century, ‘as long as you have clothes on’, says the manager, you’ll be welcomed into the theatre

M FilmOffaly Vendor Card Launch. L-R Sinead O’Reilly, Luke Smith (Leonardo intern with FilmOffaly), Naoise Barry (Film Commissoner, Irish Film Board) Antonia Campbell Huges (actress) Marcella Corocran Kennedy TD (FilmOffaly) and Alan Fitzpatrick, (MD, Filmbase)

9 Briefs ATRIUM EXHIBITIONS IN TULLAMORE Offaly County Council has expanded how the public can use the atrium for exhibition by inviting applications from schools, groups and organisations as well as artists (individual and groups). So far they have had exhibitions by the Slieve Bloom Photography Group, Rehabcare, as well as artists, which are demonstrating the quality of artistic A little endeavor throughout the community and l their 2014 programme is well underway. “It is important that the local authority is inclusive of creative and cultural activity in A number of Midland musicians from different musical all aspects of the community and we are delighted for groups to come in and have backgrounds have come together to form Public Access ownership of the space and perhaps for the first time take their work to a new Arts’ historic collaborative house band MÓR. The band audience,” says Sinead O’Reilly, Arts Officer. aims to develop how original music is made, performed To enquire about using the space please and listened to both locally and to a wider audience. email [email protected] Public Access Arts is developing the idea of a youth band A little MÓR. their own compositions to the table and M MoRinvited their collaborative companions to MÓR was conceived in the summer of dissect, bisect and inject their own Anyone interested in becoming involved 2013 as a collaborative project for personal influences on each track. should contact Tim from Public Access Culture Night and as a way to engage new On Culture Night 2013 the front window Arts on 086 6065487, or at audiences. was removed from the Public Access Arts [email protected] or The idea was to gather as many original building turning the carefully lit shop follow MÓR and Public Access Arts local musicians as possible, to step out front into a crowded stage for the on Facebook. of their comfort zones, develop a musicians, while JKL St, Edenderry progressive approach to music making became the venue. and create something unique. On the dark autumn night MÓR set about ICONIC Musicians, drummers, bass, guitar and the task it had invested countless hours keyboard players, singers, songwriters into. The crowd cheered, toots of MUSICAL and producers each set out to create a encouragement came from passing style of music foreign to them. They mixed traffic and quickly MOR went viral. IN CLARA their genres from rock to contemporary, MÓR has become not only a creative Clara Musical Society treads the boards experimental to soul even a little jazz and project but supports musicians wherever for its 43rd year with a production of biblical combined songs to create a completely possible. Not leaving the future to chance proportions - the rock opera Jesus Christ original sound. Each songwriter brought Superstar which is a dramatized version of the last seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Creative entrepreneur Mary Carty is to deliver a workshop on Web & Social Media Penned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice just over 40 years ago, the show began Strategies for Visual Artists on Friday, March 28. This is a Visual Artists Ireland partnership life as a concept LP (album) before becoming training event with Dunamaise Arts Centre. Carty is CEO of the BAFTA-nominated design a full staged production on Broadway. The WEB & agency Spoiltchild.com and over the past 10 years she has built a startup company, co- rest, as they say, is history. founded a conference as well as run a digital agency. She is an experienced startup Once again Clara Musical Society has drawn mentor, helping creative companies to communicating their story. If you want to learn a cast from both the local and surrounding SOCIAL more email [email protected] areas, led by Stephen Rabbette as Jesus, John Conroy as Judas and Sinead Farrell as Mary Magdalene. Mary and her co-author Cecilie Stranger- The Third Way Musical direction, once again, is by Alan Recks MEDIA Thorsen discuss their new book Sell, Lets look at a third strategy; doing what with Lea Carroll joining the production Artist, Sell! www.marycarty.com you love with the support of your audience team for the first time as Choreographer. STRATEGIES “In Sell, Artist, Sell! we make the argument and by creating other sources of funding. This iconic show will be staged in the GAA that artists can combine creative and This doesn’t have to cost you your Centre, Clara from Tuesday, April 8 to FOR VISUAL financial freedom. With digital technology creative freedom or integrity. To achieve Saturday, April 12. the artist’s role has changed and this new way of working, look at your For bookings and further information gatekeepers no longer decide your relationship with money and your attitude please call the Society on 087 9366247, success. To thrive in the digital world you to running your practice. visit the website www.clarams.com or ARTISTS have to establish the mindset of a creative As traditional gatekeepers lose traction follow on Facebook. entrepreneur, based on the principles (think about the music industry for example) that: business is good; you own your there are fantastic new opportunities for audience and that change, while inevitable, artists to reach out to their audience brings opportunity. We’d like to see through social media. In other words, artists adopting new ways to promote build your own profile, gather your their work and develop their livelihood. audience and supporters together and Often artists have a hang-up about keep them engaging with your work. earning money perhaps because of the Are you ready for this workshop? way by which visual art often has to gain For some artists, creative freedom may cultural before monetary value. Artists mean having the ‘final cut’, for some it may feel ‘we can’t make a living from our may be the right to be left alone while work’ or that art world influencers will they get on with the process. Likewise, perceive commercialising an aspect of our some may define financial freedom as practice, negatively. Independent filmmakers having the same social security as a are slaves to distributors and designers regular job, to others, it may mean living to clients. In short, does a creative life for less or not having to think about money.” have to result in being destitute, a sell- out, or oscillation between both states? M 10 JACK L Briefs LAUNCHES SCHOOL OF ROCK & POP LAOIS YOUTH DANCE The internationally renowned singer and musician, Jack L has officially launched the Music Generation ENSEMBLE Laois School of Rock and Pop in the Portlaoise SEEKING NEW Youth Café. MEMBERS The new School of Rock and Pop offers music technology. Weekly Jam-time, for For more on the Music Generation Laois Laois Youth Dance Ensemble is a contemporary dance group that strives affordable group lessons in guitar (bass, more experienced musicians has proved School of Rock and Pop or to sign up for for excellence and gives opportunities lessons contact 057 8664078 or electric and acoustic), keyboard and drums, hugely popular. to young dancers to participate in the see www.musicgenerationlaois.ie and caters for beginner, intermediate Music Generation Laois, in association creation, production and performance and advanced students. with Laois Partnership Company, also of contemporary dance works. The School of Rock and Pop offers young delivers a weekly Glee Club in the It started last September from a dream people in Laois the opportunity to develop Portlaoise Youth Café. A combined and the passion of dance artist Erica their musical talents, by providing music concert featuring Glee Club members Borges and Dunamaise Arts Centre has lessons, mentoring, performance and School of Rock and Pop musicians embraced her vision by supporting this newly formed dance group to achieve opportunities as well as a range of will be staged in the Dunamaise quality and freshness in all they do. once-off workshops in song-writing and Theatre, Portlaoise in June 2014. M Jack L and Rosa Despite financial challenges weekly Flannery, Co-ordinator, workshops continue to take place on Music Generation Laois Saturdays, at Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise. output of sound recordings over his long If you’re 12 or over, passionate and career. committed about dance contact Erica for “I feel that the designer, Michael Guilfoyle, details on 087-1328852 or see achieved a great sense of empathy with www.laoisdanceacademy.com his subject in the overall design and like the singing of John McCormack himself I’m sure this coin will endure and will be Great great granddaughter appreciated for many years to come. of John Count “With a limited issue of 8,000 coins and McCormack a worldwide interest in McCormack I Gaia Tinne is predict that very soon these coins will pictured here with the newly be changing hands at prices far greater launched than their issue price of €44.” commemorative Mayor of Athlone Gabrielle McFadden coin. agrees: “It was a great honor for me to be at the unveiling of this John McCormack coin at the Dublin launch. I was Commemorative Coin completely bowled over with the esteem that John McCormack is held by one and all and it really is something very special to Celebrate John for Athlone. As an Athlonian and a FIRST SOLO Westmeath lady, this coin will immortalise John McCormack in history books.” M EXHIBITION FOR Count McCormack The limited John McCormack coin can be purchased by downloading an order form KAVANAGH from www.centralbank.ie, by calling 1890 by Louise Coghlan 307 607 or directly from the Central Bank Aileen Kavanagh will present her first “I live again the days and evenings of has been honored in this way, and on Dame Street in Dublin. solo exhibition in her hometown of Tullamore this April 2014. my long career. I dream at night of especially coming as it does in the year Pictured here with the commemorative operas and concerts in which I have had that Athlone Town Council is set to honor John Count McCormack coin which has Entitled Retrospect, this new body of my share of success. Now like the old him with a newly commissioned just been released in memory of work reflects on the passage of time in Irish minstrel, I have hung up my harp sculpture to be sited outside Athlone Westmeath’s finest tenor is his great her life’s journey. great grandson Jonathon Tinne because my songs are all sung.” Civic Centre facing into the newly This collection of paintings is abstract, – John Count McCormack. refurbished (and renamed) John Count expressive and through the use of colour, The Central Bank of Ireland has created McCormack Square.” form and texture she has created tangible 8,000 silver proof €10 euro coins to As a keen coin collector himself O’Brien moments that are real and atmospheric. commemorate the memory of John Count adds: “This coin maintains the very high Inspired by personal nostalgic images, McCormack, who was one of the Ireland’s standard set by the Central Bank of this work has a universal quality, which greatest tenors. Ireland for their commemorative proof will appeal to many viewers. Kavanagh Gearoid O’Brien, Senior Executive coin issues. It depicts a strong side is a graduate in Fine Art from GMIT and Librarian with Westmeath County Library profile of McCormack on the concert has been working towards this show for the past two years. The exhibition will and author of John McCormack and stage, nicely framed by theatrical drapes, be on show in Áras an Chontae, Athlone says: “We, in Athlone, are and central to the design is a gramophone Tullamore from April 4 to 30. particularly pleased that John McCormack record and the arm of an old wind-up gramophone recalling the tenor’s huge 11 and pleasant group. I’m grateful to them whom confessed no knowledge of its origins. for facilitating me. It was a period of growth. I was fitting it when I noticed it mimicked This often comes with some measure of the overall shape of the entire structure. accident. In theatre I’m an infant. It was atop itself again so to speak. I’d begun an engagement of talk therapy The shape haunted me and then driving called Psychosynthesis, a branch of to the Main Street I was struck by its psychology fashioned by an Italian, doppelganger! The O’Higgins memorial Roberto Assagioli, similar to Karl Jung. filled my gaze. I'd tried to avoid using a Assagioli believed we all access the point of historical interest as a starting same unconscious and at a deeper point for the residency, but the O’Higgin’s level, we are all one. Its not that I thought memorial, located in the Court Square, him wrong but to say so aloud and with Stradbally, had manifested itself again a an audience seemed brave. I didn’t expect hundred yards over, in my studio. Our collective unconscious had tricked me, and happily our work was done.

CONTEMPLATION ON A M RESIDENCY By Artist Cóilín Rush

Artist Cóilín Rushe, was I worked with three local groups. The evidence of Assagioli’s theory to manifest first group was composed of individuals resident artist in The before me, but I now know this was assembled by the previous artist. I couldn’t what happened over the course of my LaoisArthouse Stradbally, have hoped for a nicer collective and residency. I discerned in the work of my although I encountered resistance to my collaborators evidence of archetypes from April 2012 to April style of practice, this was ultimately to my and deities from our unconscious. We’d 2013, as recipient of the benefit, as it forced an exploration for begun sculpting with no apparent aim. all involved as to how best to marry our The armatures for our clays lent themselves 2012/13 Arthouse Studio artistic drives. to figures and in these I noticed a trend. Award for NCAD graduates. I accrued a second, smaller group of I recognised the God Ganesh and then painters who came regularly to the studio looked at all the pieces created by the I began my residency devoid of a in The Arthouse. I made good friends group. Half human-animal forms; ghouls specific aim and favoured interaction among this group, and the participants and representations of tribal figures. with local groups as a means to begin. broadened their practice. Accomplished Spectres of the unconscious to be sure. As this interaction progressed, I noticed as they were I feel they must have I built a structure to house them. It had I couldn’t discern any distinct, singular improved over time. It’s easy to believe levels and was totem-like. Time passed direction and it wasn’t until the this as they were all so talented! and more sculptures were made. I decided completion of the works that a theme I also had interactions with a third group, to add another level to the structure, and could be identified. the Stradbally Youth Theatre – A talented cap it with a piece made by a participant BEALTAINE FESTIVAL 2014 IN LAOIS Events for 2014 include performances programme of events happening around by the Carnation Theatre Company and the county in May. If you wish to have the Laois Federation ICA choir for your event listed please contact the Arts residents and out-patients in Care Office on 057 8664033/13 or email Hospitals in the county. A performance [email protected]. by the Butterfly Theatre Company in Mountmellick Library and an Exhibition Celebrating creativity as we age, an and workshops at the Arthouse, estimated 120,000 people now take Stradbally as well as lots of creative part in the Bealtaine festival, making it events in other Libraries and community one of Ireland’s biggest arts festivals. venues for our older community. From dance to cinema, painting to theatre, Bealtaine showcases the A highlight of the Dunamaise Arts talents and creativity of both first-time Centre programme is a performance of and professional older artists. This year ‘Small Plastic Wars’ on Friday 9 May at the theme for the festival is ‘And catch 2pm followed by ‘Afternoon Tea. The the hearth off guard’, a phase from programme will also include a Showbands Seamus Heaney's poem Postscript. You show as well as film screenings and can find out all you need to know about weekly dance classes. Bealtaine 2014 from the festival website www.bealtaine.com . The Arts Office, Laois County Council will publish a comprehensive

12 Celebration of Positive Mental Health SECOND by Aoife Carberry Photographs taken by BOOK Longford students have FOR LONGFORD been published in a book celebrating positive mental WRITER health. by Aoife Carberry As part of the Longford Schools Photography Echo Fields, the second publication by Programme, delivered by Shelley Corcoran Longford writer Rose Moran (RSM) was and Longford Arts Office with Longford launched last November in the Arts Officer Fergus Kennedy, transition Longford Library. year students focused on positive mental Published by Lapwing, Moran explains health to take part in a nationwide that the book is a dedication to her parents photography competition. Students, teachers, and representatives A student of Meán Scoil Mhuire, Grace and brothers who have passed away. Students from Moyne Community School; of the Longford Mental Health Association Kenny, admits that she didn’t know a lot “I’ve been writing in a while and I had Cnoc Mhuire, Granard; Mercy Secondary and Mental Health Ireland Midlands about positive mental health until she took lots of pieces written,” Rose says, explaining School, Ballymahon and Meán Scoil were in attendance, and the students part in the programme. “It was nice to that the Chairperson of the Lanesboro Mhuire spent time discussing the came in for high praise for their work. focus on the good side of mental health, writing group of which she is a member, subject, and researching the concepts Liam Tierney, psychiatric nurse and rather than the negative” she explains. suggested she send her work to for their photographs. Lapwing. Chairman of the Longford Mental Health M On a visit to Mercy Secondary School, Association said that the book was Though most of the pieces had been Finola Colgan, Development Officer of “phenomenal” adding that “people can written some years ago, Rose found Positive Mental Health Moments in Time Mental Health Ireland Midlands saw identify with the different phrases that when she looked at them again, is available for €3 from any of the their work and recognised the potential. depending on their own circumstances”. she was still happy with them, keeping participating schools and the Longford changes to the writing to a minimum. The end result is a book entitled Positive The students themselves also took to Mental Health Association. Gathering about 40 of her poems Mental Health Moments in Time, which the floor at the launch, with students from All proceeds go to the Longford Mental was launched at the beginning of three of the four schools providing together late last year, Rose sent one Health Association. An electronic copy of on to Lapwing and received a reply that February. Containing the students’ entertainment in the form of music the book may be viewed at same day, asking for the other poems photographs and accompanying phrases, and dance. www.midlandcollegeofphotography.ie to be sent on. By November 11, the the book is a celebration of positive Students then came forward to explain book was at the printers, and on Tuesday, mental health. what the project meant to them, with November 26, the book was launched Corcoran said at the launch: “I’m really many admitting that they now felt it was by poet and playwright Noel Monahan! proud of the book, really thrilled with the acceptable to discuss their feelings and “I didn’t expect to do anything as soon” work and their dedication.” their mental health with others. Moran admits, saying that the process had gone far quicker than expected. With subjects in the book including her parents and brothers and her native Abbeyshrule, Moran feels that though it’s personal “it wasn’t so personal as not to be general” explaining that many people could relate to her pieces. She admits that publishing the book did help her emotionally, and when the memories in the book were released, she found that more memories came forward. With this book focusing on her childhood, her native place, and those close to her, Moran feels that there’s a continuation to the book, with Lapwing agreeing that it was a good place to begin with the question “Who am I?” She acknowledges the continued help and support from Arts Officer, Fergus Kennedy, County Librarian, Mary Carleton Reynolds and Lapwing. The local writer also commends her writers group, saying that the other members offer “great help and great encouragement”. M 13 Briefs PERCENT WHAT’S ON AT TUAR ARD?

DRAMA & PERFORMANCES FOR Sat April 12 Mary Fox’s Speech & Drama Class Speech & Drama Feis Competition in poetry, improvisation, solo acting & write your own poems. For further enquiries please contact Mary on 087-8941197. ART Sun April 13 Midlands’ Youth Orchestra The Midlands Youth Orchestra is based SCHEME in Kinnegad and provides an opportunity for young people from various ensembles across the Midlands to perform together FOR LORETO under conductor and director Vincent Hunt. The Lir Youth Orchestra is the Westmeath Orchestra of the Midlands Youth Orchestra, both projects are COLLEGE supported by Westmeath County Council and Westmeath VEC. The Principal, staff and board of throughout her life is going to be students and Art teachers in the school. 8pm • €10 management of Loreto College Mullingar represented in vibrant use of colour and She established her own business Tues May 13 and Wed, May 14 under the Department of Education & symbolism. Glasshammer Designs in 1993, after Moate Youth Theatre presents Science, Per-Cent-for-Art scheme are Artwork Two will be located in the new pursuing a successful career as a Beauty & the Beast embarking on a body of work with glass general-purpose area. Here O’Donnell freelance Glass Artist working in New A beautiful daughter dreams of artist Michelle O’Donnell who has been meeting a handsome prince, but in wishes to illustrate the journey of the York, Boston, Belgium and Paris for Irish awarded the Per Cent for Art Commission order to save her father’s life, she school’s past, present and future based companies. for the creation of new artworks for both leaves home to live with a terrible, students. Again through use of colour O’Donnell has worked for public and frightening beast. His disarming the new and old school building. and symbolism, she has represented private Art commissions and her work generosity slowly leads to a surprising O’Donnell was selected based on her students as petals that blossom and covers a very broad spectrum from connection. Directed by Rufina Recks. creative interpretation of the brief with grow as they transcend life’s journey in 7.30pm • €10 / €8 internal architectural commissions to the main theme for the artwork looking school and beyond. public state body and public sculpture. at the life and legacy of Mary Ward, O’Donnell has involved past and present ART EXHIBITIONS founder of the Loreto Order. Her purpose built studio is located in students and staff in the creation of the Rhode in County Offaly. Work is currently From Fri April 11, 8pm Artwork One is a light box, which will be artworks thereby giving ownership of the well under way in the studio on the Loreto Art exhibition eMerge by local located in the old convent building at a work to the greater Loreto community. amateur artists from artworks and it is envisaged that both point that very much connects the old to She has also provided workshops in the Lesley WIngfield’s art class. pieces will be unveiled this April. M It is advisable to ring 090 6482042 in the new. Here the story of Mary’s journey craft of glass fusing and enameling to advance of viewing. Weekend viewing by appointment only. Tues May 20 Bealtaine Festival The Bealtaine Festival Variety Show in LEINSTER Association with Rosemount GAA Social Initiative returns to Tuar Ard for an evening of music, song, dance and recitation. Refreshments will be served FLEADH at 6.30pm in the coffee shop prior to the show. Artists include Ballymore Comhaltas Group, Johnny Mullen and many more. 7.30–9.00pm • €5 • Admission by ticket only. Call: 090 6482042. CHEOIL

FILMS FOR MOATE Tues April 8, 8pm The Broken Circle Breakdown By Enda Seery, Director: Felix Van Groeningen. Runtime: 111 PRO 2014 Leinster Fleadh Cheoil mins. Language: Belgian. Genre: Drama. Elise(a tattoo artist) and Didier (a banjo player in a Bluegrass/Country combo) Up to 10,000 trad lovers from all over Mullingar, Ballynacargy, Clann Lir Over 150 volunteers will make sure that fall in love at first sight, in spite of their Leinster and beyond will travel to Moate (Castlepollard), Frank Gavigan (Milltown/ safety and enjoyment are paramount for all. differences. He talks, she listens. He’s this summer for the Leinster Fleadh Cheoil Rathconrath) and Ballymore branches a romantic atheist, she’s a religious According to Pádraic Keena, Chairperson realist. When their daughter becomes which runs from July 7-13 – the first time will be working together led by the of Westmeath County Board of Comhaltas seriously ill, their love is put on trial. the event has returned to the county organising committee of Westmeath and one of the members of the main since it was held in Mullingar in 1999. County Board to make this July’s Tues May 6, 8pm organising committee: “With the Leinster Blancanieves The festival will be hosted by Westmeath Leinster Fleadh Cheoil the best Fleadh in Westmeath, we have the Director: Pablo Berger. Runtime: 145 mins. County Board of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí provincial Fleadh possible. opportunity of leaving a lasting legacy Language: English. Genre: Art House. Éireann in conjunction with the Leinster The Leinster Fleadh Cheoil sees more for the traditional arts and culture in This delightful and beautiful artistic Council of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. than 3,500 people taking part in music, the county.” film is a twist on the Snow White fairy Westmeath has played a significant role singing and dancing competitions. tale that is set in 1920’s Seville and One of the core principles of Comhaltas centred on a female bullfighter. in the development of Comhaltas over It will also feature live entertainment Ceoltóirí Éireann is to actively engage the years; indeed Comhaltas was on an open-air gig-rig stage, nightly young people to play music, sing and For more see www.tuarard.com, call founded in Mullingar in 1951. music sessions in the pubs, concerts, dance and to promote the wonderful 090 64 82042 or email: [email protected] Westmeath boasts seven Comhaltas workshops, recitals, céilís, singing traditional culture that exists in Ireland. sessions and lots more. branches. Moate, Castletown Geoghegan, M

14 Wayne Brennan to release second studio album Three years ago, inspiration beautiful Islands. Songs were written had run low and life as a on Fuerteventura in the Canaries, Bali in Indonesia, Koh Lanta and Koh singer songwriter for Wayne Phangan in Thailand, Ponza in Italy, Brennan was becoming Barry Island in Wales, London and of course in his home Island of Ireland. heavy and tiresome rather than being spontaneous and Songs from the album, yet to be released, have already garnered four in the moment. prestigious awards, one of which was for his finely crafted ballad Roots in Looking for something new, a new These Lands. The song was written adventure, new inspiration and new about growing up in Offaly and the experiences, Brennan set off from beauty of his home county and Daingean in Offaly and moved to country. The song won the Seán Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. McCarthy Ballad Contest and first He based himself there for two years place in the RTÉ-RAAP Bursary and from the ‘Island of eternal spring’ awards. Roots in These Lands was he travelled to many exotic locations written during the weeklong trip on across the world whilst writing his the Grand Canal from Shannon new album. Harbour to Edenderry in 2012 for the documentary film A Grand “Sometimes in life inspiration needs Experience that was commissioned to be sought out. You can’t simply by Offaly County Council and shown wait and hope for that magical on RTÉ to critical acclaim. moment to come along. You have to go and look, both inside yourself and Brennan released his debut album In also in the world around you. More My Hands in 2009. Currently based so, you need to believe in it and then in London, Wayne will be returning to Tullamore Man it will come to you,” explains Brennan. Ireland to begin his nationwide tour and will be playing a homecoming gig Live, Love, Sing and Dance is the in Tullamore for the people of Offaly. latest exhibition of Wayne’s skills as a M Voted Best in songwriter and is a collection of moments, situations and feelings See www.waynebrennan.com His new the World from some of the world’s most album will be available from April 4, 2014. The three-day summit at the end of the “My chosen version for this work was The Fox holds a BA Hon’s Degree in Fine Art 2013 saw 22 top undergraduates from Human Voice staring Ingrid Bergman and Media from The National College of Art all over the world, gather in Dublin. directed by Ted Kotcheff for TV in 1966. I and Design and works predominantly in Brendan’s essay was one of almost 4,000 wanted to re-imagine the narrative from the medium of video but his work often pieces of coursework submitted from the male character’s perspective and encompasses painting, performance and 182 third-level institutions internationally. constructed an alternative script, sometimes large scale installations. M mirroring, often filling in the blanks As a winner of the overall international For further information see: between the female characters lines, category, his piece will now be featured in www.brendanfoxart.com pushing my own agenda.” the annual Undergraduate Awards Journal and exhibited at the annual UA Visual At its core, Crossed Line is about the Exhibition in March 2014. breakdown of communication, but it is also a deep consideration of how it feels Crossed Line is described by Fox as a to exist with the hopelessness of a “triptych filmic intervention” inspired by broken heart. the one woman play, The Human Voice Fox explains: “The idea of representing written by Jean Cocteau in 1930. The story the human condition before an audience centres around a middle aged woman’s Tullamore’s Brendan Fox, a visual artist through linear or absurd narratives really emotional journey when she realises her and theatre practitioner, has won the appeals to me. My work often centres on estranged lover is to marry a younger prestigious International Undergraduate the appropriation of cinematic material woman. The entire script is a one sided Award for 2013, by innovatively bringing that has theatrical origins. I try to invite conversation performed by the female both disciplines together. the viewer to engage theatrically with my protagonist; the male character is never work, extending a perspective that perhaps Fox received his medal in Dublin City Hall heard or shown but personified by a the cinema or theatre alone cannot. at the International Undergraduate Global telephone. Summit for his work Crossed Line. “Much like a theatre or film director may Not only is Fox recognised as the best Like many plays The Human Voice has strive to find a fresh angle in a known undergraduate student of visual arts in had multiple interpretations on stage, narrative; my final installations often Ireland, but he also won the overall television and cinema screens; beyond push an agenda that has evolved through international award, making him the this it is full of theatrical codes harking the dissection of a literary text. I hope to leader in his field globally. back to the Dadaists’ Vox Humana engage the viewer by offering them a way experiments after World War I. into the work. It’s simply an invitation.”

15 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014

IN THE PARK

Poetry in the Park came about in January Throughout 2013, Poetry in the Park 2013 when the idea of a community held a number of other community owned poetry gathering was initialised. events and workshops incorporating POETRY IN Then followed monthly meetings in poetry, art and music. Events held THE PARK Burgess Park, beside the river Shannon included poetry in the bog at dawn and the weir wall to read poetry, recite celebrating Seamus Heaney’s poetry PLANS FOR 2014 poetry or read stories and recently and then the bog at dusk in September Poetry in the Library, presenting Poetry in the Park Chapbook was commemorating Heaney’s month’s Community Engagement through published. anniversary. There was also flute music Poetry and reciting some poems in and poetry at the Springwell, bog art the Goldsmith Library Thursday, Poetry in the Park has two key ambitions. events, Samhain by the Shannon and March 27 at noon. Firstly it aims to bring poetry outdoors music gatherings. into various communities through a range Facilitating a poetry retreat/Birdsong of actions, mediums and environments The group consists of about 20 core in Feevagh Woods, a 12 acre farm in which challenges people's perceptions members and more than 200 occasional county Roscommon in April. members ranging in age from six to 86 about poetry, how it is delivered and Hosting a poetry reading (Poems with people travelling from Mullingar, how we can relate to it. and Uilleann Pipes) in the Athlone Longford, Portlaoise to participate. M And secondly all ages, races and Castle in May as part of the All abilities are welcome as a key aim of For Further Information See: Ireland Drama Festival. http://blog.epicawards.co.uk/2013/12/p the group is inclusiveness for all. Collaborating with published poets oetry-in-the-park/ re workshops, poetry writing sessions. Conducting poetry workshops in prisons. Facilitating community poetry IWA VISIT workshops in nursing homes for older people, hospitals, community ATHLONE Longford Artist centres, schools, colleges. Community Poetry Readings in Athlone GALLERY library for Poetry Week in October. Preparing for the Second Edition of Members of the Irish Wheelchair Association in Offaly recently traveled with Anam Beo Poetry in the Park’s Community Contributes Poetry Collection artist facilitators, Rowena Keaveny and Julie Spollen, to visit the new Luan Gallery Regular Poetry in the Park meet-ups in Athlone to see an exhibition of selected in Burgess Park Athlone. works from the Irish Museum of Modern Art. By invitation of Anam Beo, two curators to New Art from IMMA travelled to meet with the group and discuss the artwork exhibited. Afterwards participants were able to have a short creative response downstairs in the workshop area of the gallery. Publication In 2013 Anam Beo Offaly’s Arts and Health programme provided 163 art by Aoife Carberry workshops to 105 participants with 1053 attendances. Longford-based artist Michael McCarthy is one of a number of artists to For more see: anambeo.wordpress.com contribute to an art publication entitled, The Old Pier, Union Hall. or contact [email protected] The book, by Paul and Aileen Finucane, shows pictures painted by different artists of the same view – the view from the couple’s house in Cork. Members of the Offaly IWA who participate in Anam Beo, Offaly McCarthy says that he is “very privileged” to have been part of the project. Arts and Heath programme at the Luan Gallery to see work Explaining how the book first started, he says that Aileen Finucane from the IMMA collection. inherited an old fisherman’s house, as well as the land alongside it.

Fans of art, the couple, while in Australia, met an Irish artist and invited him back to Ireland, suggesting that he could stay at their Union Hall cottage. The artist, Harry Sherwin, accepted the invitation and stayed for a while in Cork. Upon leaving, he presented the couple with a painting of the view from the cottage.

A friend of Harry’s also visited the couple, and on his departure, he also presented them with his own painting of the same view. The couple were astounded at the different characterisation of the harbour, and so, the project continued, with artists of various ages and backgrounds contributing their work to the publication.

The Old Pier, Union Hall is now on sale with proceeds going to local charities in Union Hall through the Union Hall Development Association. M

16 Eoin MacLochlainn explores the notion of DÍDEAN(home) I have been visiting Portlaoise for the make art that moves people. I feel grateful that I can create images last few years, teaching art in the prison So I collect images from newspapers, out of thin air. I can picture places I’d like and working on various Artist-in-Prison magazines and the Internet to find the to be, things I could have... That’s why I projects, so I was delighted when I was subjects for my artworks. called my installation of cardboard drawings: offered the opportunity to exhibit my “Where there is art, there is hope”. work at Dunamaise Arts Centre. I am particularly interested in images of ordinary people in situations of conflict In the end, making art is a mysterious The title of this exhibition is Dídean/Home or crisis. It is all too easy to become inured occupation. Working alone in the studio, and it consists of paintings and to the individual stories that lie behind I paint, I make things, I try out ideas, installations exploring the human any of these images, but by choosing and sometimes my mistakes inspire dimension to the economic crisis and one and making it the subject of a large new directions and new work… to borrow looking at notions of “home”. painting, for instance, I try to emphasize a quote from the late Tony O’Malley: In recent years, much has been written the importance of that human story “you work at it day after day and then about ghost estates, empty hotels and and, in a way, to subvert the notion of suddenly, something happens, a tenantless apartment blocks, at one time the “15 minutes of fame”. revelation”. That’s how it is. an estimated 300,000 units vacant or I am interested in exploring how art may Eoin MacLochlainn graduated from NCAD unfinished, but at the same time we produce a deeper and more enduring in 2000. He is a founder member of the read about the growing problem of understanding of the contemporary artists’ collective Tondo. He won The homelessness in our country. experience than do media images. Golden Fleece Award for his work in 2008, My work engages with contradictions such was shortlisted for the Davy Portrait Award From a formal point of view I became in 2010 and won the ESB Keating as these but, whilst the subject matter interested in using discarded material in may be tough and the questions raised McLaughlin Medal at the RHA the my artwork – cardboard, newspaper, same year. uncomfortable, my primary intention is to paper coffee cups etc. I thought that it fitted well with the themes I was exploring. He has had 10 solo exhibitions in Ireland and has participated in several selected The empty coffee cups became a symbol exhibitions (including RHA, RUA, Iontas, for me of the ‘boom and bust’. During Éigse, Oireachtas) and in various group the era of the Celtic Tiger, it seemed like shows in Ireland, England, France, Belgium, everyone was in a hurry – in a hurry to Georgia and China. His work is in the get to work, in a hurry to make money, collections of the OPW, AIB, Bank of in a hurry to build. No time to stop and Ireland, AXA Insurance, University of chat, a quick coffee on the go, skinny Limerick, Wesley College, the Boyle Civic lattes, cappuccinos, caffé mochas – Collection and in various private collections. madness – and then at the end of the M day, the poor man on the street was using the empty cup to beg for help. See www.emacl.com and http://emacl.wordpress.com/ I also became interested in using cardboard Dídean/Home runs at Dunamaise Arts in my work. If I was homeless and I had Centre, Portlaoise, from Friday 7 March – a piece of cardboard and a black marker, Saturday 26 April with an Opening would I use them to write: “I’m Hungry, Reception on Friday 7 March, at 7pm. Please Help”, or would I start making Artists’ talks or workshops can be arranged art, right there on the street? As an artist, on request by calling 057 8663355. 17 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014

artists explore the idea of home

Throughout 2014, Laois-native writer Kate Heffernan will join director Maisie Lee of MIRARI Productions as Dunamaise Arts Centre’s Theatre Artists in Residence. Based at Dunamaise, Heffernan and Lee are inviting the community to discuss Kate Heffernan Maisie Lee and explore with them ideas of ‘home’ and what it means to us as individuals and as a community, working towards home and its myriad of meanings. “Home is for the community and about the production of a show with a local The residency will culminate in a the community,” Lee says. “And so we cast in late 2014. performance for radio with a local cast want to hear from you, to hear what Heffernan grew up in Portlaoise, and in late 2014, written by Heffernan and ‘home’ means to you or your group. We worked at the Dunamaise Arts Centre directed by Lee, and based on ideas want you to get in touch, to tell us your in various capacities while studying at that will emerge from their discussions ideas.” secondary school and later at Trinity with the community. “Maybe you’d like to have us round to College Dublin. She is also a former “We are very interested in radio as a your place!” Heffernan concludes. “To member of Laois Youth Theatre, run medium that expertly reaches people in chat about your home over a cuppa. So by the Laois Arts Office and Shake their own homes,” explains Heffernan. we’re asking individuals and groups to the Speare Theatre Company. “And we’d like to connect people in this invite us to the place they call home – “When Dunamaise opened in 1999 I way,” Lee adds. “To speak to them in inviting you to invite us round for tea. was about to enter transition year at their own homes through the brilliant And in return promising to bring the Scoil Chríost Rí,” she recalls. “Those early form of radio play, a form Kate and I are biscuits!” days were such an exciting time. I had both fascinated and excited by.” M never been to a theatre performance The pair kicked off the residency this before and it was a real moment of spring with a period of research – To find out more visit the MIRARI section awakening. I completely fell in love with including discussions, workshops and at www.dunamaise.ie. Home is supported theatre at that point. And Dunamaise other activities – in which they are by The Arts Council, Dunamaise Arts became a sort of brilliant haven for me. exploring with groups and individuals Centre and Laois County Council. It was a home in so many ways.” what ‘home’ means to them in the Returning to the centre as one half of widest sense. And they really want MIRARI Productions, Kate is keen to people to get in touch with them, to get reengage and reconnect with the idea of involved.

18 the relevance of rural art dialogues... Rural Art Dialogues – Veronica Nicholson talks about being an artist on a farm and how she Veronica Nicholson – cabinet de curiosite. seeks out its relevance to her practice through international online rural art dialogues. In 2010 I moved to Offaly while doing “Yak Yak: rural/art dialogues sets out decided to “Twin” our farms as part of The glass cabinet was filled with various an MA in NCAD. Ever since leaving Dublin to fashion a context within which the Yak Yak project, it set in train a farm-related items like blue binder twine in 1994 I’ve preferred living in the country, some geographically disparate series of exchanges and joint decision- and hairy barbed wire, and enveloped in and have now settled on a farm near cultural practices can be viewed and making processes which, for me, helped transparent maps. Rhode, the same farm where my mother considered in relationship to one articulate and manifest some aspects Being involved in projects like The Future grew up and where my uncle still lives. another. All of the practitioners [from of an awareness to be discovered down is Domestic or Yak Yak focuses the mind In response to living on the farm, in Australia, Argentina, Ireland and on the farm. The process was and gives an impetus to the Deep Map 2013 I began a project called Deep Sweden]…in this project make their rewarding and enjoyable and it will be project, and in 2014 I will continue Map, inspired by the author William works in response to the complexities valuable for me to continue these exchanges with farmer/artists at home Least Heat-Moon in his book PrairyErth and challenges of particular rural linkages as part of my practice.” and abroad, so watch this space! (A Deep Map): situations and places with which they Our collaboration culminated in a Cabinet M have engaged...” “Deep maps include and interweave de Curiosité, which was displayed as part autobiography, archaeology, stories, http://issuu.com/collectionofminds/do of the Yak Yak exhibition in Swanhill memories, folklore, traces, reportage, cs/yak_yak?e=1616593/5208077 Regional Art Gallery in September 2013. weather, interviews, natural history, I had the delightful experience of being Sean-nós dancing in science, and intuition. In its best ‘twinned’ (through skype) with Neil Westmeath: steady form, the resulting work arrives at a Berecry-Brown, a farmer/artist in New progress in the subtle, multi-layered and “deep” map South Wales, Australia. Neil said of this of a small area of the earth.” experience: traditional Irish dance scene. Rosario Clinton To research a deep map of this ‘small “Meanwhile, down on the farm, life area of the earth,’ that is the townland goes on…and on; timeless cycles of looks back at her where I live and work seemed a worthwhile generation played out on tunes called early days of sean-nós and important endeavour, especially by the vagaries of sun, wind and rain. dancing and speaks of since the keepers of the myth and stories Consciousness is conditioned by her love for teaching of this area are dying out. So with a sense culture and environment; is this of urgency I began recording with audio, manifest in the work of artists living classes in the midlands. photographs, and drawings the various down on the farm? seams of meaning and memory. The Meanwhile in another part of the farm has proved a rich mine of inspiration. forest (or the forest itself as it As a result of working on this project I sometimes appears), the art/ was invited by Outrider Artists in Co Clare entertainment industrial complex of to participate in a series of workshops Biennales Art Fairs, Blockbuster SEAN-NÓS with artists from Estonia, Latvia and touring exhibitions and Spectacles Ireland in May 2013 http://the-future-is- rolls on with its urban preoccupation domestic.blogspot.ie/ reflecting global demographic shifts. DANCING Also in 2013 I was invited to participate This too is part of our environment; it in Yak Yak: rural/art dialogues, a multi- gives urgency to nurturing forms of practice hidden by the trees. MAKES STEADY cultural, multi-media event, curated by Fiona Woods, an artist from Co Clare, But while life on the farm goes on, the and Ian Tully, Director of Swanhill Regional farm has changed; at least mine has, PROGRESS Art Gallery, Victoria, Australia. In the on- because in another part of the forest line publication the curators introduce there is another farm, and on that farm the project: lives Veronica Nicholson. When we Sean-nós dancing is said to be the oldest competition judge. form of our traditional Irish dance. While Since moving back to Ireland I’ve been attributed to Connemara and west Clare, teaching dancing to children at schools it is danced throughout Ireland and abroad. throughout Westmeath, Longford and Characterised by its low to the ground Dublin. footwork, free movement of arms and an emphasis upon a battering step its In the summer of 2011, I collaborated personal style with spontaneous with Deirdre Feeney and ran the first expression is highly valued. North Westmeath Summer School of Music song and dance for children aged A native of county Cork I studied different six to 12 years of age. forms of Irish dance. Thanks to my Gaeltacht-born mother I was introduced I have also given workshops in Europe to sean-nós as a young girl and it has and am always eager to learn more remained a favourite of mine ever since. myself. I could be described as a die- hard dancer; it keeps one young and fit. I later spent 19 years in Brussels I enjoy passing on what is a lovely and was a founding member of the aspect of our culture. Brussels Set Dancers, with whom I performed at many events, helped Clinton teaches dance in Westmeath new members to dance and was a and beyond. M 19 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014

Longford teen hitting DUN NA SÍ all the right AMENITY & notes HERITAGE PARK by Aoife Carberry OPENS ITS GATES by Aoife Carberry At the heart of the Midlands Gateway in Moate, County Westmeath, is the newly named Dun na Si Amenity & Heritage Park. From its elevated entrance, the park primary and second level students. Park gardens will be home to the welcomes its guests as if awarded Collaboration with the initiative for winning artworks for a period of one majestic guardianship by Ann Meldon Culture Night has seen artists Ann year, after which time the pieces will Hugh’s sculpture, Motte Grainne Óg, Wingfield and Anna S Duffy engage be returned and located either in the known locally with affection as with children of St Brigid’s Primary school or the local community for ‘Grainne Óg’, the Milesian warrior and St Oliver Plunkett’s Boys permanent display. princess of folklore who has long held National Schools. The three dimensional sculptural strong ties with these parts. The creative process involved and pieces of art are based on the The 27 acre parkland has been the research already undertaken in students’ own themes using a range brought to fruition by the commitment the schools were mutually supportive of materials such as timber, concrete, of a community group, the Midland and expressed wildlife ecology stone, ceramic, mosaic, metal, organic, Amenity Park Association, who through different mediums, which recycled or other material which harnessed public support and were then guided to life in outsized should be able to withstand typical secured part funding through the two-dimensional explosions of form weather elements. In support of the Rural Development Programme with the children and additional project, individual schools or artists 2007–2013 by Westmeath fellow artists Patsy Preston and were able to submit applications to Community Development. Lesley Wingfield. their appropriate County Arts Officer Now, an area once known locally as having sought an artist, or to assist Patsy Preston has also been Artist with the payment of artist fees. The Cowpark, invites visitors to in Residence in Moate Community Talented Longford teenager Eimear Kyle, has embrace another part of its heritage School, facilitating a dynamic pilot The judging of this year’s entries been playing piano since the age of eight. by following its pathway trails through arts initiative with Transition Year will be undertaken by a panel of The now 13 year-old, daughter of Jianling and native species planting and along its students, known as Art in the Park. independent professional artists Michael, started playing the concert harp beautiful turlough wetland reserve, when she was four and a half. And, just five an area of great ecological value and years after beginning her piano education, hidden wildlife. Eimear has completed all eight grades and is As the playground blends gently now preparing for a 30 minute solo recital into its surroundings and exercise for the Irish Academy of Music. equipment is located invitingly Eimear is also preparing for a feis in Dublin, along the pathways, there is a strong which will take place in April during the suggestion that wellbeing is the easter holidays. only order of the day. “She loves music,” explains her mother, This ethos is further enhanced by the Jianling, adding that as with any subject, if Park’s vision of engagement with the you like it, you see better results, something Arts, as is evident from exhibitions which can be seen from Eimear’s and the incorporation of permanent achievements thus far. art pieces, created with local second A two-time recipient of a Royal Irish level students. Some are a selection Academy of Music High Achievers Award, of 2D and 3D works for display, Eimear also got the opportunity this year to currently located both in the perform at the prestigious awards designated sculpture garden areas “By taking part in this project, it ceremony. and takes place in April, with prize and within the wider park, but others has changed my view on art. I have giving being held on May 16 at Dun Now in first year at St Finian’s, Mullingar, also serve as intriguing functional worked with some great people on Kyle is a student of its Schola Cantorum na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park, pieces, such as the intermittent mosaic this project which made everything which also happens to be the date which provides musical education to the seating and elegantly striking bird so much easier. It will be great to visit students alongside regular school studies. of the Park’s official opening. hide at the water’s edge. in years to come and see my mark Along with singing and playing the piano on the park so to speak,” Simon The formulation of its two-year and concert harp, the school requires the In the creation of these pieces, Geoghegan, TY Student, Moate Arts Plan will include residencies, students to play the organ - something several arts projects within the community arts, performances community were undertaken and Community School says. which Eimear has taken to with little and site specific work. M difficulty. remain ongoing. With past funding This success was the launch pad for With only a small number of students support from both the Arts Council the wider Art in the Park initiative, accepted into the Schola Cantorum each of Ireland and Westmeath County a competition offering second level Council and Arts Office, artists have students across the Midlands region year, Kyle loves school, and enjoys spending See www.dunnasi.ie or to get involved in time with her fellow musicians. facilitated creative workshops and the opportunity to explore their design Art in the Park call 090 6481183 or “She likes to meet people who like music,” school classes which have helped to prowess and creativity. email [email protected]. Jianling adds. inspire, educate, guide and assist Three specially designed Art in the With all this under her belt at the age of 13, there’s no doubt that we will be hearing a lot more from Kyle in the future. M

20 HENRIETTA MORAES MUSE OF FRANCIS BACON & LUCIEN FREUD WHO LIVED IN ROUNDWOOD HOUSE

Derek Fanning In the late 1970s and early 1980s Moraes was notoriously free-spirited and The Radio 1 documentary featured Henrietta Moraes was caretaker of led a generally hedonistic lifestyle. In the Marianne Faithfull – for whom Moraes Roundwood House, which at the time 1960s, she was an unsuccessful cat worked as tour manager and Desmond recounts the eventual was being restored by the Irish burglar hampered by amphetamine Guinness who was one of her close Georgian Society. psychosis, leading to time in Holloway friends. It also included a rare interview and colourful life of Prison. with Henrietta’s son Josh who had a Moraes was a deeply-troubled woman troubled relationship with his mother. with an infamous temper, which made As if anticipating her decline, Bacon Henrietta Moraes – people avoid her. She had problems famously painted her with a syringe a Acquainted with rock stars, aristocracy with drugs and alcohol and her son decade before she became a self- and artists, Henrietta lived her life to alcoholic, unsucessful complained that she deprived him of confessed “junkie”. the full, never fearful of the future or adequate affection. Later in life, she found sobriety and troubled by the past. cat burglar and muse penned a volume of short stories and In her younger days Moraes was a very memoirs (entitled Henrietta) with the Alcoholism was a dominant force in her attractive woman who moved in bohemian encouragement of her friend, the writer life, but her beauty and presence lasted of Bacon and Freud. circles in London and was the muse and Francis Wyndham. a lifetime in spite of her many excesses. inspiration for such famous artists as She left a lasting impression upon those Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon. Last In January 2013 RTÉ Radio 1 broadcast who came under her spell. year Bacon’s painting of a naked Moraes a documentary about Moraes called Oiled: fetched £21.3 million at auction. A Portrait of Henrietta which related When she lived in Roundwood her hope that for a period starting in the mid-50s, was to live an ordinary, sane life freed She was born Audrey Wendy Abbott in Moraes (called Hen by her friends) was from the madness of alcoholism but Simla, India, where her father was the uncrowned Queen of Soho and she unfortunately she continued drinking stationed in the Indian Air Force. Her lived her life on the margins of the rich, excessively and also suffered from a father deserted her mother when she the famous and the dangerous. lack of money. She returned to London was young, and she was raised harshly Dazzled by reflected glory, the and joined Alcoholics Anonymous. by a tyrannical and abusive documentary’s narrator told us, she grandmother in England. Desmond Guinness recalled that one drifted into chronic alcoholism, drug of his abiding memories of Henrietta Later she went to secretarial college. abuse and prison. The muse of Francis was her “barrelling down the street in Bacon and Lucian Freud ended her life Mountrath”. A local farmer recalled that By 1950, when she was 19 years old, in abject poverty, reliant upon the she was as “mad as a hatter” adding: Moraes was working as an artists’ charity of others. “She went around in great big long model in several London art schools. During her troubled lifetime she frequently dresses that reached the ground. You A denizen of the Colony Room, Soho, sought sanctuary in Ireland. Here she would see her out walking the roads in she became the muse to a number of found refuge amongst the crumbling those dresses. But a very nice lady.” important British artists in the early Georgian mansions of the Irish midlands 1950s through the mid-1960s. and sufficient peace to write her life story. M Francis Bacon, who was particularly enthralled by her mercurial character, painted her at least 16 times from photographs specifically commissioned by him from John Deakin. In May 2002, Bacon’s Study for Portrait of Henrietta Moraes was sold by Ernst Beyeler for $6.7 million, and in February 2012 Derek Fanning works as a journalist in Bacon’s 1963 Portrait of Henrietta Birr’s Midland Tribune and is fond of Moraes sold for £21.3 million. poetry, classical music and wood carving. He publishes the magazine Slieve Bloom Lucian Freud, with whom she had an News. If you would like to contribute an affair, painted Moraes at least three article or photo please email times, including a celebrated 1953 [email protected] portrait entitled Girl in a Blanket.

21 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014

Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath’s Kodaly Programme has ensured that 1,500 young people across the region are already in receipt of music education twice a week, when before they had none.

Other developments include the launch of the new Choral Music Programme, 1,500 CHILDREN ARE already in two community colleges and two national schools and involving nearly 100 pupils. “We are looking forward to taking these choirs to a national singfest of Music Generation choirs planned for Sunday, April 6 in Dublin.” enthuses Broome. Planning is already underway for SINGING! academic year 2014/ 2015 and they Margaret Broome began as Development 2013/2014, the first job to be tackled Music Generation Offaly Westmeath is are open to expressions of interest in Officer in June 2013 with the firm intention was to find the musicians who would also working with DIT Conservatory of The Kodály Programme from both pre to be ready to start working with schools bring this innovative approach to music Music & Drama, The Athlone Education and primary schools and from secondary by September. “We were going to have education into primary schools. Centre and the Kodály Society of Ireland and primary schools looking to engage to work fast, and to be quite honest the to develop training that challenges, in the Choral Programme. M odds were not in our favour – no tutors Music Generation Offaly Westmeath develops and supports the tutors creating and no committed schools were just has nine tutors, working in 20 these active and imaginative music lessons. two of the problems facing us.” participating primary schools across This training will become the foundation For more information please contact the region, providing more than 70 for a new Diploma in Kodály Music Margaret Broome on Having made the decision to concentrate hours of tuition per week to over 1,500 Education the first of its kind in Ireland, [email protected], 057 9346898 or www.offaly.ie/musicgeneration or follow on flagship project – The Kodály children from junior and senior infants which will eventually be available nationally on Facebook. Programme – during academic year to sixth class. to interested musicians and teachers.

The project would only work with the co- operation of parents who would have to bring their children to and from the selected schools, so they were the first Given the success of the tour it looks point of contact with the proposal and set to become an Annual Event in the ORCHESTRA were unanimously behind it. Orpheus Orchestra calendar. M It was based on the following objectives: ON TOUR WINS 1. To promote the work of the Orpheus Orchestra 2. To provide performance opportunities for our players 3. To recruit new members for next year ACCOLADE The schools selected for a visit over a The Laois School of Music Orpheus As an independent School of Music, three week period were Scoil Mhuire, Orchestra completed a novel idea of a orchestra members come from all Sacred Heart and Maryborough NS Schools Tour of Laois last April/May and over the county, with a total of 18 Portlaoise; Emo NS and St Colman’s NS was subsequently acknowledged for the different primary schools represented. Stradbally. project with an Irish Association of Organising a central venue for a Youth Orchestras (IAYO) Achievement schools concert can be challenging There was a real sense of being on tour Award, presented in February 2014 by so the idea came to bring the in the various schools and with Minister for Children and Young People orchestra out to schools for Conductor John Davidson, the orchestra Frances Fitzgerald at the National a visit instead. played Sean Ryans Polka, Ye Banks & Concert Hall. Braes, Vltava by Smetana, and a little Beethoven (Finale Symphony No 5). 22 VISUAL ART EXPLOSION IN LONGFORD Though Longford has had a vibrant visual arts scene for quite some time, the last year or so has seen an impressive proliferation in the EXHIBITIONS AT THE ATRIUM GALLERY IN ASSOCIATION WITH LONGFORD number of collectives COUNTY ARTS OFFICE LONGFORD LIGHTS “The Arts Office and the Atrium Gallery at and exhibitions aimed at Though still early in its gestation period, the Backstage Theatre have come together the proposed Longford Lights festival, bringing the works of to develop a joint programme of exhibitions pencilled in for next winter, looks set to OUT-TAKE FILMS to help provide support for the emerging local artists to the be one of the most unique artistic events “Out-Take Films was formed with the aim visual arts scene in the county,” Longford public’s attention. Here the county town has ever hosted. of developing a culture of film-making in County Arts Officer Fergus Kennedy “Longford Lights is an idea I've had for a Patrick Conboy takes a all ages in Longford,” explains the group's reveals. “At the moment it’s mainly for year or two now, which is a visual art Chairperson, Seamus Clarke. “The means local artists, but we've also exhibited look some of the more festival which is themed on the use of to make a film are more accessible now artists from Galway, Leitrim and Mayo. light,” says organiser, Shane Crossan. diverse and innovative than it’s ever been before. Twenty years ago, “In the first half of the year we hope to “The idea is to invite artists to use public making even the most modest of films organise a series of innovative exhibitions. projects operating under spaces, to create a performance or an was a two- or even a three-man job, but The first is a mother-daughter exhibition, installation or other piece of art, using this remit. now technology has flattened to the point involving Frances Kelleher and her daughter projectors, electric lights, candles, and so on.” where even the capturing capacity on a phone Orla, both accomplished landscape and Crossan is the driving force behind the is amazing. However, the art of film-making still-life artists working in watercolours, ENGAGE LONGFORD idea at present, but is reluctant to take is still something one has to learn.” acrylics and oils. Their show will run at One of the most recent artistic projects to credit, and certainly doesn’t want to be The group is a vehicle which allows the Atrium Gallery in March. emerge in the area is Engage Longford, seen as the festival’s curator. budding film-makers to collaborate and “We also want to organise an exhibition which is run by local artists as a vehicle “I think ‘project champion’ is a nicer term,” provide assistance for each other. It also where we have five visual artists working for procuring a permanent exhibition space, he laughs. “In the past few years, curators provides an opportunity for members to in various media contributing works, and while in the meantime also arranging seem to have become portrayed as being enhance their skills in all areas of film then invite five local contemporary writers exhibitions in temporary galleries to display more important than the artists, and I production. working in poetry and prose to create works not only by artists from the locality, don’t want that to happen!” “Late last year we ran a scriptwriting pieces of literature in response to the but from all around the country. Engage While no firm date is set for Longford course, which was very well received,” artworks they've seen. Longford held its debut show on Culture Lights at the time of writing, the aim is to Clarke says. “With the help of the Arts “There are also plans for an emerging Night 2013, and received an overwhelming hold it when the nights are long and the Office in Longford, we were able to bring artists’ exhibition, where four emerging response, with a large crowd turning out main festivals are long finished. in a professional scriptwriter by the name artists will be able to highlight their work, to view the exhibits. “We’re looking at doing the pilot version of the Laurence Henson, who is well- and in the second half of the year, there “The group was established to provide a in November 2014. I'm trying to prioritise respected and often lectures on the will be internal exhibitions in secondary platform to promote Longford as a hub for local artists and try and engage schools, subject, and the response was great. We schools, with the highlights going on to be visual art,” explains Engage Longford but I also want to invite some national had people travelling from as far as Sligo exhibited at the Atrium. There will be committee member and artist, Gary artists, too. The great thing is the public just to attend the course.” awards and prize-giving and guided tours Robinson. “Its fundamental objective is nature of it and that will be free.” Other such courses are in the works at of that exhibition, where the works will be to procure a permanent space in order to present, including a six-week digital film- interpreted for visitors.” provide exhibition opportunities for graduate making course, which Out-Take intends to Kennedy concludes by saying: “These and emerging artists within the county. host this spring. exhibitions will be funded by the Arts “An important element of our idea is to “The idea of the training programme is to Office and organised jointly with the include as many as possible in the arts in see if we can engage people who are Atrium Gallery.” Longford, to try and remove the barriers interested in shooting film with their that people may feel exist. cameras, but who have never collaborated “At first we plan to develop a programme with other film-makers or developed their of exhibitions that will have a local community skills, and who are interested in making aspect to it, in that we will host exhibitions the jump to making short fiction, by local photography, painting and PLC art documentaries or television programmes.” course students,” he continues. “These exhibitions are programmed and we hope that the community will take the opportunity to come and see the work that is being done by local artists. “We have an open call ready to go out to artists from all over the country, and based on the responses we get from this, a selection panel will programme a series of exhibitions over the course of 2014 and 2015.”

23 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014

portrait of

“I have been painting portraits for about heads,” explains the artist. He tells me that he didn’t know what to Nick Miller talks to 25 years and building them over that But, fans of his work may also get the expect when he started on that journey period of time. I have shown lots of chance to be up close and personal in Brooklyn and the same goes for the Angela Madden portraits in the past but people are with Miller. “Over the period of time Sligo-based artist’s foray into the probably not aware how long I have I am at the Art House there will be a Midlands. about taking up a been doing it or how big a thing it is for slightly more open engagement and me,” says Miller. there will be some opportunity to sit “I am looking forward to going to the residency at the for a painting but we are not exactly Midlands but it is really about the In Mid August 2014, Miller will undertake sure how this is going to work yet. people. It has the same interest for Laois Arthouse, an intensive 10-day residency at Art There will have to be some kind of me whether Stradbally or Brooklyn. House, Stradbally, County Laois building system in place,” Miller says. People are people,” he says. ”I do not Stradbally, Co Laois on his existing body of work in portrait have a preconceived notion of going painting at the invitation of Muireann Ní The theme for this residency follows to Stradbally and I like to leave it more this August. Chonaill, Arts Officer. from a special project he carried out open; I will meet people I do not know. in 2011 in Brooklyn, NYC. “I spent 40 I look forward to meeting people I do There will also be a lasting legacy from days painting a portrait a day,” explains not know. It is all fresh; I have no idea.” him as part of his residency will see him Miller. “In New York you are more paint oil portraits of two famous people guaranteed a steady supply of people Miller admits that being attracted to the from Laois for Laois County Council. The than you would be in Sligo or Laois. not knowing has something do to with first of those will be of the renowned People in New York have no fear about his character. “A lot of it for me, and this Portlaoise born sculptor, Cathy Carmen calling in and getting their portrait is how I have always worked, is about and the second subject is yet to be painted.” putting myself in a slightly awkward decided. “These will be two small situation that I have to paint my way out

24 an artist

of. I paint my way out of tricky uni I thought ‘oh God’ I should have “I like being there and recording; situations.” done art!” before adding “but, after a attempting to capture something in while I was pleased.” The reason he was a meeting, meeting them through Miller shares that his Father was also a pleased, he describes, was because his painting,” says Miller who adds that painter for 45 years “but a very work then developed in its own time and his way or working is open, welcoming. reclusive painter” and something he way without the knowledge that would “It is very open, it is not set, it is not came to in mid life. But, this was not have come with the formal study of art. cool or closed.” such an influential force on Miller’s And, he was also glad because at least chosen career as you might he knew about what I knew from his At the end of the week the public automatically imagine but somehow course. “I felt that if I did not know will be able to pop along and view the was intertwined in his. “I was almost about that then I would maybe know portraits Miller has painted during his leaving when he started painting. Yet, nothing at all!” residency will run in conjunction with our paths are similar but different. I do a show at Art House of Miller’s work not know who got there first but feel we And he adds that in some ways it was from the collection of the Irish Museum developed in parallel.” However, Miller harder for those who had gone through of Modern Art curated by Laois Arts does say that he “learned a lot” from his art college to find themselves, so to Officer, Muireann Ní Chonaill. Father’s work as he was “older, more speak. “They are more professionalized More information at www.nickmiller.ie thoughtful”. in a way.” Nick Miller is represented in Ireland by Miller likes the engagement that the Art Rubicon Gallery Dublin. Funnily enough it took Miller a while to House residency will afford him - the www.rubicongallery.ie realize he wanted to be an artist too “shared meeting” where people engage Further details from Muireann Ní Chonaill, and he went off to uni to read with him, meeting him for the first time Arts Officer at [email protected] Development Studies. “Mid way through as he paints their character. Telephone: 057 8664109

25 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014

Q: Like Patrick Kavanagh, there is a rural theme in a lot of your work, how did you find growing up on a farm in Westmeath influenced and shaped your poetry? A: The midland farmlands were full of interesting people with their own idiosyncrasies along the Face-to Face- roads and often turns of speech to match. A very interesting place linguistically; traces of Chaucer in everyday Hiberno-English talk as well as Irish and Old Norse. “Education” has killed a lot of this; thankfully, traces remain. The fields were simultaneously drudgery and freedom. Q: What poets influenced you growing up and when was it that you began to write poetry yourself? JOHN A: Neighbour Kathleen Flanagan brought the Collected Poems of Milton into the kitchen for me when I was barely a teenager. I read Book One of Paradise Lost at one sitting and was so “full” I’d to take a walk in the fields. My father read me nursery rhymes as a toddler. I remember at his knee distinctly hearing his “John, m’lad, ENNIS the sergeant said...” Aunt Judy gave me Curly Wee and Gussy Goose when all I could do was scribble. A year later I could manage to follow its jaunty rhythms and was furious with the pencil whirls I’d made on the book a year earlier. As a kid, I devoured comics and swopped these with friends like Jimmy Reid, my cousin, James Gorman and Harry Whelehan. No TV in the 1950s, my parents read the night away, and I read everything that came into the house, - westerns, romances and stories from World War 11. My parents did not exercise censorship and if they weren’t reading they were swopping stories with others who rambled in at night like Harry O’Hara. As a teenager, I remember declaiming Wordsworth in the fields. I began to write poetry

As award-winning poet John Ennis gets ready to celebrate his 70th birthday in May, the Midlands Arts and Culture magazine wonders what makes the squat pen rest snug as a gun.

26 under the eye of Professor Sean appointed Head of Department music, in particular the concept feature on a website, where any Lucy while at UCC. Sean was a and later Head of School. Roller and wordless renditions of Von, or reader interested is welcome to fine poet. coaster years! In the college in Vonlenska (Sound of Hope Music) leave a comment. Arising out of 1970, we literally started with a where the listener can attempt to that exercise, which mimics the Q: Having won numerous awards for green field and a building on it articulate, if he or she wishes, his original oral context of poetry, I’d your work, such as the Patrick locals pointed to as the White or her own thoughts in response hope to bring out more work. Kavanagh Award and The Listowel Elephant on the Cork Road. The or simply let the music wash over Poetry Prize, how much do you Q: What would you say to aspiring Department intended the new like waves of the sea. The feel these awards and that type or poets and writers who are unsure college to remain on the lowest celebratory poems in Postponing recognition matter to a poet? how to get started? rung of the new RTCs with its Asbyrgi come from my response. A: Unfortunately, there are never A: Get started! Keep going. As students numbered in hundreds enough awards to go round. Many Q: How much does music influence Hopkins noted, your utterance is (not the multiple thousands it now excellent writers win nothing, your poetry and your style? yours, unique, you’re here for that. serves). But Waterford, with the except the all-important A: I’m fascinated with all styles or Talk easy, write easy. Certainly embers of Ireland’s most ancient recognition of their peers. They families of music. “It don’t mean a there’s an element of bending city still glowing in its soul, made keep with the task in hand. With thing, if it ain’t got that swing”, so your back to the task. You won’t an act of faith in the College, and me, when our kids were young, a says the great Duke of jazz. The be able to spread a bank of turf in we for our part did our damnest to Listowel win was expected: not if, same applies to any poem. If the Winetown without stretching to have the city realise its dream, - but when are we going to Listowel, “swing” is not evident from the turn the first sod, but you’ll soon University! By the time I retired in they were fussed over and there first line, the poet has got a dud. work to rhythm. Read plenty, 2009, the area I was responsible was Ballybunion and lots of ice especially those writers you like: for, Humanities with over twenty Q: And, what of the midlands? Does cream. At Listowel, they said I was examine, clinically, how they degrees, had grown to be the its nature and landscape speak in the winners’ enclosure so often, achieve their hold on you and try largest among the four Schools. I to you? if I were a horse I’d be cast in to do it yourself. If you workshop, was particularly pleased so many A: More and more I’d say. Memories bronze. let it be guided by someone with a midlanders came to Waterford. and associations long buried by the good track record. Otherwise, it’s Q: Seamus Heaney famously Delighted also that Irish and world of work re-assert themselves. equivalent to being taught music described you as ‘One of Ireland’s English are now firmly embedded Getting on, one attempts to tie up by a musician, who can’t play. most undeservedly neglected on the BA Degree. Of late, I’ve the loose ends with one hand and Learn your trade, as Yeats said. poets’. While Seamus Heaney been involved in some gratis celebrate with the other. It’s Learn the rudiments of IT, was world-renowned for his tutorial work with English, exploring suddenly struck me, there’s so particularly those aspects that poetry, is this something you feel with students all over again the much to see, that’s unseen, in relate to word processing, you have unfairly missed out on? pleasures of Wordsworth and one’s own county or neck of the preparation of manuscripts, A: Not at all. The Nobel Award Winner Creative Writing is part of their woods. According to Yeats a poet websites and blogging (the social wrote that in the mid-eighties Programme. Not forgetting your could explore the corner of just one media). Happily now there are lots when I’d four books to my credit. last question, - poetry is always field profitably over a lifetime. But a of outlets online (apart from That’s risen to 14 - not to mention there for the listening to or reading, Russian proverb also states that to established journals) for young a place in numerous anthologies. in the speech patterns of those go through life is not as simple as poets. Seek them all out. Let Being chosen substantially to be round us, in text messages as crossing a field. The contemporary every rejection, or sorry! received among the band that constitutes much as in slim or collected needs to be fully embraced. be the excuse to write another The Harvard Anthology of volumes. I’d just as ready read a Q: What is next for you? poem. Above all, don’t lose a Contemporary Irish Poetry (2010) lyric by Bressie on the inside cover A: Well, I’ve just completed a sense of joy or wonder at what was a real pleasure. of his CD as open a poetry book. sequence of poems in praise of you create, but remember a Q: You have worked as an academic Q: Your publication Postponing Pussy Riot Nine Lives We Hope poem, or anything creative, is for 40 years. What appeals to you Asbyrgi is a collection of poems and published it on a blogspot never finished, just abandoned. in teaching? Do you feel that inspired by the music of Sigur online. I’m always amazed by the The work merely gives the there is a need for a resurgence Ros, how did that come about? courage and fortitude of young appearance of being finished. of interest in poetry? A: Just by chance, the documentary people. Nadya and Masha, in daily After eleven years working on A: Waterford gave me a job and Heima (Home) came across the TV danger of their lives, put the plight Ulysses, Joyce was still rushing off security. By way of return I put my screen: the four lads (accompanied of others first. Since retirement in textual changes by telegram the back into the work there. I spent by the four women of Amiina) were 2009, my manuscript sequences morning the novel went to print. ten years teaching and the playing some of the remotest have been queuing up. As I Da Vinci was still working on the subsequent thirty in academic spots imaginable in Iceland as approach my 70th birthday on May Mona Lisa when his patron called administration, being first part of a Takk (Thanks) 11, I’m getting these ready to to take it away. homecoming tour. I liked the

IN WAVES BEFORE THEM HAPPINESS for my parents After the track of the same name on Riceboy Sleeps where Jónsi and Alex celebrate their love Their kindness goes before them out in waves she taking the best fireplace coals to break them Because I’m deaf by percentages in both ears in fiery circles for underneath the bread ovens Well, seventy in the left and thirty in the right the dough in floury circles over on the table Since the Meniére’s in ninety-five left its scar crosses index-fingered on them. And the names I like to motor alone wherever by day or night on each wheaten cake already, one for her own, The fiat sedici radio blasting trailing Hengilás those she sets by for the kids of a neighbour for Window way down blasting through Ballyragget whatever reason, left unsaid, but real, she knows. Everyone asleep preferably and if the sky’s And he, before the apple walk breaks into blossom Anyway clement and not the usual get drills opened at its side, manure spread, potash Up of anvilled heaven hammering on Orri metal obligatory, sows potato seed as hard as crabs. Leave the window that way. Before I settle Later blossoms, like her cakes come down to this: To the Massey stereo and the old CD codger that fell off it she to break each day the pain barriers of hunger Settle in the riceboys where I sleep. Pleasant it is then, no heart scald he, with Queens, and he not getting any younger. Hearing young Daniel bringing down Heysátan in the next field. Soon we’ll talk, share a few words among ourselves. Love it.

27 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014

“with the right management, people with Bipolar Disorder can SLAMMING lead successful and fulfilling lives.” DOORS OPEN MICS SEEK Richard Brennan writes about the art of slam poetry and plans AND YOU for a first of its type event in Tullamore this year. SHALL FIND

An Arts and Health Project in Offaly is to both the science and reality of living with be rolled out nationally, with Athlone Bipolar Disorder. Institute of Technology using it as an educational resource for trainee psychiatric Keaveny remarks: “When I heard about nurses and the HSE entering it into the the guide I knew that it would translate Crystal Clear Health Awards. really well into moving images and given the lack of ‘user friendly’ information At a time when more and more people are around mental health issues it was a experiencing mental health issues or are positive opportunity to work proactively in supporting a friend or family member who this area.” has been diagnosed, a recent partnership project between The Attic Therapy Centre, By showing a mental health condition from Tullamore and Offaly-based arts and health an honest and user-friendly perspective, organisation Anam Beo has been developed the booklet and DVD are focused on specifically about Bipolar Disorder. empowering patients, families and carers Upstairs in a pub, downstairs in a café, or on Due to its origins and evolution, it incorporates to improve their knowledge and provide a stage in a tent in a field, slam poetry is an elements of stand up comedy, hip hop, Carrie Byrne (Clinical Nurse Manager and mutual support and information from S exciting and growing performance art form. and physical theatre. Art Therapist at the centre) explains the other service users who have been development of the project: “At the time of through difficult times and have had The rules are pretty simple: it must be your I attended my first poetry slam last October in a Bipolar Disorder diagnosis or when a positive outcomes. own work, you must recite it from memory, the International Bar in Wicklow Street. person is unwell they aren’t in a suitable no props or soundtracks allowed, and you Fellow Tullamore Rhymer, Cormac Lally, position to take in the information they are The project also aimed to address the have a maximum three minutes in which and I signed up for the Leinster heat of being given or to ask questions. After a questions that friends and family of to perform. the All-Ireland Poetry Slam, along with 20 service user led Bipolar Disorder support someone newly diagnosed may have in or so other competitors. When your name group was established at the centre it language that is both understandable and The pieces usually rhyme, but not always. informative, such as, ‘What is Bipolar The themes run the gamut of human was called out, you made your way to the became evident that families and clients stage and performed your piece, following were in a place of isolation and started to Disorder?’ ‘How Is Bipolar Disorder experience, from the politically subversive Diagnosed?’ M to the comically absurd. It’s a daunting the guidelines mentioned in the first ask if there was ‘something informative’ and ‘user friendly’ available that they prospect, as the performer must be able to paragraph. A curious feature of slam poetry For further information about the Bipolar could ‘take home and digest.” hold his or her audience’s attention by is that the audience members click their Disorder Support Group and for copies of dint of his or her voice and words alone. fingers furiously if they like a particular line or Over three months, Anam Beo artist the SEEK (A Guide to Bipolar Disorder) phrase, rather than applauding and booklet and 20 minute DVD contact The It is an art form that seems to suit the Rowena Keaveny, together with 25 other thereby interrupting the performer. participants and five staff members at The Attic Therapy Centre on 05793 60510 or Irish sensibility particularly well: the bard, see www.anambeo.wordpress.com the sean nos, the storyteller, the barstool Audiences are (usually) respectfully silent Attic Therapy Centre illustrated, photographed, animated and recorded voiceovers for the philosopher, even the bit of banter as you The project received support funding from 20 minute animated short film and buy the paper at your local shop. We like A curious feature of Lundbeck + Janssen and The Community booklet, SEEK (Support, Empowerment, Foundation for Ireland. to talk and, judging by the crowds Education & Knowledge) which explores attending such events, we like to listen. slam poetry is that the Spoken word has been around for a long audience members time of course, and societies through the Galway in December. ages have always loved and revered a click their fingers There are numerous slam poetry events talented orator, none more so than pre furiously if they like a nationwide, with more being added all the Christian Gaelic society. However, slam time. Many of these events are open mic, poetry and spoken word as a modern particular line or whereby you turn up at the venue at the cultural phenomenon can trace its DNA phrase appointed time, put your name on a list, back to the beatniks and African American and wait to be summoned to the stage by underground of the 1960s. Indeed the the MC. It is a priceless opportunity to test first emergence of this new art form into “what can during the performance, and noisily your mettle, hone your craft, and gauge your mainstream consciousness was arguably supportive afterwards, and the experience work in front of a live audience. Gil Scott Heron’s spoken word piece The family & at the International was wonderful, indeed Often, these events are held in a non Revolution will not be Televised, released Cormac made it to the semi-final stage. in 1971. licensed premises (eg a café), thereby friends do I was struck by the variety, the vivid language, permitting younger slam poets to perform. Slam poetry in a competitive setting the innovative styles and stage presence on The Tullamore Rhymers Club intends to run to help.” emerged in the mid 1980s in Chicago in display. It is remarkable how spellbound the first poetry slam of its type in the the USA, and has grown since to become one can become by a solitary performer midlands in 2014, featuring local and a global phenomenon. It largely exists reciting on a small stage under a spotlight, national performers and an open mic. M outside of the academic and institutional weaving a tale from rhyme, rhythm, domains of the universities and publishing movement and timing. industry and has evolved as an outlet for Please check Tullamore Rhymers Club The eventual winner, John Cummins, went Facebook page for further details or email people of all ages and backgrounds to express [email protected] their views, experiences, and emotions. on to win the All-Ireland event, held in 28 WINNING PANEL 2013 Drogheda Photographic Club

GOLD MEDAL WINNER MONOCHROME SECTION IPF NATIONAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 2013 Molly by Adrian Parkinson – SNAP Drogheda Photographic Club HAPPY Mullingar snap happy with national photographic championships

The Irish Photographic Federation National formal qualifications and have their work Club Championship is set for Mullingar assessed by panels of very experienced County Buildings and Mullingar Arts and accomplished photographers. Centre from May 17–18. Each candidate will put forward either Ireland’s leading camera clubs and 10, 15 or 20 images depending on the photography societies will come level they are being assessed at and with together to compete for the IPF Rose usually 50-60 applicants, there will be Bowl trophy with the winners taking thousands of photographs on display away the title of Top Irish Club. over the course of the weekend. Over the course of the weekend Ireland’s Along with the competition and distinctions best photographers will display their sittings, there will be a number of smaller best work in the atrium of the Mullingar events with further details to be available County Buildings. shortly on the IPF website. M On show will be the work of camera club members who have won numerous medals and commendations at exhibitions and salons all across the globe including this year's Bronze medal at the FIAP Clubs World Cup, Drogheda Photographic Club. Along with the display of photographs ADMISSION IS FREE For further information see: http://irishphoto.ie/ from the competition, there will also be GOLD MEDAL WINNER a distinctions sitting on the Saturday, facebook.com/irishphotofederation COLOUR SECTION May 17, where photographers from any twitter.com/#!/irish_photo or email [email protected] IPF NATIONAL CLUB photographic background will seek to gain CHAMPIONSHIP 2013 Fairy Princess by Michael O’Sullivan Cork Camera Group Irish Photographic Federation National Club Championship 2013 – Atrium, Mullingar County Buildings Credit: Derek Clarke, Tallaght Photographic Society

29 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014

2014 EVENTS AT hogg’s Belvedere House Gardens latest exhibition & Park takes us on a journey of Recent Works Saturday 10th May Bat Walk with Bat by Thomas Byrne APRIL 2014 Conservation Ireland Saturday 5th April Illustrated talk on Bats, dispelling all of the Upon entering this latest exhibition of entitled, Personal Totem (2010 – 2011), myths and detailing just how marvellous Bat Walk with Bat work by artist Gavin Hogg, entitled its significance could be that of the these tiny mammals really are. Followed Recent Works, one of the most creative person’s need for periodic renewal Conservation Ireland by guided bat walk. Entry is free, donations Illustrated talk on Bats, dispelling all of if desired to Bat Conservation Ireland. striking features is actually the use and rebirth in order to maintain growth. the myths and detailing just how marvellous Wednesday 14th May and application of colour throughout One could interpret another latent image these tiny mammals really are. Followed 5km Mullingar Road League, the series writes Thomas Byrne. within the squall of lines to be something by guided bat walk. Entry is free, donations Oscillating between a vibrant and a if desired to Bat Conservation Ireland. within grounds of Belvedere. For more approximating a medieval sea chart – details (times etc) Mullingar Harriers dark palette, it is almost as though most saliently in Beneath (2010 – Saturday 12th April Athletics Club www.mullingarharriers.com the artist intends for it to serve as a 2011), which is perhaps the beginning Tony Miceli Modern Jazz Quartet Wednesday 21st May kind of visual iambic meter – a of a perilous journey by Hogg into the Door open at 7.30 for 8pm show. 5km Mullingar Road League, rhythm for a new artistic language. unexplored regions of his own psyche. Sunday 20th April within grounds of Belvedere. For more It could even be construed as an echo of The individual pieces have a curiously Easter Sunday 2014 – details (times etc) Mullingar Harriers a similar trial undertaken by Jung who once Athletics Club www.mullingarharriers.com period feel to them – evocative of the embarked upon his own transformative Easter Egg Hunt At 12 noon sharp. Meet the Easter Fin de Siècle – and resemble what one Night Sea Journey and Nekyia. Sunday 18th May, 4am could imagine to be decorative motifs Bunny and join in the hunt for Dawn Chorus from the famous Swiss psychoanalyst In Repeating Patterns (2010 – 2012), thousands of eggs and golden tickets. with BirdWatch Ireland – Carl Jung’s office – one whose work, the dragons are reconfigured as Monday 21st April Fri 23rd, Sat 24th & Sun 25th May incidentally, seems to have been a treacherous vines in a dark and Easter Monday – Life Music Festival source of inspiration for the artist. foreboding surface world, which is home Easter Egg Hunt Award winning three day camping music to a ferocious tiger – itself a mass of festival, capacity 5,000 people. Reduced I do not use ‘decorative’ pejoratively, At 12 noon sharp. Meet the Easter linear patterns. It is through the use of Bunny and join in the hunt for area of Belvedere parkland, including however, for many of the works on display these fierce totems that the notion of thousands of eggs and golden tickets. House & Walled Garden will remain incorporate what appear to be wallpaper the ‘Daemon’ becomes evident – the open to public (TBC). patterns in their construction. idea that residing within is a motive, www.thelife-festival.com creative force that compels us to fulfil MAY 2014 Free entry event. In focussing my attention beyond the Wednesday 28th May superficial, though, they gradually reveal our individual destinies. Wednesday 7th May 5km Mullingar Road League, more complex forces at play. In the course of his journeying and 5km Mullingar Road League, within grounds of Belvedere. For more within grounds of Belvedere. For more It would seem that the repetition and also investigations, the artist realises that he details (times etc) Mullingar Harriers details (times etc) Mullingar Harriers the deconstruction of patterns serve as is subject to the will of these mysterious Athletics Club forces and must simply behold their Athletics Club www.mullingarharriers.com a sort-of scrying pool for the unconscious www.mullingarharriers.com mind – a place where the primordial, terrible majesty and triumph – Dancing universal images more commonly Demons (2011), would seem to indicate For more details on any of the above referred to as ‘archetypes’ reside. humble acquiescence on his part. events phone Belvedere House Gardens & Park, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath Indeed, the various motifs have – in a The final piece, Ma Jolie (2011), seems to 044-9349060 or check out strangely contradictory way – a sense of reflect on the idea of destination and takes a www.belvedere-house.ie autonomy about them. semiotic approach involving used rail tickets. The piece is threaded by a blossoming briar The dragon is a recurring element too, with and the peeling away of defunct patterns to its vague resemblance to the Ouroboros – reveal a mire of uncertainty but one that an alchemical symbol of a serpent could also represent a primordial pool of consuming its own tail, which represents new possibilities. the cyclical nature of life. In his piece

30 museum keeps Luan tradition of Gallery embroidery alive event listing... APRIL

Once a 17th Century Quaker The convent was gifted a trunk of New Gallery settlement, Mountmellick’s Mountmellick patterns and Sr Teresa TOM FITZ Margaret dedicated her retirement to Closes Sunday 25 April developed into a thriving developing and reviving the embroidery industrial town in the 1800’s to the world stage. River Gallery culminating in it being called She travelled the length and breadth TIM MANN of Ireland promoting Mountmellick Closes Sunday 25 April the Manchester of Ireland. Embroidery and thanks to her Mountmellick today is better known for perseverance it is now known and Library Gallery lending its name to the unique form of appreciated worldwide again. GARY ROBINSON Irish White on White embroidery called Mountmellick Development Association Closes Sunday 25 April Mountmellick Work – the only form of is committed to keeping this craft alive embroidery from the 19th century that by providing a home for the extensive can claim to be entirely Irish in origin MAY collection of embroidery both donated to and design. and purchased by the association and New Gallery Bold designs of local flora and fauna such every Tuesday night from September to as blackberries, dog rose, wild clematis CATHERINA HEARNE March the Museum holds a drop-in class Opens Fri 2 May viola and fuchsia were used and the for all skill levels from beginner to embroidery was carried out on white satin advanced. River Gallery jean using white cotton thread and was For further information contact used to decorate household items such The Museum Craft Shop carries a wide Mountmellick Museum call 057 8624525, NAOMI VONA see www.mountmellickdevelopment.com, Opens Fri 2 May as nightdress cases, pillow shams, quilts range of books along with the specialised email: [email protected] or visit and sideboard cloths. fabric, tread, needles and patterns required. The shop also showcases a Facebook page. Library Gallery Created in the 1820’s when there was a wide range of local crafts from the Laois SEAN GUINAN world revival of embroidery and lace making, area, where customers can see first Opens Fri 2 May this ‘new’ style combined the draughting hand the quality and diversity of the and embroidery skills usually taught to local crafts people, all of which are cultured ladies of that period. available for sale. JUNE Girls in the Quaker School were instructed You can also commission a piece of New Gallery in the embroidery as a way to earn money Mountmellick Embroidery though for their books. CATHERINA HEARNE the Museum. Closes Sunday 29 June A Government report of 1858 states that the needlework was taught in the River Gallery Mountmellick Quaker School in both NAOMI VONA fancy and plain designs. Commercially Closes Sunday 29 June the first known sale of Mountmellick Work was in 1847 and this was a quilt Library Gallery sold to the Earl of Dunraven, Limerick SEAN GUINAN and currently on loan to the Museum. Closes Sunday 29 June Embroidery became a popular hobby for ladies of the Vitorian era. Between 1880 and 1898 Weldon Publishers of London JULY produced four volumes entitled Weldon’s New Gallery Practical Mountmellick Embroidery and a popular US publication Needlecraft NILAND COLLECTION Practical Journal also featured the craft. Open Friday 4 July This led to a major interest in the work River Gallery and it was taken up by women throughout NILAND COLLECTION the country and as a consequence it Opens Friday 4 July ceased to be a local craft. Then around 1880 a Mrs Milner started Library Gallery an Industrial Association in Mountmellick NILAND COLLECTION to provide a livelihood for distressed Opens Friday 4 July gentlewomen and at its peak there were upwards of 50 women employed in producing the embroidery. During the early 1900’s combined with the effects of the World War 1 and the introduction of machine embroidery interest declined and the craft was only practiced by a handful of women. Much of the credit for reviving Mountmellick Work lies with the late Sr Teresa Margaret McCarthy, who discovered this craft during her time with the presentation sisters in Mountmellick.

31 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014

interwoven with the poetry of FR Higgins, The Delamine String Quartet: l-r Robert Pierce ‘Cello, Elaine Rice, read by actor Michael James Ford. Intended violin, Vanessa Sweeney, viola, Philip Dodd, violin. The Quartet has to celebrate the recent revival of the poetry studied with the Vanburgh String Quartet and attended master classes with the Medici and Alberni Quartets. The Quartet performs of Higgins as a result of the publication a range of works, primarily from the classical and romantic period. of a new collection of his poems, (Father and Son – The Selected Poems of FR Higgins is published 2013 by Arlen House) the string-voice quintet will perform again the next day at Higginsbrook House in county Meath, the former home of this remarkable Irish poet. Proceeds for that concert will go to An Taisce. FR Higgins is the grand uncle of Philip Dodd, the leader of the Delmaine quartet. Dodd spends half of his life just a few minutes stroll from Lockeen, falling in love with Offaly in 2004 and spending as much time as he can there ever since. Talking with neighbours Hazel Perdue and Peter Whyte a plan to work to restore the windows evolved and indeed to hold a concert in their honour, in parallel restoring the work of Higgins, whose work has not been performed aloud in some years. Joshua Clarke (c1868–1921), who made the windows, was the father of the better-known Harry Clarke. The windows are tall and slender depicting winding rose coloured passion-flowers, twisting their tightly sprung tendrils, and climbing the branch of a tree. Dodd brought the project to the Sweeneys – he had led the Martello trio in the concert at Fancroft in 2013 – and given the floral subject matter of the windows and the success of the venue, Midsummer Music another concert at Fancroft was planned. Local effort, community spirit and people passionate about the place in which they possible by arrangement to both the live, have been key to sustaining the built gardens and the mill, where you can and natural landscape in Ireland – with at the Mill see the mill working and marvel at the Fancroft, we are reminded that these exquisite timber joinery. things clearly play a significant role in Offaly-base architect Emmet of Lockeen, as an emerging venue for Seminars on the Quaker history of the mill supporting and sustaining the arts too. the arts in Offaly. In July 2013, Fancroft Scanlon writes of music, took place in both 2012 and 2013, and M celebrating the poetry of FR hosted the Martello Piano trio in an the mill has been a participating venue evening concert to raise funds for Roscrea in the national Culture Night initiative. Midsummer at the Mill will take place at Higgins, stained glass windows Fancroft Mill and Gardens on the evening Hospice playing piano works by Beethoven Indeed the mill building lends itself to and Fancroft Mill. of June 21, 2014. Booking essential. For and Debussy. Now in June 2014, Fancroft being a venue for an arts audience, either will host an evening of music and poetry, further information and to book contact Local effort, community spirit and people upstairs or down, with a stroll through Marcus and Irene Sweeney on 0505 passionate about the place in which they with proceeds going towards the restoration the elegant and fragrant summer gardens of the Lockeen windows. 31484 or [email protected]. live, have been key to sustaining the providing an idyllic preparation, setting www.fancroft.ie built and natural landscape in Ireland. Marcus and Irene Sweeney who moved and background to the music played or Scanlon is currently leading a study of An exciting new project to restore the to Fancroft in 2006, know a thing or two words spoken. Daingean town and its landscape with Joshua Clarke-made stained glass about restoration. They have worked The June concert should suit the venue March students from the School of windows in Lockeen Church, just five tirelessly and with great commitment to perfectly when the Delmaine String Quartet Architecture, University College Dublin. minutes outside Birr proves this, as the restore dignity to the mill and to sustain will play music by Haydn and Dvorak, project has become a collective focus for the beautiful gardens. In 2010, with the a variety of individuals each determined help of specialist German craftsmen a the windows survive. new set of millstones were installed and The project is reinforcing Fancroft Mill the mill became fully functional for the and gardens, situated just 20km east first time in 60 years. Visits are now DREAMS Adolescents are collaborating with by Mary Bracken professional artists to develop new artworks based on their ideas, interests Helium and experiences using the visual arts, A lovely way to spend storytelling, puppetry, photography, film- time Children’s Art and Health making and animation. The project Sweets become gold organisation leads the way encourages self-expression and social Impossibilities become interaction, and helps participants to realities regain a sense of control and choice Teenage patients across the country are settings launched the Cloudlands project in November Wishes become real over their lives. 2012 and will continue until July 2015. taking part in Cloudlands, the first arts Everything is possible A unique aspect of the project is the use and technology project in Irish hospitals Now in its second year, the project is funded by BNP Live you’re deepest, designed especially for young people of technology to involve teenagers in isolation Paribas’ Smart Start Foundation, The Arts Council, deepest aged 12–18 years by arts and health units who are unable to interact with their Dublin City Council, The Community Foundation for organisation Helium. peers due to the risk of infection. Helium Ireland and Galway University Hospital Arts Trust. M Desire for a few hours has developed a secure online platform Cloudlands is a creative project for This is what dreams are where teenagers can share their work adolescents who have to spend long See www.helium.ie or find Helium Children's Arts and Health made of and collaborate across hospitals. periods of time in hospital, often in wards on Facebook. with much younger children and with Westmeath-based Helium, an arts and To order a copy of Colours of Life email little in the way of creative stimulation. health organisation dedicated to the [email protected] or visit Jenny’s Kitchen, Tullamore; wellbeing of young people in Irish healthcare Midlands Books Tullamore or Balcony Books Tullamore.

32 “I clock the biggest lad and that’s fine! When I started first I responded to every heckle, whereas now I’m a bit more professional as I’m the one with the microphone”

NEIL DELAMERE SMART BOMB TOUR by Ann Marie Kelly

Because of my own height, it’s always panel partner is Colm Murphy who he It goes right back to basics which is biggest lad and that’s fine! When I started nice to meet a famous person who’s has worked with on The Panel and The what he loves and says, “keeps him on first I responded to every heckle, whereas nearly as small as you are. There he Blame Game and they call each other his toes”. The show will see him interact now I’m a bit more professional as I’m was, standing in the foyer of the Heritage ‘comedy wives’. with the audience. the one with the microphone,“ he says. Hotel, Portlaoise when I realised I had met him before. A familiar face and a He enjoys playing the young culchie on Delamere believes he attracts a certain He comes back to his hometown of warm smile. He fits right in with the guy panel shows, he says, but the hard graft kind of person to his shows, recalling Edenderry a lot where his dad is a you could have gone to school with is actually sitting down and writing one particular audience member who perennial source of amusement for him. but didn’t. stand-up. was a paramedic in Carlow. He speaks fondly of one of the finest heckles he ever got when he wasn’t Neil Delamere is from the midlands – an Delamere explains that, though he has “This guy” he explains, “had to pull a actually on a stage but was walking Edenderry man who still visits as often yet to write his show for the Edinburgh plastic bag out of a man’s arse”. He got through an audience after doing a gig as he can. No stranger to travel, (his last Fringe Festival this August, it had to be a great kick out of this guy because he for the Lions Club in Edenderry. “This documentary There’s something about given its title for the listings in March. could keep coming back to him throughout man shouted up ‘you know your dad is Patrick saw him travel the length and And, so, given that he had to provide a the show asking him, “had he paid the funnier than you’ll ever be’. But he’s breadth of Ireland in search of the truth title before he had written the actual plastic bag levy?” and “was it a Tesco right,” says a giggling Delamere. about St Patrick) you could say he is show he named it Smartbomb! bag?” and so on. He thinks audiences remember these people and incidents He uses plenty of characters from Ireland’s busiest comedian both on and Smartbomb is all about the run-ins he off-screen. He works with RTÉ and BBC as opposed to the show itself. Edenderry in his sketches and that’s has had with six different people (including why it’s a pleasure doing gigs in in programmes such as The Panel and a taxi driver, a nurse and the person He speaks fondly of PJ Kavanagh’s in The Blame Game and also features as a Tullamore and Portlaoise coming back who renovated his house). I’m intrigued Portlaoise where he loves trialling his from being abroad, he explains. “You’ve guest radio presenter on RTÉ Radio 1 as to why he didn’t like the nurse, but new gags and sketches in their early and Today FM. all had the same experiences, you’ll he quickly points out he has no problems stages as he thinks it’s like “comedy in have all been in the same nightclubs, So, where does he get time for stand–up? with nurses, just the one particular nurse the war, where you’re in thick of it and and you’ve all celebrated your Junior who was overworked and told him when what won’t work there, will not work on and Leaving Cert all the same way and “Being on stage is my first love,” he says he asked to see his grandmother, “No a big stage”. He can analyse and learn it if you’re winging something in particular but admits he loves the great sense of your Granny will be radioactive for a at the same time, he says and it’s where the references are just there. You can camaraderie that surrounds the panel couple of hours”. he hones and crafts his sketches. do something about O’Moore Park, shows. “It’s like a football team. You get Richie Kavanagh or Joe Dolan. And of to know how people work, their Smartbomb, he says, is going back to And how does he respond to hecklers? course we all the love the familiar.” M cadences and their tones.” His favourite his previous tours before he used props. “With a hammer!” he says. “I clock the

33 Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2014

Eileen Casey Tea haiku’s Snowflakes falling fresh writes on the allure Infusing scented mornings Patricia Hurl reflects of tea in her poetry My father’s eyebrow Pathways broadening on the practice of and finding herself Thin twigs crackle underfoot published in the Man running, airborne Lynne Hoare and It comes into view America poetry Floats on tides of porcelain urges the recognition journal, Jelly Bucket. A ship in full sail Sepia shadings of her work. Billowing on the world’s rim Leaf on leaf on leaf Elephant roses Ivories boned on petals small Trunk up, lifting sky landscapes at the bottom of the tea cup “In 2009, I was given the gift of Iranian Alice in Wonderland, or Oscar Wilde’s America, to the Eastern Kentucky tea leaves by my great friend Sam Tavakoli The Importance of Being Earnest being University Press and received in the who lives in Lisburn. I immediately was prime examples. In visual art, Mary post the other day, the most beautiful drawn to the images which emerged at Cassatt’s impressionistic The Cup of journal with my little ‘masterpieces’ the bottom of my teacup. I called them Tea represents a social custom that over a two page spread in Jelly Bucket. ‘small landscapes,’ and they had huge Cassatt revisited many times in her What’s the point? Never give up on creative potential as far as I was paintings. your artistic vision. concerned. Since that time, I’ve George Orwell’s essay, A Nice Cup of You can never get a cup of tea large faithfully recorded my tealeaf images Tea, (Evening Standard, 1946) sets enough or a book long enough to suit and have written a number of forth his views on the drinking of tea me. CS Lewis M poems/haiku. and which particular flavours to buy; In May, 2013, I facilitated a Grundtvig “One should use Indian or Ceylonese tea. Eileen Casey is a poet, fiction writer and Seminar in Odense, Denmark. My tea China tea has virtues which are not to journalist. She facilitates creative writing presentation was well received and be despised nowadays – it is economical, classes for adults. Drinking the Colour Blue recognised as having lots of potential. and one can drink it without milk – but (New Island Poetry) and Snow Shoes (Arlen What I set out to do is to create the there is not much stimulation in it.” For House Fiction) are two of her collections. Two space to explore story in its many Orwell, ‘a nice cup of tea,’ invariably of her poems are featured in The City of shapes and forms. What better way to means Indian tea. Literature One City/One Book choice for 2014, If Every You Go, (Dedalus Press). These poems bring characters to life than through this I sent my tealeaf images to lots of outlets familiar and much loved ritual. are rooted in The Midlands. She received a in Ireland, each time they were rejected, Hennessy Literary Award (Emerging Fiction), Literature and tea fit together as easily but still believing in the power of tea I 2010 and a Katherine and Patrick Kavanagh In August of 2013, Lynne Hoare’s as cup and saucer – Lewis Carol’s was at last rewarded. I sent them to Fellowship in 2011. exhibition ‘Structures of Devotion at the Amuseoleum’ was shown in Birr, Co. Offaly. This was awarded by Birr Theatre and Arts Work from Middle Centre to take place during Birr Shows There’s More to the Midlands Than Meets the Eye Vintage Week & Arts Festival and National Heritage Week.

“Often perceived as a wearily protracted “A Sense of Place, interests me greatly. Artists involved are Eoin Ó Conaill, Lynne chose to exhibit in John’s Hall, a obstacle between Dublin and the west; When I read the opening lines to the Jock Nichol, Ken Wardrop, miniature Greek ionic temple which was in the days before motorways, a slow article by Michael Viney, from his weekly Lisa Fingleton, Saidhbhín Gibson, built in the early 1800’s by the second ticking off of dull little towns on a lot of weekend Irish Times column, it made Simon Burch and Vera McEvoy. M Earl of Rosse, in memory of his son. flattish land drained by sluggish rivers; me question the varying clichés and It sits in the middle of John’s Mall, a Laois Art House, Strabally, presents more lately a whizz between video-game viewpoints held on the Midlands of splendid streetscape lined by Georgian verges, with nowhere in sight to pee.” Ireland,” says Muireann Ní Chonaill, Arts Work from the Middle which runs from February 27 to March 20. The Houses. The opening was thronged with Michael Viney, the Irish Times, Saturday Officer of Laois County Council who is exhibition is open from 1–4pm daily visitors and we had to inch our way May 18, 2013. From his weekly column the Curator for this exhibition. She adds but can be viewed outside these hours around, brushing against huge constructions entitled, Another Life, article entitled, that there is more to the Midlands than by special request. Further details can made from Lynne’s collection of old Laois and Offaly, I take it all back. meets the eye - apart from the varying be found by contacting the Laois Arts letters, posters, newspapers and landscape, the highlands, lowlands, Officer. Picture title is Pat Cloghan The theme for an article by Columnist, textiles. Interior spaces made of wood, peaks, water, flowing and still, this place from artist Eoin O’Conaill. Michael Viney, inspired Work from Middle is enriched by its people. It is what wire, tin boxes and sundry intriguing entitled, Laois and Offaly, I take it all back. makes the place unique. items lining every inch of the space. It refers to a publication, The Geology of Lynne led the procession, wearing a Laois and Offaly, which is the culmination Work from Middle is on view in the Laois brown cotton drill studio coat, reputedly of a lifetime research undertaken by Dr Arthouse Gallery. once worn by Picasso. Her carefully John Feehan, on the broader cultural considered placement of the objects heritage of Laois and Offaly. The Laois Arthouse comprises of Studios, Apartments, an Exhibition gave an order and ritualistic dimension to this work, imbuing it with a sense of A feature of the book is the six specially Space, Rehearsal Space, Kiln, Garden, commissioned paintings illustrating digital facilities and a public library. An being in a spiritual place, which seemed different periods in the geological Artists-in-Residence scheme is funded perfectly fitting for this beautiful Hall. through the Department of the evolution of Laois and Offaly, by Offaly- I first encountered Lynne’s art some Environment, Per Cent for Art Scheme. based artist Jock Nichol. years ago when she participated in an 34 structures of devotion and other stories...

then, when I met her in her home/studio large somewhat gloomy space and last April during a period of high energy furnished with tall, uncompromisingly when she was preparing for her new awful, mdf presses. exhibition. I did not believe that it would be possible Lynne lives in a very remote part of Co. to coherently present this entire jumble Offaly in a beautiful old Georgian of objects in a comparatively short space decrepit farmhouse, which has of time, with little funding or technical become her home/studio and the help... but amazingly and with great container in which she keeps her vast authority and skill, Lynne made it happen. collection of artifacts and found / The results were mindboggling. I loved abandoned objects. We had coffee in the sheer chutzpah, energy, exhilaration her kitchen that had become a ‘pop- of it all. Which of us can ever forget her up’ studio, threatening to engulf the ‘Witches Knickers’, an installation of place, with only the cooking and eating shredded black paper bags, prised areas visible. This dis-order is very from hedges and ditches and rehung deceptive however, as Lynne has a wildly in the trees in front of John’s Hall. handle on everything within this chaos. This is an exhibition made specifically The making order from all that for this location and I’m not sure if it surrounds her is the rewarding part of would travel elsewhere with the same the work. She says ‘I have no problem power. It reinforces my thoughts on the in thinking about ideas or concepts, on great urban/rural divide. Lynne’s exhibition the contrary, I have trouble trying to should have been seen, in location, by sort out the crowded and overflowing art lovers, critics and journalists. stream of thoughts in my mind’. There was no presence of anyone from This latest body of work is a trajectory the national, or indeed, international of her everyday life/art practice. “I am papers. More has to be done, by looking at the history of Shrines and ourselves, to make things happen. Structures of Devotion… over the years I believe when people hear and read, thoughts and ideas come to me and through the media, about art such in a disused shop window in Birr, and don’t get done. This exhibition gives as “Structures of Devotion at the Arts in Context project in Ennistymon, more recently in Tullamore. She delivers me the opportunity to have them Amuseoleum” they will travel to see placing her intriguing found collection her environmental, social and personal realized, the bits and bobs purloined the work in the context for which it of abandoned dolls in a disused shop beliefs in the form of montages, collages from around the house.” window. and constructions, often containing was imagined and created. puzzles, anagrams or limericks, often When I ask her to give me a sentence While visiting the Biennale in Venice When we met six years ago after I had with wicked humour. Sometimes she puts which would illustrate her practice she last October, I bumped (literally) into come to live in the Midlands, I found her considerable talent for painting to replied immediately, “my work has an John Outterbridge’s installation. He is her to be the personification of what I good effect. Is this to baffle us, I wonder? undercurrent of environmental concerns, an 89 year old African – American, whose had imagined. She is one of life’s true flowing around the foibles of human life’s’ work has only been recognized artists – a collector-gatherer of the These interventions are recreated every nature.” detritus of our lives, transforming the month without a word of encouragement internationally in the past few years. I unwanted, the forgotten, neglected from the general public most of whom, She tells me that she collects objects had a déja vu moment, his practice was ‘stuff’, which define us as much as the to my knowledge, never realised that for their social history, items that have the personification of Lynne’s work. an artist had created new exciting (if been discarded or abandoned, often castles and gravestones we construct We should try to ensure that Lynne sometimes difficult) work in their town. architectural scraps and some quite to prove our existence. does not have such a long wait. literally from the trash. There is usually ‘What keeps you going”, I asked her, “I For the past six years Lynne has some degree of modification in the M harnessed her ferocious appetite for love what I am doing” she replied, as a process, although not to the extent making art into a series of installations matter of fact. No more stupid questions that the object/s cannot be recognized. Photos: Clare Dunne Lynn’s task then is to present her work in some way that provides an authentic context to the newly emerged form.

She showed me her collection of charred wood, rusty nails, spills made from old lime-plastered laths, old tobacco tins, air fresheners, betting slips, parking tickets, foraged treads of stairs all awaiting to be transformed into Altars/Shrines/Grottos.

I noticed, in particular, one piece in which laths were crudely nailed to the base of a drawer “hoist by my own petard”, she explained, not too seriously. At that time, Lynne had an enormous task in hand, planning to fill John’s Hall, a 35 Download New App...

Waterways Ireland, in partnership with A photo treasure hunt, Lakeland Treasures Fáilte Ireland and the Midland Regional is a family fun way to explore some of the Authority, under the Lakelands & Inland Midlands best known heritage attractions Waterways banner, has launched a free including Abbeyshrule Abbey, Ardagh Lakeland Treasures app for the iphone. Heritage Village, Athlone Castle, Belvedere Established as a pilot, it is the intention House, Birr Castle, Clonmacnoise, Emo Court and Timahoe. to extend the Lakeland Treasures app to Pictured at the launch of the Lakelands Treasurers App Launch in Belvedere House, Gardens & include over 100 heritage attractions The app links to places to eat, stay, and Park, Mullingar, Back row L-R: Mairead NiChongaille, Longford Heritage Officer; Colm Breheny, across the region. other attractions by closest proximity. Failte Ireland; Amanda Pedlow, Offaly Heritage Officer; Cllr Larry Bannon, MRA; Eanna Rowe, Lakeland Treasures is free to download Waterways Ireland; Bernadette Solan, Westmeath Heritage Officer; Cllr Fintan Cooney, MRA; from the app store. Pat Murtagh, Roscommon County Council. Front row left to right: Catherine Casey, Laois Heritage Officer; Cllr John Bonham, Cathaoirleach, MRA; Katrina McGirr, Waterways Ireland; James Bannon, TD; Ruth McNally, Director, Midland Regional Authority.

Dunamaise Arts Centre Portlaoise winning theatre companies such as an 8 per cent cut in funding from The celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2014. Druid, Rough Magic, Livin Dred, The Arts Council. Since 1999, the purpose-built 240-seat Abbey and The Gate Theatre. It has also Patrons are now invited to play a theatre and cinema, gallery, café and showcased live screenings from The lead role in ensuring a bright future workshop spaces, located within the old Metropolitan Opera House in New York. for the arts venue by naming a seat courthouse buildings in the centre of The impressive programme of gallery for themselves, a family member, Portlaoise town, has welcomed over a exhibitions includes collaborations with a business or a group. For €100, quarter of a million patrons. the OPW, IMMA, Abbeyleix VEC and seat sponsors are entitled to: Actor Robert Sheehan (Misfits, Love/Hate, Portlaoise Prison as well as solo shows Inclusion of an individual’s, a family, City of Bones) is an Ambassador for by artists as diverse as Mick O’Dea, group or company name/logo on a Dunamaise. Originally from Portlaoise, Robert Ballagh, Tony O’Malley, David specially printed seating plan, prominently Sheehan began acting on the Dunamaise King, Pat Moran, Bernadette Madden displayed in Dunamaise Arts Centre stage and now has an international career, and Ulrich Vogl. Foyer/Box Office a listing as a seat IFTA and BAFTA awards nominations sponsor on www.dunamaise.ie a gift A Sponsor a Seat fundraising campaign and shares a BAFTA Award with the cast of a commemorative certificate an will also be run as part of the anniversary DUNAMAISE of Misfits. He recently presented his exclusive invitation to a Sponsors’ celebrations, to ensure the venue’s infamous blue hooded top as worn by Celebration of Dunamaise 15th success long into the future. ARTS CENTRE his character Darren in the award-winning Anniversary series Love/Hate, which will be on As a registered charity and only part display at Dunamaise Arts Centre. To sponsor a seat, contact the box office CELEBRATES funded by The Arts Council and Laois on 057 8663355 or to check out the Some of the biggest names in performing County Council, Dunamaise relies upon anniversary festivities see and visual arts have shared their talents the highly supportive and arts-engaged www.dunamaise.ie 15 YEARS at the centre including The Chieftains; local community for the supplementary Irish & International orchestras; American fundraising support required – and even singer-songwriter Josh Ritter; award- more so in 2014 given the fact it faced

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