Midland Arts and Culture Magazine - Register.ie
Midland Arts and Culture Magazine - Register.ie
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<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011OFFline Film Festivalproves a BLOCKBUSTERPORTARLINGTON, County Offaly,woman Carla Mooney <strong>and</strong> herteam with their film TheS<strong>and</strong>eman Man have beenannounced as the winners of theinaugural Offaly Film Festival,OFFline.The first OFFline, which took place fromNovember 18 to 21 in Birr, offered thefilm lover a special <strong>and</strong> var<strong>ie</strong>dexper<strong>ie</strong>nce in the form of three excitingstr<strong>and</strong>s – Screenings, Workshops <strong>and</strong>a Filmmaking Competition.The Short Film Making Competition,which is the first of its kind for the<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s, attracted more than a dozenapplications for the coveted prize of€1,000 <strong>and</strong> a guaranteed slot at the2011 Galway Film Fleadh.PRESTIGIOUSHONOUR FORPORTARLINGTONPOETPORTARLINGTON poet JeanO’Br<strong>ie</strong>n has won of the mostrespected international literaryawards for poetry. Theprestigious Arvon InternationalPoetry Competition in Londonattracted thous<strong>and</strong>s of entr<strong>ie</strong>sfrom more than 43 countr<strong>ie</strong>sincluding the Philippines, NewZeal<strong>and</strong>, Zimbabwe <strong>and</strong> theUnited States of America.But, the judging panel chairedFour applications came from Offalybasedteams while other teamstravelled from as far af<strong>ie</strong>ld as Sligo,Clonmel, Dublin <strong>and</strong> Galway.Local residents looked on with greatinterest as the various teams madetheir way around the heritage town <strong>and</strong>surrounding countryside in search ofthat perfect shot.Some residents – not content withmerely watching from the sidelines –mucked in <strong>and</strong> filled various cast <strong>and</strong>crew roles for some of the visitingteams. Local businesses also ensuredthe festival's success by allowing theirpremises to be used as film sets forsome of the productions.A wide array of International <strong>and</strong>Irish films was also screened over theweekend. One of the highlights of theweekend was the visit of directorMarian Quinn to the festival. Marian –by Poet Laureate, Carol AnnDuffy, <strong>and</strong> included leadingpoets Elaine Feinstein <strong>and</strong>Sudeep Sen decided that itwas the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>’s Jean whoshould scoop the accoladewith her poem Merman.Jean was thrilled with herwin. “I am proud <strong>and</strong> delightedto be bringing such an awardback to Irel<strong>and</strong>. It is an honourto have your poem st<strong>and</strong> outfrom so many thous<strong>and</strong>s ofyour peers <strong>and</strong> to receive histype of recognition.”Budding writers will bepleased to hear that Jean is totake creative writing classes inPortarlington in January 2011which are being hosted byPortarlington CommunityDevelopment Association -<strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> Heritage Group.ABOUT JEAN O’BRIENJEAN O'Br<strong>ie</strong>n is a Dubliner nowliving in Portarlington. Her workis widely published in magazines<strong>and</strong> journals. She has publishedthree collections of poetry, TheShadow Keeper (Salmon, 1997)Dangerous Dresses (BradshawBooks, 2005) <strong>and</strong> Lovely Legs(Salmon, 2009). She read for aM.Phil in Creative Writing fromTrinity College <strong>and</strong> facilitatesIN FRONT OF THE CAMERA:Carla Mooney (left) <strong>and</strong> her team,winners of the first Offaly Film Festivalaward for The S<strong>and</strong>eman Manwith members of OFFline.whose brother is actor Aidan Quinn -still has relations living in Birr <strong>and</strong> wasthrilled when asked to attend aQuestion <strong>and</strong> Answer session followingthe screening of her coming-of-agedrama 32A. The screening was verywell attended by locals <strong>and</strong> studentsfrom visiting schools alike – thanks tothe presence of the film on this year'sLeaving Certificate English syllabus.Four different workshops were alsoheld during the festival. Industryprofessionals facilitated the sessionswith editing, scriptwriting, directing <strong>and</strong>DSLR mov<strong>ie</strong> making being the subjectsup for discussion.Given the success of this year'sfestival, OFFline is here to stay.For more information visitwww.offlinefilmfestival.com or join thefestival on facebook.com/offlinefilmcreative writing classes forvenues as diverse as the IrishWriters' Centre, Dublin CityCouncil, various County Councils<strong>and</strong> in Mountjoy, Limerick <strong>and</strong>the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s Prisons. She wasWriter-in-Residence for CountyLaois in 2005. She was lastyear's recip<strong>ie</strong>nt of the FishInternational Poetry Award. Alsoin 2008 she was commissionedto write a poem for the OxfamCalendar. Fiona Sampson writingin the Irish Times described herpoetry as: "…effortless writing,graceful <strong>and</strong> exact as anypirouette in its insight".Br<strong>ie</strong>fsLAOIS HITS THERIGHT NOTEAPPLICATIONS for MusicNetwork/U2/Irel<strong>and</strong> Funds formusic education are to beinvited at the start of year.In the meantime anyone interestedin applying is free to contact LaoisCounty Council <strong>Arts</strong> Office to findout more <strong>and</strong> receive guidance.Led by The <strong>Arts</strong> Office in LaoisCounty Council, a partnership hasbeen formed with Laois VEC <strong>and</strong>Laois Partnership Ltd, which will actas a Local Music Education Partner(LMEP) for Laois. The call forapplications for funding will be inJanuary 2011 <strong>and</strong> there arestringent guidelines in place as tohow an LMEP can access funds.Some rules: Funding will only begranted for long-term sustainablemusic education programmes - oneoffprojects will not be considered.Individuals/ schools/music groupscannot apply independently – allapplications must go through theLMEP. Fifty per cent matching fundingis required – some of which may be‘in kind’. The funding is primarily tobe used for music tuition but capitalspending for instruments will beconsidered. Funding will not begiven for existing provision.If you have any ideas for developinga long-term music programme foryour group/school or have anyquer<strong>ie</strong>s please contact Music CoordinatorNuala Kelly, Laois CountyCouncil on 057 867 4345 or emailartsoff@laoiscoco.<strong>ie</strong>MASTERCLASSMIDLAND Masterclasses, aninitiative run by the <strong>Arts</strong> Services inLaois, Longford, Offaly <strong>and</strong> Westmeathis now in its third year. The schemewas developed in response to theprofessional needs of visual artists,musical enthusiasts, dancers,writers <strong>and</strong> performers right acrossthe <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s. Running from Augustto October, the programme includesmasterclasses in Sculpture,Portraiture, Dance, Music,Performance, Photography <strong>and</strong> Webdesign. Contact the <strong>Arts</strong> Office on057 8674342/44.WESTMEATHPLAN FOR ARTSWESTMEATH County Councillaunched its second artsplan earl<strong>ie</strong>r this year – Westmeath<strong>Arts</strong> Plan 2010-2016. The plan setsout Westmeath’s policy forpromoting <strong>and</strong> developing the artsin the county over the next sixyears. The development processhighlighted the significant processmade to date <strong>and</strong> provides aframework within which WestmeathCounty Council will continue todevelop an integrated, effective <strong>and</strong>responsive arts programme.The local authority recognises thepositive contribution of the arts tothe ongoing economic, social <strong>and</strong>cultural development of the County.To download a copy of the plan visitwww.westmeathcoco.<strong>ie</strong>/arts7
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011Laois PatronageAward Opens UpNew HorizonsPATRICK Fitzpatrick who is currently in his second year of a Masters inFine Art Research in Print at Limerick School of Art <strong>and</strong> Design has saidthat receiving the Laois Patronage Award has “opened up new horizons”.Patrick Fitzpatrick“It was wonderful to receive the LaoisPatronage Award this year. It still is adelightful surprise <strong>and</strong> moreimportantly to have my peer’s affirmpositively my work has given me awonderful boost of confidence <strong>and</strong>encouragement.“The Laois Patronage Award isallowing me to develop my workfurther into areas that withoutthe financial help it would nothave gone, <strong>and</strong> in all honestyopened up new horizons, evenbeing able to travel to seedifferent parts of the L<strong>and</strong>scapeis great,”enthused Patrick.On a practical note Patrick added thatthe award had given him time toconsider his work <strong>and</strong> where it isgoing. “I have purchased a Nikoncamera, a video camera <strong>and</strong> soundrecording equipment which have allopened up a new artistic f<strong>ie</strong>ld, as itwere, to explore the L<strong>and</strong>scape infilmatic terms <strong>and</strong> exper<strong>ie</strong>nce, whichis really exciting,” he explained.He went on to say that theencouragement from the LaoisPatronage Award armed him with theextra confidence to apply to haveexhibitions. As a result, Patrick is tohave a joint show with Evelyn Glynn atthe Dunamaise <strong>Arts</strong> Centre.Called Memory Matters the showconcerns the role of memory,remembrance <strong>and</strong> forgetting <strong>and</strong>features drawings, photography <strong>and</strong>sound installation.Growing in stature, Patrick was alsoone of eight artists shortlisted for TheGallery of Photography Artists AwardShowcase Exhibition, which took placeon December 2. On top of that Patrickalso held a solo exhibition at theRiverbank <strong>Arts</strong> Centre, Newbridge inNovember.“I also have joined the LimerickPrintmakers Studio, which offers acontinuation of my print <strong>and</strong> artisticwork when I leave college,”His artistic work over the last fouryears <strong>and</strong> which he is continuing in hisMasters concerns L<strong>and</strong>scape <strong>and</strong>Memory: exploring our place in NatureThe Lady <strong>and</strong> the Lark,Portumna Forest Park, Co. Galwayby Patrick Fitzpatrick<strong>and</strong> Natures place in us.Patrick said that nature is the realmof the infinite, that it can be a way ofcommunication with an immemorialhistory. “It is a breathing l<strong>and</strong>scape towhere Nature reveals our ephemeralaspects of being.”His work is var<strong>ie</strong>d <strong>and</strong> includesdrawing, prints, photography <strong>and</strong> videowhere each in its own way explores<strong>and</strong> opens up, develops, answers <strong>and</strong>offers up new questions to be askedabout his exper<strong>ie</strong>nce in Nature.Most of all, Patrick is grateful forthe opportunit<strong>ie</strong>s such an award hasafforded him. “I am looking forwardto being able to continue my workfrom the support of The LaoisPatronage <strong>Arts</strong> Award <strong>and</strong> to use thisopportunity offered towards a futurethat otherwise would have taken a lotlonger <strong>and</strong> so thank you.”<strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> Creative Centrefor Portarlington?S<strong>and</strong>ra Carr from the Portarlington Community Centre writes that there is supportfrom the public as well as artists for an <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> Creative Centre in Portarlington.FOR MANY years, local artists <strong>and</strong>residents have expressed a desire todevelop more amenit<strong>ie</strong>s for artists inPortarlington. Earl<strong>ie</strong>r last yearPortarlington Community Developmentassociation (PCDA) established anarts <strong>and</strong> heritage sub-committee toprogress this concept.The vision for the arts centre is tocreate a space where artists areenabled to be creative <strong>and</strong> to realisetheir creative potential. The centrewould hold classes for students <strong>and</strong>the community <strong>and</strong> would be selfsustaining.We have completed an initialfeasibility study which will look at thepotential benefits <strong>and</strong> viability of anarts <strong>and</strong> creative centre in the area.From this analysis the steeringcommittee selected the redevelopmentof the existing site of the Portarlingtoncommunity centre to incorporatean arts <strong>and</strong> creative centre.The feasibility study began in June2010 with a facilitated meeting withthe AHG. This meeting set out thevision for the PACC <strong>and</strong> looked at howeffective consultation could beach<strong>ie</strong>ved. A number of communityconsultations were held to gather thev<strong>ie</strong>ws <strong>and</strong> comments of a range ofindividuals ranging from communitygroups to artists working <strong>and</strong> living inPortarlington.In addition to the communityconsultations a br<strong>ie</strong>f questionnairewas designed <strong>and</strong> circulated to thoseorganisations <strong>and</strong> individuals incontact with the PCDA who may havean interest in supporting the developmentof an arts <strong>and</strong> creative centre.The feasibility study showed asolid desire on the part of the community<strong>and</strong> regional arts developmentagenc<strong>ie</strong>s to explore in greater detailthe possibilit<strong>ie</strong>s for the developmentof the PACC. There is good evidencethat there would be good communitysupport for such a development.It was clear from the consultations<strong>and</strong> the research process to date thatthere is a potential market for a viablearts <strong>and</strong> creative centre inPortarlington. The consultationshowed that the public perceive manybenefits, not just for artists but alsofor the community in general.The public community facilit<strong>ie</strong>s inPortarlington have lagged behindthose of other towns <strong>and</strong> there was asense in the consultations that anarts <strong>and</strong> community centre would bewarmly received by both the artisticcommunity <strong>and</strong> the target aud<strong>ie</strong>ncesin the community.Local artists, in particular, wouldwelcome such a development basedon their first h<strong>and</strong> knowledge of thelack of facilit<strong>ie</strong>s which enable artistscreate work <strong>and</strong> interact with thecommunity.We would welcome comments orideas that you may have on theproject, or if you require additionalinformation please do not hesitate tocontact s<strong>and</strong>racarrpcda@gmail.com inthe Portarlington Community Centre.OLDC FUNDINGTHE ARTSBUDDING filmmakers, storywriters<strong>and</strong> poets who need funding fortheir projects are urged to contactOffaly Local Development Company(OLDC) who may be able to helpwith some of the costs associatedwith seeing your script on the bigscreen.Birr Film Festival, receivedfunding by OLDC towards someof the marketing costs associatedwith the festival <strong>and</strong> for thepurchase of some specialisedcamera equipment for the event.Offaly Local DevelopmentCompany (OLDC) is a state-fundedorganisation that delivers a rangeof programmes <strong>and</strong> supports topeople, communit<strong>ie</strong>s <strong>and</strong> businessesin County Offaly. Theseprogrammes aim to make Offaly abetter place to live by enhancingcommunity life, combating disadvantage<strong>and</strong> social exclusion<strong>and</strong> supporting the developmentof enterprise in the county.To see if you qualify for fundingcontact 057 9352467 or emailinfo@oldc.<strong>ie</strong>8
Br<strong>ie</strong>fsKINDERMUSIKPROGRAMMEKINDERMUSIK Programme is apartnership initiative betweenWestmeath <strong>and</strong> Offaly CountyCouncil <strong>and</strong> both VECs for youngchildren to exper<strong>ie</strong>nce music withtheir parents. It is an innovative,introductory music outreachprogramme specifically designed forpre-school children. The project isaimed at a var<strong>ie</strong>ty of parent/childgroups <strong>and</strong> the end performancesare shared with the entirecommunity. The project runs inAthlone, Mullingar, Kinnegad,Daingean, Kilcormac <strong>and</strong> Clara <strong>and</strong>is currently facilitated by NoelO’Farrell. For further informationsee www.westmeathcoco.<strong>ie</strong>/artsor www.offaly.<strong>ie</strong>/artsCHICK LIT CHARMSTHE PUBLICBr<strong>ie</strong>ge Madden talks to writer <strong>and</strong> overnight success Gráinne Toher who unveiledher first book at the launch of <strong>Culture</strong> Night in Dublin Castle over the summer <strong>and</strong>who is already scribbling down words for a sequel due out in 2011/2012.GRÁINNE Toher, who has lived inMullingar for two years only unveiledher first chick lit novel Comings <strong>and</strong>Goings in the summer but has alreadycaptured the imagination at home <strong>and</strong>abroad as she packs her bags to headfor London <strong>and</strong> book signings inWaterstones in the New Year.And, not one to put the pen downGrainne has already beencommissioned for book two <strong>and</strong> isalready working on a sequel.Gráinne told <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>: "The launch with theMullingar Scribblers as part of theWestmeath <strong>Culture</strong> Night in theAnnebrook Hotel was fantastic! Wehad a great crowd <strong>and</strong> a great night.”Comings <strong>and</strong> Goings has beendescribed as a 'great little read' by herfr<strong>ie</strong>nds <strong>and</strong> colleagues. But acclaimhas also been independent <strong>and</strong>widespread with Keith Finneganfrom Galway Bay FM describing it as“a lovely little story, with something foreveryone” <strong>and</strong> The Meath Chronicleclaiming, “Gráinne Toher belongs to anew breed of confident women writerswho write about modern life as theysee it”.In recent months Gráinne has beenbusy with book signings <strong>and</strong>readings in places <strong>and</strong> for groups asdiverse as Blanchardstown Library,Ilac Library, Tuam Library, MullingarLibrary, Boyne Writers Group,Scribblers Writers Group, MullingarBook Club Meet Up <strong>and</strong> the Centre forCreative <strong>Arts</strong> in Dublin - to name only afew. She is now also a regular on airhaving been interv<strong>ie</strong>wed on Phoenix FM<strong>and</strong> Galway Bay FM. She said: "Thereaction has been fantastic. Mostpeople see it as a cheerful brightbook with a pink cover in these gloomytimes. It’s a good news story in badnews times. People are respondingvery well <strong>and</strong> the publisher hasreported the sales as consistent <strong>and</strong>very good."Speaking about her new book Gráinnerevealed: "My new book is, again,inspired by popular culture <strong>and</strong> eventsgoing on around me. I'd say we arelooking at another year or year <strong>and</strong>a half before it hits the shelves. I havea new set of characters <strong>and</strong> they arestarting to take shape <strong>and</strong> take on alife of their own, I'm having loads offun with it.“I showed some of the chapters to myhusb<strong>and</strong> Michael (Ahearne) <strong>and</strong> mymum Mary (Toher) <strong>and</strong> they got a fewlaughs. It touches on serious thingsagain like the other book but withloads of humour <strong>and</strong> lets face it wecan all use a laugh these days."When asked if she felt more pressurewriting this second book Gráinneresponded by saying: "Not yet! Thefirst book was such an adventure, plusthe reaction <strong>and</strong> subsequent successwas such a surprise that I am justtrying to approach the second one thesame way – do a bit of it every day if Ican, enjoy the creative process <strong>and</strong> letgo of the outcome!“Throughout the whole thing, I'vediscovered anything is possible -literally! Like me, they [my fr<strong>ie</strong>nds <strong>and</strong>family] think it’s all a bit mad reallybut they enjoyed the book <strong>and</strong> keepasking me how the second one isgoing."MIDLAND YOUTHORCHESTRATHE MIDLANDS Youth Orchestra,based in Kinnegad, provides anopportunity for young people fromvarious ensembles across the<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s to perform together underconductor <strong>and</strong> director VincentHunt. The initiative has proved ahuge success with the orchestraplaying numerous concerts invarious locations throughout themidl<strong>and</strong>s as well as the NationalConcert Hall in Dublin. The LirYouth Orchestra is the WestmeathOrchestra of the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s YouthOrchestra. Both projects aresupported by Westmeath, Laois<strong>and</strong> Offaly County Councils <strong>and</strong> theVECs. For further information seewww.westmeathcoco.<strong>ie</strong>/artswww.laois.<strong>ie</strong>/artswww.offaly.<strong>ie</strong>/artsTAKING TOTHE STAGELAOIS Youth Theatre are currentlyre-enroling members for the nextterm. New members are alsowelcome to join the different groupsin the county <strong>and</strong> these include:Portlaoise, Portarlington,Mountrath, Stradbally <strong>and</strong>Rathdowney. For more informationcontact 057 8674342/41.Westmeath <strong>Culture</strong> Night 2010SEE PAGE 289
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011Pictured are staff of Laois County Council, <strong>Arts</strong> Council,NCAD <strong>and</strong> CCOI at the unveiling of the plansSET TO OPEN DOORS IN MARCHTHE ARTHOUSE Stradbally is due to draw back the curtains in March followingfunding from Laois County Council <strong>and</strong> the Department of Tourism, <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>and</strong>Sport. The refurbishment <strong>and</strong> development of the Arthouse Studio <strong>and</strong> Libraryhas cost €1.5 million. Grant aid of €440,000 was awarded through the AccessProgramme from the Department of Tourism, <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>and</strong> Sport. The balance of€1.06 million has been invested by Laois County Council.A gr<strong>and</strong> unveiling of plans for the ArthouseStudios, Stradbaly took place in mid November inStradbally Hall where guests on the day includedrepresentatives from Laois County Council, The<strong>Arts</strong> Council, the National College of Art <strong>and</strong>Design <strong>and</strong> the Crafts Council of Irel<strong>and</strong>.Guest speaker, Ms Pat Moylan, Chairpersonof the <strong>Arts</strong> Council described the plans as“ambitious <strong>and</strong> exciting”. She said: “Thepossibilit<strong>ie</strong>s are endless. The arts are for us.It’s who we are. It’s our culture. Arthouse isanother jewel in Laois’s crown that will twinkle52 weeks of the year.”Professor Declan McGonagle, Director NCAD,stressed the importance of the Arthouse. “Thisis a serious, well conceived, strategic project…a very imaginative partnership. The economy isbroken in Irel<strong>and</strong> at the moment, not the culture.It’s the culture which will sustain us.”This development includes the refurbishment <strong>and</strong>extension of Stradbally Courthouse to provide astate of the art community library, artists’ studios<strong>and</strong> living accommodation, an exhibition gallery, arehearsal space, a kiln, <strong>and</strong> a garden space with10“The creation of this newresidency programme is alsoimportant to ensure that artistsare able to remain in the regionas well as attracting outsideartists to come <strong>and</strong> participatein the vibrant cultural life of thesurrounding area.”a commissioned PerCent for Art wall mountedartwork.Spaces in the complex will be available for use bylocal community groups <strong>and</strong> the library, decoratedin attractive <strong>and</strong> appealing colours, has specialareas for children to read <strong>and</strong> familiarisethemselves with its treasures.Despite the refurbishment <strong>and</strong> modernisation,the Arthouse retains all its original features.The detached late-Georgian building, its doublepitched,hipped roof, limestone coping, plinths,sills, surrounds, pedimented door cases <strong>and</strong>sash windows are restored to their formercrafted elegance.<strong>Arts</strong> Officer Muireann Ní Chonaill explained:“The Arthouse studios represent an importantresource to add to the strong <strong>Arts</strong> Programme<strong>and</strong> strateg<strong>ie</strong>s already present in the county,under the direction of Laois County Council. Theinitiative will be of real value to the ongoing <strong>Arts</strong>Programme, the community <strong>and</strong> the visual arts<strong>and</strong> design sector in Irel<strong>and</strong>.“It will also represent an important pathway forartists from outside Irel<strong>and</strong> to make a valuablecontribution to widening <strong>and</strong> deepening publicexper<strong>ie</strong>nces <strong>and</strong> direct involvement in the arts.”Pictured is Chairwomanof the <strong>Arts</strong> Council, Pat Moylan
County Manager, Mr Peter Carey stated: “Laois isa county very proud of its history <strong>and</strong> Stradballyhas history in abundance. Stradbally (AntSráidbhaile: Town with One Street) is set in aspectacular location of natural beauty <strong>and</strong> is justover an hour from Dublin - a hub of activity as farback as 600AD when it was called Mon-au-Bealing, Colman Uí Laoise, Columcille’s disciple,established his monastery here.”He added that the luminar<strong>ie</strong>s of Peter BurrowsKelly, Canon John O’Hanlon, Cecil Day Lewis <strong>and</strong>Kevin O’Higgins were all from Stradbally or itsenvirons.”Information on the Studio Award <strong>and</strong> Schemes<strong>and</strong> for the PerCent for Art Commission attachedto the development can be downloaded from thewebsite www.laois.<strong>ie</strong>“Arthouse is another jewel in Laois’ crownthat will twinkle 52 weeks of the year.”Working in partnership toensure successLAOIS County Council has forged a number ofkey partnerships to ensure the success of thisnew enterprise <strong>and</strong> that every support <strong>and</strong>assistance will be given to artists <strong>and</strong> craftspeoplethrough mentoring, programming <strong>and</strong>exhibition opportunit<strong>ie</strong>s. These partnershipsinclude working with the National College of Art<strong>and</strong> Design where a bursary is available to agraduate from the NCAD to the value of€10,000. The Craftsperson Studio Scheme isbeing set up in association with the CraftsCouncil of Irel<strong>and</strong> where mentoring <strong>and</strong>business support will be given to the successfulc<strong>and</strong>idate to grow his or her enterprise. Theremaining studios are available to professionalartists, local, national <strong>and</strong> international.A number of development agenc<strong>ie</strong>s will alsoform an integral part of this project including,the County Enterprise Board <strong>and</strong> FÁS.Project welcomedin Laois <strong>and</strong> BeyondNEWS of the ambitious development has alsoproved a welcome resource for those outsidethe county. Noel Kelly of Visual Artists Irel<strong>and</strong>(VAI) enthused: “VAI welcomes the news of thenew studio programme as it is critical that asmany new residency programmes as possibleare established in areas such as Stradbally,<strong>and</strong> in the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s in particular, because ofthe central role that residents play as guides<strong>and</strong> role models for the arts in local areas.“The creation of this new residency programmeis also important to ensure that artists areable to remain in the region as well asattracting outside artists to come <strong>and</strong>participate in the vibrant cultural life of thesurrounding area.”The new galleryThe outside of Stradbally Courthousewhere the new arthouse is set to openA proud tradition in StradballySTRADBALLY COURTHOUSE is home to theCosby family for more than 400 years <strong>and</strong> ishost to the annual Stradbally Steam Rally<strong>and</strong> the Electric Picnic, which is widelyaccepted as the most innovative <strong>and</strong> popularmusic festival in the national cultural calendar.It is also home to McKeon Stone, thelimestone yard known to sculptors nationally<strong>and</strong> internationally.A look at the gardens outside the new arthouse. 11
TREADING THE BOARDS:MEM Players takecentre stage inCo. WestmeathSINCE MEM Players was setup in 1997 by a group ofamateur drama enthusiastsfrom the Milltown, Emper<strong>and</strong> Moyvore areas of CoWestmeath the group hasbecome a regular feature ofthe performance calendar inthe county.But, the history of the group predatesits official launch as it was born out ofthe Milltown Drama Group which wasa very successful amateur dramagroup in the 1970s. It took part inmany drama festivals at the time <strong>and</strong>won numerous awards, most notably,in 1976, the Coole Drama Festivalwith the Three Act Comedy TroubledBatchelors by A J Stanley. Following abreak in the 1980s <strong>and</strong> 1990s, thegroup was re-invented as the MEMPlayers by some of original membersof the Miltown Drama Group <strong>and</strong> somenewcomers.The group plays a crucial role inencouraging interest from the youth ofthe area in the art form. Drama isintroduced to the children in the localNational School with weekly visitsfrom Mullingar based drama teacherOlive Whelan. They are furtherencouraged as teenagers through thelocal Foroige Group. Also, one of thegroup’s members produces a noveltyact <strong>and</strong> recitation for the Scor na nÓgcompetition each year. Some membersare secondary school students whoare being encouraged to get involvedinitially backstage with a v<strong>ie</strong>w to introducingthem to the cast in the future.Each year, MEM Players stage aproduction over three nights <strong>and</strong>, inearl<strong>ie</strong>r years, productions were stagedin the old parish hall. Now the grouphas a larger <strong>and</strong> more modern venuein the new Milltown Community Centre,just a 15 minute drive from Mullingar<strong>and</strong> a mile from the village ofRathconrath on the Ballymahon Roadbeside the local GAA football pitch.Recent productions from the MEMPlayers include My Wife’s Family byHal Stephens & Harry B Linton, aswell as a number of plays by12Cast of Widows ParadiseRathowen playwright, Jimmy Keary -Where There is a Will, Up the GardenPath, Mother Knows Best, HereComes the Bride <strong>and</strong> Fortunes &Misfortunes. Last year was the firstyear the players benefited from PaulCurley’s exper<strong>ie</strong>nce <strong>and</strong> knowledge ofamateur drama when he produced theSam Cree Three Act Comedy CupidWore Skirts.In 2010, the group had anothersuccessful production by Paul withanother Three Act Comedy by SamCree, Widow’s Paradise. Widows’Paradise is set on a Friday evening inSeptember in the 1960s in a caravan.The story centres around a group offive women who go to a caravan parkfor a weekend break where theirintention to have a qu<strong>ie</strong>t weekendalone is upset by the arrival of threemen who are on a fishing trip. Apassing traveller calls in when his carbreaks down <strong>and</strong> the local farmer alsopays a visit. There are no shortage ofdisagreements <strong>and</strong> misunderst<strong>and</strong>ings,all providing hilarious consequences.“This has been a new direction for ourset design team, who have put all of theirexpertise together to produce a fantasticset,” explained the MEM Players.But, MEM Players really is a teameffort because as well as castmembers each production has aprofessional back room teamcomprising of hairdresser, makeupartist, costume designers, lighting <strong>and</strong>sound technicians, stage designers<strong>and</strong> stage h<strong>and</strong>s.Members have participated in variousdrama workshops, some of which wereheld exclusively for MEM Players <strong>and</strong>others which involve members fromother amateur drama groups.Last year two members of the groupreceived a bursary from WestmeathCounty Council to take part in aDrama League of Irel<strong>and</strong> SummerSchool week in Limerick where theygained valuable insights which theythen shared with the rest of the group.Preparations are now underway for thenext production scheduled for Spring2011. New members <strong>and</strong> anyone withan interest in amateur drama <strong>and</strong>would like to get involved either onstage or behind the scenes are invitedto contact any member of the group.TADS HalloweenParty with adifferenceCHARLEVILLE Forest Castle, astark edifice st<strong>and</strong>ing silently inits wooded estate, populated byghosts, much visited by tourists<strong>and</strong> now…frequented by…actors!When it comes to any old building,rumours of haunting abound, butCharleville has recently been hauntedby a different breed of spectre –Tullamore Amateur Drama Soc<strong>ie</strong>ty(TADS) which held a spookfest therelast Halloween.“It was mainly to raise awarenessof TADS in the town,” said DeniseKeoghan, Chairperson. “We had hada successful run with An Evening ofFunny Conversations in Hugh Lynch’slast May <strong>and</strong> we have a core group ofnew, enthusiastic members. Halloweenwas close when we decided to dosomething new <strong>and</strong> it was a naturaldecision to base our next productionin the Castle.”Guests at the party weremet by the screams of acoven of Shakespeareanwitches at the door.A stream of sheikhs, vampires,ghosts, pirates, witches, Cleopatra,Cruella deVille, Snow White, Minn<strong>ie</strong>Mouse <strong>and</strong> one distinguished manwearing a ducal coronet all ascendedthe broad staircase to the ballroomon the first floor mezzanine wheremost of the action was taking place.Tickets for paranormal tours of thecastle, which is allegedly haunted,were distributed throughout the night.The music, drinks, food <strong>and</strong> dancingtook place in the majestic ballroomwhere the spectacular ceiling, largefireplaces <strong>and</strong> tall gilt-framed mirrorslent an air of antique elegance <strong>and</strong>baroque decay to the affair.There were sketches, scenes frompopular mov<strong>ie</strong>s, poetry <strong>and</strong> dance.Seanchaí John Gaffey thrilled theguests to spooky tales by the fire.Two original playlets, Weak Tea <strong>and</strong>TOADS, written <strong>and</strong> directed byTADS’ members Marguerite Cahill<strong>and</strong> Paul Farrell were also performedin other rooms.Two guides in period costumewere on h<strong>and</strong> to help with the toursof the castle <strong>and</strong>, in a demonstrationof their diverse talents, one of theseguides treated those in attendanceto an exhibition of Middle Easterndance later in the evening.Not only was the event a showcasefor the diverse talent of TADSmembers <strong>and</strong> the beauty <strong>and</strong>elegance of the castle, it was also areunion for those TADS membersfrom the 80s, 90s <strong>and</strong> even the socallednaught<strong>ie</strong>s who had lost touchwith the group.A slideshow of past dramaticendeavours, old programmes <strong>and</strong>photos from rehearsals wasdisplayed throughout the night.A presentation was made to formerChairpersons Mary Dunne <strong>and</strong>Fionnuala Corrigan in recognition oftheir past ach<strong>ie</strong>vements in thepioneer years of the group. Fionnualawas recognised for her sterling workin the lead up to the allocation of thenew Tullamore <strong>Arts</strong> Centre site.“This event was a credit to TADS,”one guest enthused. “It was very wellput together <strong>and</strong> everyone enjoyedthemselves. The costumes were verygood <strong>and</strong> the plays <strong>and</strong> poetry wereexcellent.”It is hoped that this event haspaved the way for many similarevents in the future <strong>and</strong> that with thenew <strong>Arts</strong> Centre in the offing morepeople will become members <strong>and</strong>patrons of TADS <strong>and</strong> help speed thegroup to its next ‘scene-change’.TADS would like to express itsthanks to the Findlater Wine <strong>and</strong>Spirit Group, the Tullamore DewHeritage Centre, Eugene Kelly’s <strong>and</strong>Hugh Lynch’s for their generous help<strong>and</strong> sponsorship.Adults wishing to join TADS orneeding information on any of itsactivit<strong>ie</strong>s should contact SusanMcDonnell on 089 4365266.SPOOKY: Members from TADS dressed to impress.
CULTURE VULTURES: Athlone trio The GoldenSisters were on song at the very first Westmeath<strong>Culture</strong> Night. See pages 28 <strong>and</strong> 29 to find outhow Westmeath is leading the way for Irel<strong>and</strong><strong>Culture</strong> Night 2011.ARTPAGE 14 Multi-Award winning Laois poet Ann Egan looks back at her year as Writer-in -Residence withLaois County Council PAGE 16 <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> speaks to Offaly Filmmaker PaddySlattery about The Moment PAGE 20 Sculpture in the Parkl<strong>and</strong>s PAGE 25 <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong><strong>Magazine</strong> Talks to Photographer Tim Durham PAGE 28 Dublin <strong>Culture</strong> Guru Urges <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s to EmulateWestmeath Success as first Irel<strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> Night 2011 Nears13
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011About Ann Egan...Ann who has an MA in History <strong>and</strong> aBA in Languages has a plethora ofawards under her belt. Her awardsinclude: The American Irel<strong>and</strong> Fund,The Annaghmakerrig Prize, Writers’Week Listowel Poetry Prizes <strong>and</strong>RTÉ Radio 75 Years.Her books are L<strong>and</strong>ing the Sea(Bradshaw Books), The WrenWomen (The Black Mountain Press)<strong>and</strong> Brigit of Kildare (Kildare Library<strong>and</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Services).She has held several writingresidenc<strong>ie</strong>s, edited 14 books,edited The <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong><strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>and</strong> co-editedThe Great Book of Maynooth.The Wren Women was dramatisedby Writers’ Week Listowel.Her work has been broadcast onRTÉ Radio 1 <strong>and</strong> on local radiostations. She is widely published athome <strong>and</strong> abroad.QUITE A STORY:The cover from the 2010Laois Anthology with coverpainting commissionedfrom Laois artist, NiallFitzpatrick.Laois Echoeswith Fionn MacCumhaillMulti-award winning Laois poet Ann Egan looks back at her year asWriter-in-Residence with Laois County Council.I HAVE just spent a magical year asLaois Writer-in-Residence. I wasdelighted when Laois <strong>Arts</strong> Officer,Muireann Ní Chonaill offered me theresidency as it was a great joy for meto travel my home-county’s ways<strong>and</strong> work alongside its people ofsix generations.The residency began with a twomonths’ stint in November <strong>and</strong>December 2009. I submitted mythemed plan of, Laois A Sense ofPlace <strong>and</strong> a Time of Christmas,which received full approval <strong>and</strong>wonderful support.I travelled to schools, primary <strong>and</strong>secondary, to RehabCare Portlaoise,to adult groups <strong>and</strong> young people’sgroups in librar<strong>ie</strong>s <strong>and</strong> in Áras anChontae giving readings <strong>and</strong>facilitating creative writing.In return I received original <strong>and</strong>honest stor<strong>ie</strong>s <strong>and</strong> poems that werea powerful commemoration ofhomeplace <strong>and</strong> an evocative celebrationof Christmas memor<strong>ie</strong>s – whether thewriter was six or 86!I also edited <strong>and</strong> prepared forpublication the poems ofPortarlington poet, John Kirwan.I bel<strong>ie</strong>ve ach<strong>ie</strong>vements must beacknowledged <strong>and</strong> so also doesLaois <strong>Arts</strong> Office. In December,Muireann Ní Chonaill <strong>and</strong> Brid<strong>ie</strong>Keenan, Assistant <strong>Arts</strong> Officer hadan evening of commemoration <strong>and</strong>celebration organised in Áras anChontae with special guest, PatMoylan, Chairperson of the <strong>Arts</strong>Council, sharing the stage with thewriters.Members of Laois School of Music,under the tutelage of its Co-ordinator,Nuala Kelly, performed seasonalsongs. It was a spellbinding night.Owing to the success of the“Every writerdreams of havingtheir writings ina book. The <strong>Arts</strong>Office broughtthat dream tofruition with itscommitment topublish the 2010Laois Anthology.”residency <strong>and</strong> to dem<strong>and</strong>, the <strong>Arts</strong>Office invited me to develop the ideaof the writer in the communityfurther. Laois’s midl<strong>and</strong> setting hasconferred on it a rich heritage offolklore <strong>and</strong> a multiplicity of traditions.My plan for the second part of myresidency, entitled Filíochta Laoise,was based on an idea of amultidisciplinary project of poetry,stor<strong>ie</strong>s, songs <strong>and</strong> meditations of sixgenerations.I chose the story of FionnMacCumhaill – he had spent hisinfancy <strong>and</strong> early boyhood in Laois - tocarry <strong>and</strong> unite the str<strong>and</strong>s of my idea.Between February <strong>and</strong> May, Itravelled to 23 schools, primary <strong>and</strong>secondary for three one-hour visits,five librar<strong>ie</strong>s, adult groups <strong>and</strong> younggroups in Árus an Chontae. I toldstor<strong>ie</strong>s of Fionn MacCumhaill, chosethemes, related them tocontemporary life, facilitatedworkshops. Soon I had collected 900unique writing p<strong>ie</strong>ces – poems,stor<strong>ie</strong>s, monologues, benedictions<strong>and</strong> meditations.Every writer dreams of having theirwritings in a book. The <strong>Arts</strong> Officebrought that dream to fruition with itscommitment to publish the 2010Laois Anthology. A special <strong>and</strong>stunning cover painting wascommissioned from Laois artist,Niall Fitzpatrick.Over the summer, I selected,edited, collated <strong>and</strong> blended in 130interactive writings of hundreds ofwriters of all ages.I wrote The Book of Elba – acreative writing h<strong>and</strong>book – to meldthe creativity into a coherent story.The final stage of my residencywas working alongside the <strong>Arts</strong>Office to showcase our writers in themuch acclaimed, Leaves 2010Literary Festival. John Kirwan’sbeautiful poetry collection, A LaoisMeditation was launched, as was the2010 Laois Anthology, Laois Echoeswith Fionn MacCumhaill.Jennifer Johnston, Anthony Cronin,Michael Harding, Michael Coady,Peter Cunningham <strong>and</strong> myself readduring the festival accompan<strong>ie</strong>d byNuala Kelly, Triona Marshall <strong>and</strong>Viv<strong>ie</strong>nne Graham <strong>and</strong> hosted bySeamus Hosey, Muireann Ní Chonaill<strong>and</strong> Brid<strong>ie</strong> Keenan.In Mountmellick Library a veryspecial reading by young writers beforea packed aud<strong>ie</strong>nce was the highpoint of this residency for me. M14
John Whelan (middle) with fr<strong>ie</strong>nds.HIPPY, HIPPY, SHAKE:The cover of Buddha of Ballyhuppahaunwhere John Whelan explores his inner hippy.DON’T WORRYBE HIPPYFormer journalist John Whelan goes native as JohnnyRenko in new book brought to life in County Laois.HAVING cut my teeth as a teenagejournalist in the Leinster Express <strong>and</strong>a practising member of the fourthestate for over 30 years ever since,old habits d<strong>ie</strong> hard. While I haveearnestly set about learning newtricks such as surfing <strong>and</strong> yoga thisold dog still barks or at the very leastharks back for relevance.And while not everyone can live thelife of a hippy full on, I do bel<strong>ie</strong>ve weall have an inner hippy – singing at thetop of your voice in the shower, skinnydipping, picking hazel nuts <strong>and</strong> blackberr<strong>ie</strong>s from the hedgerows all qualifyyou – <strong>and</strong> from that hippy voice insideyour head, heart, belly or soul we allhave loads to learn if we only listened...Inspired by the arrival of theRainbow Travellers to the Sl<strong>ie</strong>veBloom Mountains in the summer of1993, The Buddha of Ballyhuppahaunis strongly influenced by the satiricalclassics Gulliver’s Travels <strong>and</strong> AnimalFarm <strong>and</strong> also draws on the parables<strong>and</strong> philosophy of Zen Flesh, ZenBones. Most recently at the Dublinlaunch of the book by the artist MickO’Dea in the Kevin Kavanagh Gallery,a colleague likened it to The Crock ofGold by James Stephens.For his part Mick O’Dea was struckby the book’s capacity to turn theparochial into the universal (afterPatrick Kavanagh).I have always wanted to write thisbook <strong>and</strong> tell this story. It's beenkicking around inside my head for 17years. When I lost my job inmainstream journalism I finally gotthe time <strong>and</strong> space to knuckle down,stop talking about it <strong>and</strong> finally do it.I came up with the title back at thatEuropean Rainbow Gathering nearRosenallis <strong>and</strong> the following year Iwent to Slovenia to attend thegathering in 1994 <strong>and</strong> again live withthe Rainbow Travellers.When you are living in a tepee withperfect strangers on the side of amountain in the Sl<strong>ie</strong>ve Blooms orWHAT do you get when you mix 200enthusiastic voices <strong>and</strong> bod<strong>ie</strong>s with anArtist in Residence? You get a classshowcase like no other says SusanneHogan, Artist in Residence – MountTemple National School, Co. Westmeath.When asked to work with an entireschool for one day per week for six weeksthe first thing to consider is how best tooptimise fun <strong>and</strong> learning, with a overallperformance objective. As an artist Ialways endeavour to create somethingthat is visually wonderful. As a dramatist<strong>and</strong> a teacher there are performance <strong>and</strong>learning objectives that must be met.Finally, as a child at heart, the element offun is, of course, the most crucial part ofthe process.For our work every week, my classes<strong>and</strong> I have drawn on the tradition of bards<strong>and</strong> storytellers. The junior <strong>and</strong> seniorinfants are working on the oral traditionof storytelling with iconic children’s tales.The junior class is examining theAmerican classic Goodnight Moon byMargaret Wise Brown <strong>and</strong> the senior classis presenting The Gruffalo by JuliaDonaldson – unequivocally a childhoodfavourite. In working with storytelling theyounger classes gain an introduction intothe basics of performance <strong>and</strong>Slovenia at the height of the BalkanWar you have an unusual opportunityin this surreal setting to ponder themeaning of life.The things that struck me mostabout the Rainbow Travellers are theirgentleness, generosity, resourcefulness,their sense of responsibility <strong>and</strong>community. As I was leaving thegathering in Slovenia, I said to onefr<strong>ie</strong>nd called Martin that I washeading back to the real world <strong>and</strong> herepl<strong>ie</strong>d: “I don't know where you aregoing, but this is the real world.”Another interesting aspect of thebook is that it’s independently publishedto the highest production values <strong>and</strong>best practice in environmental st<strong>and</strong>ardshere in Irel<strong>and</strong>. At a time when somany books by Irish authors are beingexpression thus developing their buddingself-confidence.For the older classes, first through tosixth, we are focusing on a mix ofimprovisational scene work to develop anunderst<strong>and</strong>ing of stagecraft <strong>and</strong>character. Each scene a group exploresencourages them to think on their feet<strong>and</strong> learn, in a very organic, h<strong>and</strong>s-onway, the art of the Theatre.As each group gets to put their ownindividual spin on the scene they aregiven, the children have the opportunity toexplore their creativity, their selfexpression,their own underst<strong>and</strong>ing of atopic <strong>and</strong> so therefore claim ownership ofwhat they subsequently present to thegroup. This has led to scenes where awashing machine refuses to wash or acat disrupts the family meal with amusingresults <strong>and</strong>, most importantly, garnerscomplete engagement <strong>and</strong> support bothfrom the performers <strong>and</strong> the aud<strong>ie</strong>nce.As well as acting, the classes havebeen working on a song p<strong>ie</strong>ce each, muchin the vein of Glee. The Glee approach tomusic <strong>and</strong> movement came about as away to broaden the concepts ofperformance <strong>and</strong> demystify dance assomething that is only for girls!Each group chose collectively their own“And while noteveryone can live thelife of a hippy full on,I do bel<strong>ie</strong>ve we allhave an inner hippy”produced <strong>and</strong> printed abroad thisbook is designed by Gillian Reidy'sPenhouse Design in Ratheniska,printed by Martin Connolly's PrintCentral in Portlaoise, edited by DarrenO’Loughlin, with drawings by GemmaGuihan. There is also an audio bookversion narrated by Nick Anton, allbased in County Laois.The Buddha of Ballyhuppahaun – ANew Age Fable by Johnny Renko isavailable in all good bookshops,priced €15. MARTIST IN RESIDENCE AND PUPILS FROM MOUNT TEMPLENATIONAL SCHOOL MIX THINGS UP WITH GLEEsong which they wish to perform <strong>and</strong> thejoy <strong>and</strong> the verve with which therespective classes, including the boys,have thrown themselves into singing <strong>and</strong>dancing their p<strong>ie</strong>ces has been fantasticto watch.We have incorporated all styles ofdance from Jazz, Irish, Hip Hop,Breakdancing <strong>and</strong> Ballet as well asContemporary <strong>and</strong> even some acrobatic<strong>and</strong> ribbon work with the studentsdrawing on their own repertoire of movesalong with the p<strong>ie</strong>ces we havechoreographed.I have been working in theatre <strong>and</strong>performance for 20 years now both on<strong>and</strong> off the stage, always broadening myhorizons <strong>and</strong> keeping everything freshthrough the exploration of new ideas <strong>and</strong>by crossing disciplines to create a newapproach to the work that I do as both anartist <strong>and</strong> a teacher. This freshness ofideas imbibes all the work with youth witha sense of fun. It allows for thespontaneous flow of creatvity <strong>and</strong> insistsupon turning it into performance. For thechildren at Mt Temple this has meant thateach class is new, fun, unexpected <strong>and</strong>most definitely never ever boring!M15
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011“I’m certain I would not havethe good fortune to live outmy dreams as a filmmaker,or even as a singer-songwriter,if not for that car accident.”Face-toFace-to-Face with award-winning County Offaly Filmmaker, PADDY SLATTERYFace-Mark McCauley, Director of Photography for The Moment,Actress, Maureen O'Donovan (wife holding dying mans h<strong>and</strong>)<strong>and</strong> Eamon Rohan (dying man in bed). Eamon was in notableshows like Fr Ted, Ballykissangel <strong>and</strong> The Clinic.16
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011Production-wise, we were fortunateto have a great cinematographer,Mark McCauley, who captured themost beautiful <strong>and</strong> ethereal imagerywith the latest RED One CameraTechnology, Dave McCune, whocomposed an original score for thefilm <strong>and</strong> the many others whovolunteered to work on it. Of course,my family, by default, made up half ofthe production crew. Thank God theirbel<strong>ie</strong>f in me is as strong as my bel<strong>ie</strong>fin the script. Without that, therewould be no film.“Each morningwhen I open myeyes I say tomyself: ‘I, notevents, have thepower to makeme happy orunhappy today.”Critical acclaim has been huge.I underst<strong>and</strong> The Moment has beenscreening all around the world.We only sent out this film into theworld recently but I’m shocked athow well it’s being received when youconsider the subject matter.It’s barely out the door yet it hasalready screened at Film Festivals inOffaly, Dublin, Monaghan, Derry, NewYork <strong>and</strong> South Africa where we wonthe Best International Short Film award<strong>and</strong> took Second Place in Clones.These are festivals I could have onlyimagined having our film shown, soit’s been a dream come true.Were you surprised at the successof film?I was <strong>and</strong> continue to be, but thefeedback from aud<strong>ie</strong>nces <strong>and</strong>judging panels have been great.I think it’s difficult to gaugesuccess in this industry thoughbecause, just like the music industry,there’s a lot of politics involved <strong>and</strong>the best films are not always theones that come away with the awards.I think what we ach<strong>ie</strong>ved frompractically a zero budget <strong>and</strong> a skeletoncrew, compared to films being fundedup to €100,000, can be regarded asa success so in that respect, I’m overthe moon with what we have ach<strong>ie</strong>ved.I think at this stage, I could bedangerous with a budget that big.Actually, come to think of it, ourgovernment could be dangerous witha budget that big!Does your work have recurringthemes etc?Yes. Everything I do comes fromthe heart. That’s what all my workhas in common. I’m still relativelynew to the filmmaking business, butI love what I do <strong>and</strong> would neverconsider it work. As long as I feel thatway, I will continue to do it. I also feelthat anyone who works or expressesthemselves through different forms ofmedia have a certain moral responsibilityso I like to instill a positive messagehere <strong>and</strong> there in the hope that I mayin some way, have a positiveinfluence on other peoples lives.You seem very positive – how do youstay so positive?Well without sounding too cheesy,I’m blessed with a loving family. Duringan uncertain period of my life, I alsodiscovered a deeper level of love formyself <strong>and</strong> now feel that I shouldnever hold myself in any less regard.As a result of that, I can live my lifewithout fear of a future that does notyet exist. Or as Groucho Marx mightsay: “Each morning when I open myeyes I say to myself: ‘I, not events,have the power to make me happy orunhappy today. I can choose which itshall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrowhasn't arrived yet. I have just one day,today, <strong>and</strong> I'm going to be happy in it’.”For further information aboutPaddy or his company SAD MantraProductions seewww.paddyslattery.com MPADDY’SCV IN BRIEFOccupation:Filmmaking: Writer/Director/ProducerMusic:Producer/Singer/Songwriter(www.myspace.com/paddyslatterymusic)Other:Lecturer/Life-coach (Mental Health &Well-being, Road Safety, Disability Awareness,Film, Music)Work to date:Writer/Co-Producer/Performer:Album of original music St<strong>and</strong> &Deliver (2006)Writer/Director:Music video for Head Over Heels (2007)Writer/Director/Producer:Two act stage play Good Heavens (2008)Debut short film Out of Tune (2009)Short film The Moment (2010)Writer/Producer:Short film The Boy, Who Flew!(2009 Shortlisted Clones Film Festival)Director/Producer:Short documentary My Life, with Mein it! (2010 post-production)Writer:Feature length screenplay The BrokenLaw of Attraction (In development)Feature length screenplay In Vision(In development)Director/Producer:TV ser<strong>ie</strong>s The Art Factor(2010 Pre-production)Awards:The MomentWinner of Best International ShortFilm 2010 in South AfricaSecond Place <strong>and</strong> HonourableMention at Clones Film Festival2010Official Selection at nineInternational film festivals so farThe Boy Who Flew:Shortlisted for Scanbitz Award,Franc<strong>ie</strong> Award, Aud<strong>ie</strong>nce Award2009Out of Tune:Selected from 250 Irish Short Filmsto screen for Launch of UCTV 2009Other Hobb<strong>ie</strong>s & Interests:Cinema, astrology, astronomy,meditation, art, poker, conversation,travel, nature, poetry, food, living...18
THE EXQUISITE COLAB – FOUR WESTMEATHARTISTS OPERATING AS A COLLECTIVE FORTHE PURPOSE OF COLLABORATION – HAVEUNDERTAKEN THE EveryonE PROJECT, ANINTERACTION BETWEEN THE COLAB, THEGRANGE WOMEN’S TRAVELLERS GROUPAND INDIVIDUALS FROM THE MULLINGARTRAVELLING COMMUNITY.ABOVE Paul Roy (Tyrellspass), Ann Wingf<strong>ie</strong>ld(Moate) <strong>and</strong> Celine Sheridan (Mullingar)presenting their exhibition in the Market House,Mullingar during Westmeath <strong>Culture</strong> Night.Missing from pic is Lesley Wingf<strong>ie</strong>ld.A LOOK AT COLABEveryonE brings artists <strong>and</strong> TravellingCommunity together in book with a differenceTHE EVERYONE Project embraces memory,reflection <strong>and</strong> inclusion examining theindividual exper<strong>ie</strong>nce of each contributor butin a manner that makes the collectiveexper<strong>ie</strong>nce <strong>and</strong> recollection a singular whole– in other words a collaborativedocumentation of how exper<strong>ie</strong>nce createsidentity within a soc<strong>ie</strong>ty. In essence, itsuggests that while everyone – fromwhatever social background – has theirown individual exper<strong>ie</strong>nces that ultimatelywe all share similar exper<strong>ie</strong>nces.As a result, the project it is not adocument about the relative differencesbetween the individuals on a social basisbut rather about inclusiveness <strong>and</strong> the ideathat ultimately everything that everyoneexper<strong>ie</strong>nces, the individual nuances of dailylife <strong>and</strong> the memor<strong>ie</strong>s that reflect theformation of the personality, are allcommon across the spectrum of soc<strong>ie</strong>ty.In other words, while superficially theymay appear to have an obvious socialrelevance in terms of identifying the statusof the individual, the reality is that in relationto the overall formation of the person themajority of exper<strong>ie</strong>nces are relatively similar.To this end EveryonE is intended aspure collaboration, where all contributionsbecome part of the overall project identity;where all recollection <strong>and</strong> reflection areequally valid. The artists react to their ownexper<strong>ie</strong>nce, to the exper<strong>ie</strong>nce of thecollaborators, to moments of interaction<strong>and</strong> thus observation is framed, (like theportraiture photographs within as snippetsof existence in a modern soc<strong>ie</strong>ty).EveryonE, in its literal sense, is aboutEveryone – while the backgrounds, thelives of all the collaborators diverge,exper<strong>ie</strong>nces overlap, the attitudes toprogress the aspirations intertwine, <strong>and</strong>desire for the identity of the single ego is asimportant as the collective identity of thewhole.All of these exper<strong>ie</strong>nces, reactions,memor<strong>ie</strong>s <strong>and</strong> observations have beengathered by the four CoLab artists into abook, a book not just of words <strong>and</strong> opinioncorralled into paragraphs, but of the wispsof memory <strong>and</strong> threads of life, the h<strong>and</strong>wroughtwords of a poet or the honest voiceof the matriarch, the measured drawing, thecasual sketch, prints, photographs, tinyartifacts of each life which have beenmolded into a single, significant book.The CoLab gathered these individualp<strong>ie</strong>ces together over several months fromthe artists of the CoLab in meetings,conversations <strong>and</strong> workshops with thewomen from the Grange <strong>and</strong> members ofthe wider travelling community, as well asindividual <strong>and</strong> collective works.It is a snapshot of people withoutjudgment <strong>and</strong> an artwork in book form,hardbound, elegant <strong>and</strong> honest.For further information seewww.facebook.com/exquistitecolab MA HEALTHY INTEREST IN ARTANAM Beo is a Charitable Company run byartists, providing participant led creativeworkshops in the health sector thatempower people <strong>and</strong> encourage them tobecome involved in creativity. The artisticaspirations <strong>and</strong> ach<strong>ie</strong>vements of Anam Beoparticipants through the organisation’s Artin Health project are a valued <strong>and</strong> visiblepart of Offaly.Anam Beo endeavours to raise theprofile of its participants <strong>and</strong> to increaseopportunit<strong>ie</strong>s for aud<strong>ie</strong>nces to exper<strong>ie</strong>ncetheir artwork.It is through a ‘h<strong>and</strong>s on’ approach thatAnam Beo creates access to the <strong>Arts</strong> withinthe community <strong>and</strong> presently Anam Beoworks with four day care centres where it isobvious that this continuous art interventionhas resulted in participants demonstratingnotable increases in confidence, mobility<strong>and</strong> wellbeing.Anam Beo is keen to develop further,network <strong>and</strong> engage with more participants,reaching out to develop new partnerships<strong>and</strong> sponsorship for care settings.The Fall of the LeafAT THE beginning of 2010 Anam Beoreceived The <strong>Arts</strong> Council CommissionsAward to place artist Michael Fortune, aprocess led film artist, within the Anam Beofacilitator’s community.Within each centre Michael provided theAnam Beo facilitators <strong>and</strong> the centres’participants with creative short film/animationworkshops <strong>and</strong> much to the delight of theparticipants the centres have also createdshort films of their own.Alongside demonstrating his previouswork he guided Anam Beo with the launch ofthe website www.anambeo.com.During his time in Offaly Michael createdhis own p<strong>ie</strong>ce of film work The Fall of theLeaf that is part of a collection.Both this film <strong>and</strong> the Anam Beo websitewas launched last May in Birr Theatre <strong>and</strong><strong>Arts</strong> Centre <strong>and</strong> was then shown duringBealtaine in Offaly Librar<strong>ie</strong>s County wide.Michael’s film work focuses on recordingcustoms, superstitions <strong>and</strong> bel<strong>ie</strong>fs throughoutCounty Offaly with video footage recordedbeing produced into a collection of folklore.Recorded in HSE care centres in Clara,Tullamore, Birr, Edenderry <strong>and</strong> the IWA inBallinagar between January <strong>and</strong> April thisyear, the 25 minute film features recordingsof various people speaking about bel<strong>ie</strong>fs<strong>and</strong> superstitions which range from walkingin the May dew to not throwing out asheson a Monday.Although the film draws attention tomany bel<strong>ie</strong>fs, which are slowly disappearing,the work does not attempt to servicenostalgia; instead, Fortune sees the workas much a celebration of the people relatingthe accounts, as it is the stor<strong>ie</strong>s beingrelayed. The use of the film helps furtherbring the stor<strong>ie</strong>s to life as the accent <strong>and</strong>manners of the people recorded play asmuch an important role as the story theyare telling.About the film-makerFORTUNE grew up in a family immersedin story, superstition <strong>and</strong> bel<strong>ie</strong>f on the coastof Wexford <strong>and</strong> this subject has proved toON CAMERA: Kate Daly <strong>and</strong> PeggyNagle from the IWA being interv<strong>ie</strong>wedfor the Fall of the Leaf.be a rich feeding ground for his work formany years.He has produced many folklorecollections on film throughout Irel<strong>and</strong> in thepast 10 years <strong>and</strong> these collections arehoused in various public <strong>and</strong> privatecollections nationally <strong>and</strong> internationally. Inrecent years he has presented these tovarious Folklore Departments including TheFolklore Departments of MemorialUniversity, Newfoundl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> UniversityCollege Cork.M19
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011culptureinInternationally renowned artist makes history in Lough Boora Parkl<strong>and</strong>sJohn K Gr<strong>and</strong>e, Writer in Residence, has a chat with Alfio Bonanno, Artist in Residence,at Sculpture in the Parkl<strong>and</strong>s 2010.JG: Alfio, it’s great to meet up withyou <strong>and</strong> to see this new initiativewhere sculpture works with nature asa total integration. Art in nature canopen up new dialogues. What we callpublic art is too narrow a definitionfor an art that engages a public. Publicart can become so generic <strong>and</strong> sterile.An art that engages community in naturehas an exciting <strong>and</strong> engaging dynamic.AB: Taking art out to the communityis the point; take it out there, to avillage, a remote community, wheresomething is going to happen with it.Way out you get a response,collaboration <strong>and</strong> there is a sharedmeaning. When you are gone, thesepeople participate, look after it, <strong>and</strong>they make it live.JG: So this is a different kind of art,both in terms of realisation <strong>and</strong>conception that you are directing yourenerg<strong>ie</strong>s towards… Initiatives likeFrom Earth to Sky for Sculpture inthe Parkl<strong>and</strong>s at Lough Boora, CountyOffaly establish links with history <strong>and</strong>the local community. How did youarrive at the concept for the p<strong>ie</strong>ce?AB: I was really excited when I took atrip into the bogl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> looked atthis black l<strong>and</strong>scape. I saw piles <strong>and</strong>piles of bogwood just sticking up.This was my language. I felt veryhumble <strong>and</strong> excited at the sametime. Humans were living in this areaup to 10,000 years ago <strong>and</strong> so thereis an energy in working with thisanc<strong>ie</strong>nt peat wood material. Thosep<strong>ie</strong>ces of wood carry a memory ofthe anc<strong>ie</strong>nt forest if you can plug intothat. Just think what it will tell you.The peat l<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> bogwood, theMesolithic site nearby all represent atime frame where I feel my connectionto the beginning as a human being. Itis a universal thing. I am working withthe forest <strong>and</strong> with a respect for whathas been here. Of course, the firststep was this bogwood as the rawmaterial. I liked the idea <strong>and</strong> there isa lot of it here. I found the materialbut how do you work with it? Lookingfor a site, something has to catchyour feeling. Normally it is my bodythat has to react to it; I feel it as aphysical sensation. Walking alongthe path in the Parkl<strong>and</strong>s we reacheda small lake that had been dammed.And the running water went into ahole <strong>and</strong> made a beautiful sound. Icaught onto that. Why look foranother site, when this first feelingwas just right for me? This was enough,so I stopped there <strong>and</strong> went with it.JG: Sculpture in the Parkl<strong>and</strong>s createsthis link between human culture <strong>and</strong>nature. Can you tell me how youarrived at the original concept?AB: Working with site specific worksin different cultures in differentl<strong>and</strong>scapes I found it was veryimportant to do structures thatinvolve people – to create a spacethat invites you, out of curiosity, toenter into is the way I work. I havebeen making structures, works thatinvite you to participate. I am notinterested in sculptures that are justvisual. This is physical. It is bigbecause the l<strong>and</strong>scape requires acertain size – we have to get peoplein here. So the scale also involvescertain issues of safety. The workshopsat Bord na Móna have been fantasticbuilding this huge steel structure <strong>and</strong>they are creative, good at the workthey do. This was a group effort that20
“Humans were living in this area up to 10,000years ago <strong>and</strong> so there is an energy in workingwith this anc<strong>ie</strong>nt peat wood material.”important. They tell you where you gowith a project. The l<strong>and</strong>scape, thearea, the materials will tell you whatyou can do.JG: What you have done is reallyquite brilliant. For 21st centurysculpture this is really quite a radicalstep you have taken, finding thiscommon thread that brings us,through an artwork, into contact withanc<strong>ie</strong>nt living history. PostModernismwas all about breaking links, havingno connection to any past. Here youhave a work that reconnects ecologyto human culture.AB: The size connects to humanscale. Sculpture is also like aphysical space connection betweenthe human body <strong>and</strong> theenvironment. For me, it is the feeling<strong>and</strong> the intuition that this is right.Because I am a human I amconnecting to other humans, to mypast, to my ancestors, to the l<strong>and</strong>. Itis part of my life. I have a threadthere connecting me to that – that,for me, is the most important thing<strong>and</strong> whatever happens afterwardswith the art world <strong>and</strong> postmodernismI am not interested!See www.sculptureintheparkl<strong>and</strong>s.comMtheParkl<strong>and</strong>sis part of it, I can't do this alone <strong>and</strong>the participation of all these peoplehelping me gives it energy.JG: And part of the energy is thisactive water coming in from thel<strong>and</strong>scape in the form of a stream –water as an active element in acontemporary work of sculpture.AB: The water is moving <strong>and</strong> thesound is there; it is creating life <strong>and</strong>is life. I am so happy I orchestrated“I respect thematerials I use <strong>and</strong>bel<strong>ie</strong>ve collaborationwith materials isimportant. They tellyou where you gowith a project.”the tree roots to frame the water asit enters, visually it is exciting <strong>and</strong> willstimulate a lot of associations.JG: There is also this sense of thephysics <strong>and</strong> weight of matter <strong>and</strong> theway time wears on matter. Thephysics of matter is more radicalthan any ideology that could havecome up in the last century or two,avant gardism <strong>and</strong> so on.AB: The respect for the materials isessential. I dialogue with thematerials. If you respect the materialsthat you work with, they will work withyou. If you look at the surface of thiswood there is so much texture – it isjust there. It is this wood from thisbog. It is not to cut up <strong>and</strong> burn. Thiswood needs respect. That is the wayI feel about it.JG: With the open space up top, itmay have a James Turrell-like feel forthe way the light works within <strong>and</strong>without your sculpture. The sky is likea lamp that ignites the wholel<strong>and</strong>scape at sunrise, sunset <strong>and</strong>through the day it changes.AB: When the sun hits the outerwalls of bogwood, <strong>and</strong> sendsshadows into the stone within,it creates beautiful shadowsas well. When you have thesun, you have shadow <strong>and</strong>this will change all thetime, unexpected thingswillhappen.Orchestrating how thewood is installed isvery important.Connectingthe outsidewith stonesthat will leadyou into the areais also important.Site is important. Irespect thematerials I use <strong>and</strong>bel<strong>ie</strong>ve collaborationwith materials is21
From Laois toLjubljanaPictured at the LjubljanaSummer Festival is artistPatricia BennettLAOIS-based artist Patricia Bennett was one of only eight artists from around the world invited to participatein this year’s International Fine <strong>Arts</strong> Colony at the Ljubljana Summer Festival, Ljubljana, Slovenia.The Festival, in its fifty-eighth year,is one of the prem<strong>ie</strong>r arts events inEurope <strong>and</strong> The International Fine<strong>Arts</strong> Colony in its twelfth year is afirm fixture in the international <strong>Arts</strong>calendar. This year, eight visualartists were invited – four fromSlovenia <strong>and</strong> four internationalsfrom Italy, Malta, Bulgaria <strong>and</strong> Irel<strong>and</strong>.The Colony is an ongoing project,which represents a chronicle of 12summers in Ljubljana. Each year theparticipating artists donate a p<strong>ie</strong>ceof their work to the permanentexhibition which now totals morethan 120 works – half fromSlovenian artists, half from theinternational contingent.“We were invited<strong>and</strong> encouragedto exper<strong>ie</strong>nceeverything thatwas happeningaround us.”The Colony is organised toencourage cooperation between theartists themselves <strong>and</strong> integrationwithin the festival as a whole. Thefestival is set in an urbanenvironment – in <strong>and</strong> around thegrounds of Ljubljana Castle – in thecentre of Ljubljana. The Colonytakes place at a time when the citybreathes artistic creation, not justvisual, but also musical <strong>and</strong> literary,in a bid to foster a cross-pollinationof ideas.The artists were asked toproduce work, which reflected thisintegration of the visual <strong>and</strong> otherart. So, in addition, to being given allthe facilit<strong>ie</strong>s required to producetheir p<strong>ie</strong>ces they were invited toattend performances of ballet(Maurice Béjart), opera (Tchaikovsky)<strong>and</strong> the Munich PhilharmonicOrchestra. They also went on boattrips on the Ljubljanica River <strong>and</strong>were invited to socialise with otherfestival participants.“We were invited <strong>and</strong> encouragedto exper<strong>ie</strong>nce everything that washappening around us,” said Patricia.“While we worked we were exposedto the sounds of musiciansrehearsing. I drew inspiration fromthis, but also from the fact that weworked outdoors, so the naturalsurroundings – trees, river, light –were also a source.“As a result, I bel<strong>ie</strong>ve we wereable to realise the aims of thefestival organisers – to express ourlove for painting as a sincereexpression of our inner <strong>and</strong> creativesearch – <strong>and</strong> to express ourselvesin the ‘language’ of music <strong>and</strong>literature, as well as our own – thevisual arts”The week concluded with theopening of the Festival exhibition byTomo Vran, the selector <strong>and</strong>attended by classical musician <strong>and</strong>Festival Director, Darko Brlek, localdignitar<strong>ie</strong>s, including the Mayor ofLjubljana <strong>and</strong> representatives fromThe Irish Embassy.The artists set up a group calledColony 10 which is planning tocollaborate in the coming months<strong>and</strong> host a joint exhibition in 2011or early 2012.“I would like to take thisopportunity to thank Darko Brlek,Festival Organiser, Tomo Vran,Selector, the Irish Embassy <strong>and</strong>Michael Burke for his initialinvitation <strong>and</strong> support.“Now that I am back at GrenanMill I have time to truly reflect on theexper<strong>ie</strong>nce <strong>and</strong> to utilise what Ilearned there to enrich my ownwork,” said Patrica.Patricia is currently engaged in atwo-year study at the Grenan MillCraft School in Thomastown,Kilkenny, where she is upskilling inall aspects of the visual arts. M22
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011“Well, we couldnot have made abetter decision.From the momentwe arrived the sunshone, <strong>and</strong> wewere able to paintoutside for mostof that beautifulOctober.”BECAUSE our son Malachy liveson a boat on the Shannon, we havebecome increasingly familiar <strong>and</strong>enamoured with the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s.On a boat journey from Banagherto Tullamore, Brian wasimpressed by Belmont Lock <strong>and</strong>the surrounding l<strong>and</strong>scape so thenext time we visited the area bycar we stopped to explore <strong>and</strong>visited Belmont Mill where wemet Tom Dolan for the first time.We had been working on a bookof 50 years’ of Brian's work <strong>and</strong> wereabout to forge ahead into a summerof major exhibitions to launch it. Weknew that we would need a changeof working environment when all thiswas over, so we booked a studio forthe entire month of October. Tom wasextremely helpful <strong>and</strong> recommendedthat we stay in the lovely gate lodgeof Lisderg House, which is justacross the road from the mill.Well, we could not have made abetter decision. From the moment wearrived the sun shone, <strong>and</strong> we wereable to paint outside for most of thatbeautiful October.Brian chose to work from thefourth floor of the old mill, lookingdown on the mature trees that growin its grounds. As the work progressedhe found himself returning to thesubject of the legendary manbirdSweeney about whom we had bothconducted a ser<strong>ie</strong>s of work in theeight<strong>ie</strong>s. In the last week of our stay hegave a lecture on the subject,illustrated by his previous Sweeneyser<strong>ie</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> surrounded by the newwork which seemed about to bevisited by Sweeney.My subject matter was the hydroelectricturbine, which used to be runby the Perry family <strong>and</strong> now by Pine,who kindly allowed me to placemyself in precarious v<strong>ie</strong>wing sites ofthe turbine if I promised not to fall in<strong>and</strong> drown!I am as interested in the rustingold machinery as I am in the new, asmy overall theme is always abouthow nature reclaims our creationswhen we cease to maintain them.Brian Bourke working at Belmont MillBelmont MillJay Murphy Writes of her memor<strong>ie</strong>s of painting at Belmont Mill with Brian BourkeMy interest was sparked by anothertrip on Malachy’s boat, from Limerickback to Banagher, where we had thedramatic exper<strong>ie</strong>nce of passing throughArdnacrusha, <strong>and</strong> I am also doing alarge ser<strong>ie</strong>s on this subject.Since our return to the studio inGalway, we have been working fromthe material we produced in the mill.Brian is already well on the way tocompleting a magnificent triptych ofthree large oils on canvas. Instead ofSweeney, what we see in the sky arethese amazing model aeroplaneswhich were also a feature of our visit.I am combining the two subjectsfor a solo exhibition in Norman VillaGallery in Galway next year.It was a pleasure to meet <strong>and</strong>work alongside the artists in theother studios, but best of all was toget to know the Dolan family who wereso gracious <strong>and</strong> helpful throughout.The work they have done on the millis a huge ach<strong>ie</strong>vement <strong>and</strong> ofenormous value to the area.MBelmont MillArtists’ StudiosCelebrateSuccessS<strong>and</strong>y Lloyd ownerof Belmont Mill looksback at 2010:THIS year has passed soquickly <strong>and</strong> we have had somewonderful artists on the bursaryprogramme. Their length of staywas reduced to eight weekswhich enabled us to offer twomore artists the chance tocome to Belmont.I was delighted to see a p<strong>ie</strong>ceby Laura Fitzgerald hanging inthe Douglas Hyde as part of thepermanent collection bought byTrinity College – a resident herein 2008.Emily Archer, who was aresident here in 2009, had asolo exhibition The Post RoomProject as Artist in Residence atthe Waterford Healing Art Trust.Antonio Castro, with us in June<strong>and</strong> July 2010, is having a soloshow in London in December<strong>and</strong> he will be starting ourprogramme of Art on Showat Belmont in July 2011.To extend our calendar ofevents we hosted a ser<strong>ie</strong>s ofthree talks given by art historiansfrom the National Gallery inDublin. They were such a greatsuccess that we hope to presenta further ser<strong>ie</strong>s of three nextyear covering different artistsrepresented in the gallery.A highlight of the year wasthe presence of Brian Bourke<strong>and</strong> Jay Murphy who rented astudio for the month of October<strong>and</strong> were to be seen everyday,perched somewhere on the sitepainting in the glorious sunnydays. Brian very generouslygave a talk about his Sweeneyser<strong>ie</strong>s of work to an aud<strong>ie</strong>nceof artists <strong>and</strong> art lovers.”For more information visitwww.belmontmill.comRight: Sluice Gate by Jay Murphy23
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011Talks,walksTWO IS my lucky number. At 2.22pmon the Sunday, my 21-year-old Hondacame to rest in the car park at theTyrone Guthr<strong>ie</strong> Centre. A gentlefr<strong>ie</strong>nd, who had been here to do herpaintings, had told me, ‘It will changeyour life’.My journey had begun in brilliantsunshine but as if in symbolicshrouding of the prediction, adeepening mist had settled downupon the roads <strong>and</strong> countryside. Itheightened my excitement.With no wrong turns, my progresswent surprisingly well, until Newbliss– here I knew I'd need local directions.At a garage shop it was with NewblissOblige that the local TD, with ashaving cut to his right ear, gave methe number of left turns <strong>and</strong> sharpbends to take, in a pleasant chat overhis shopping basket. As I thanked himhe added cheerily, ‘I hope the gateswon't be locked when you get there.’Once off the main road, following asign for Annaghmakerrig Lake, I droveback <strong>and</strong> forth on forest roads, pastfarms <strong>and</strong> scatterings of dwellingswith no humans, nor lake in sight.Outside the houses <strong>and</strong> cottages allthe dogs made eye contact in afr<strong>ie</strong>ndly manner <strong>and</strong> a nod of ‘Youlook like the new lost artist’. Suchwas their apparent thought that inhalf a blink I nearly stopped to askthem for directions.According to the brochure thatgood soul had lent me, Heaney,Enright <strong>and</strong> Tóibín as well as McCabe,Banotti <strong>and</strong> Byrne were among those<strong>and</strong> forksFirst impressions <strong>and</strong> lasting intentions for a two-week bursary at The TyroneGuthr<strong>ie</strong> Centre, Annaghmakerrig“Sliding back theglass doors the fullaroma of divinecooking <strong>and</strong> merrychatter burst out. Ihad found the lifewithin!”who had found their distinguishedways to this artists’ retreat: ‘Theymust have had cop<strong>ie</strong>s of the treasuremap’, thought my dipping spirits, ‘foram I not a mere poseur from Offaly?’But it was thanks to a wee black dog,a ginger cat, <strong>and</strong> the man who openedhis door, that close to an hour later Idid at last pull up at the low, metalgates. Ah! those low, white <strong>and</strong> blackmetal gates, with the very small,discrete sign, that I’d obviouslybypassed several times: those unopenablegates, <strong>and</strong> the sinkingfeeling that a TD could have slippedthe truth out.I rang the bell. It remained so qu<strong>ie</strong>tbut for the dripping trees. Then, inbarely five minutes, a white carappeared <strong>and</strong> pulled over as if towelcome me. ‘I know the magiccode’, she said. But that was mereluck, for the departing artist <strong>and</strong> Iwould not meet again. A drive edgedby old woods <strong>and</strong> a fork, with stoneoutbuildings to the right. Creak <strong>and</strong>“But it was thanks toa wee black dog, aginger cat, <strong>and</strong> theman who opened hisdoor, that close to anhour later I did atlast pull up at thelow, metal gates.”pop of stone under tyres, <strong>and</strong> thenthe Victorian house appeared allGothicky up on its rise; points <strong>and</strong>textured s<strong>ie</strong>nna emerging from thewhite cloud.But all other humans had retreatedfrom the artists’ retreat. Stillness.This old bell didn’t call anyone acrossthe or<strong>ie</strong>ntal rugs in the gr<strong>and</strong> hallway.Should I curl up under the rugs in mycar <strong>and</strong> wait? But then it seemedlogical to walk around the building toglimpse through windows. At the firstcorner sweet aromas of food cookingrevived hope. Through the steamykitchen glass I waved to a chef <strong>and</strong>he waved back but dived behind hispots. Suddenly, a bearded youngman came to my rescue. Sliding backthe glass doors the full aroma ofdivine cooking <strong>and</strong> merry chatterburst out. I had found the life within!With the nicest ease, he introducedhimself, leaving his lunch to checkthe room list in the kitchen. He tookme upstairs <strong>and</strong> along creakingcorridors filled with artworks <strong>and</strong>antiques, to my lovely room – mine forthe next two weeks – overlooking theside lawns <strong>and</strong> Autumn-tinted shrubs<strong>and</strong> trees. Back down we went, viathe gr<strong>and</strong> main stairs, to where aroundthe long pine dining table in front ofa flaming stove, smiling faces ofdifferent ages <strong>and</strong> accents introducedthemselves. Two sweet, courteous,older gentlemen fussed around makingsure I had a plateful of the goodSunday lunch, <strong>and</strong> that it was hot.Apart from being made to feelinstantly welcomed, <strong>and</strong> at ease, myfirst positive memor<strong>ie</strong>s will alwaysinclude the sight of the meringuemountain-topped trifles.After lunch, the chart was checkedagain <strong>and</strong> with his gentle ceremony,Phelim, 'husb<strong>and</strong> of the director'showed me to Studio Three in thecourtyard. After a brisk, stretchingwalk in the dusk, I decanted my littlecar of all its assorted bags. After allthe unpacking between room <strong>and</strong>studio, by 7pm I was ravenous. Itwas everyone's time for fridgeraiding,<strong>and</strong> the enjoyment of listening<strong>and</strong> getting to know the writers,dancers, poets, painters, performers...With all my good intentions wiredfor getting straight into story-writing<strong>and</strong> illustrating, on Monday morningafter breakfast, I dressed for a goodwalk instead. But, just to check I hadnot imagined it, I went first to thestudio. Up two steps, opened theunlocked door <strong>and</strong> tears welled up inmy eyes. The emotion of being hereat last was overcoming me. I turnedon the battered radio, retuned to lyricfm <strong>and</strong> Holst’s Bringer of Jollity filledthe space. I forgot ‘work’ <strong>and</strong> danced<strong>and</strong> twirled around the huge, brightroom with tears bouncing off mysecond-h<strong>and</strong> wax jacket.Mby Rosalind Fanning24
Br<strong>ie</strong>ge Madden catchesup with award-winningKillucan photographerTim Durham <strong>and</strong> got asnapshot into his newproject on WestmeathSocial Housing – aswell as some tea <strong>and</strong>carrot cake.FRAMEDWITH the budget like a drearyblack cloud hovering over us all,it’s almost impossible not tohave a discussion about theeconomy with virtual strangerstrudging down the street, or atthe local shop <strong>and</strong> my firstmeeting with Tim Durham didn’tbreak with this new tradition.As we warmed up for the biginterv<strong>ie</strong>w sipping coffee, eatingcarrot cake <strong>and</strong> putting the stateof the country in order, Timrecollected when he was firstexposed to the idea that the<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s was a donut!Tim, who was born in Engl<strong>and</strong>,came over to Irel<strong>and</strong> on StPatrick’s Day 1990 <strong>and</strong>eventually settled in Killucan,County Westmeath in February1995 – but there were those whoraised eyebrows about his choiceof address. He told me how hehad met someone in Mullingarwho said: “Do you not know thatIrel<strong>and</strong> is like a donut… culturallyeveryone gravitates towards theedges <strong>and</strong> you have just moved tothe hole in the middle.”However, this warning didn’tscare photographer Tim away<strong>and</strong>, on the contrary, he admitsthat he draws quite a lot ofinspiration from the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s <strong>and</strong>its “undiscovered gems”. In fact,he bel<strong>ie</strong>ves that the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>sspawns original creativity –perhaps because of itsgeographical position rather thanin spite of it – <strong>and</strong> gives him roomto breath artistically.25
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011The 47-year-old explained: “I dolike living in the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s… Iwouldn’t particularly want to live inthe west. I don’t particularly want asea v<strong>ie</strong>w <strong>and</strong> I think the reason forthat is I don’t want people alwayssaying ‘isn’t it absolutely fantastichere, isn’t it an amazing v<strong>ie</strong>w,aren’t the mountains lovely’. Youhave that fantastic seascape <strong>and</strong>that ever changing sky but whilethose are always very nice things Ithink it can be hard to find yourselfoften in those places or often it’shard to find the things to look atwithout being directed by others.“It is eas<strong>ie</strong>r for me to find myown pace here in the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s <strong>and</strong>find what it is that interestsme here.”And with his new project, to becompleted in March 2011, it wouldseem that he will be drawing evenmore inspiration from the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s– past <strong>and</strong> present.Currently Tim, as part of thePerCent for <strong>Arts</strong> Scheme, hasbeen commissioned by WestmeathCounty Council to produce a p<strong>ie</strong>ceof work on the history of WestmeathCounty Council housing.For the project he intends tophotograph the exterior of councilhouses within Westmeath (excludingAthlone) <strong>and</strong> then do a ser<strong>ie</strong>s ofinterv<strong>ie</strong>ws with people connectedto county council social housing.“I have started the project,” saidTim. “I have done maybe 10interv<strong>ie</strong>ws with people <strong>and</strong> atpresent am sort of taking a breakfrom it.”The respected travel photographerexplained that he wants tophotograph the houses towardsthe end of the winter with as fewleaves on the trees as possible tobe consistent in his photographyapproach.“I don’t particularly want peopleto notice the difference in theweather or season. I want them tonotice the difference in thehouses.”Although still in the conceptualstage Tim did say that physicallythe end product could either bea book or a portfolio of pictures.“I don’t have a complete sort ofpicture of how it will be in the endbut that it will be revealing ofcouncil housing <strong>and</strong> the peoplewho lived there <strong>and</strong> how peoplesee council housing – boththe residents <strong>and</strong> outsiders.”This is Tim’s second PerCent forArt Scheme. In 2008, he wascommissioned by Meath CountyCouncil following the refurbishmentof Kells Town Hall <strong>and</strong> asked toexplore the connection betweenthe Book of Kells <strong>and</strong> the isl<strong>and</strong> ofIona in Scotl<strong>and</strong>.In fact, Tim has had aninterest in photographing workingenvironments for some time <strong>and</strong> in2006 he gained access to theoffices of The Irish Times in thelast month they producedthe paper from D’Ol<strong>ie</strong>r Street.Following this, in 2008–2009 hewent on to photograph the activeworking environment of Tara MinesChefchaouen, Morocco. Tim Durham ©26
Mines in Navan <strong>and</strong> morerecently, in 2009, Tim photographedat Shackleton Mills, a formerflourmill in Lucan. In each case hewas very particularly interested inthe work environment.Tim somehow finds the time toteach photography to TransitionYear Students, in OutreachCentres <strong>and</strong> to artists to enablethem to record their own work withthe equipment they have forwebsites <strong>and</strong> catalogues as wellas photographing the work ofartists whether its paintings,drawings or sculptures.But, looking ahead Tim is eagerto remain thought provoking <strong>and</strong> isnot one who will be taking thingseasy any time soon. He admitsthat getting older can sometimesmean people play it safe but he isShackleton Mill Tim Durham ©determined to take chances. “I'm47 now <strong>and</strong> I’m very aware thatwith age, generally, people takefewer risks <strong>and</strong> become moreconservative in their thinking. I’dlike to keep taking a good few risksevery year.“I would like to work faster, morefreely <strong>and</strong> on smaller projects thatdon’t necessarily end in an exhibitionbut rather a limited editionportfolio box or h<strong>and</strong> made book.”“In recent years I’ve beenfortunate to photograph in peopleshomes <strong>and</strong> workplaces. I plan ondoing much more of this.”For further information <strong>and</strong> tocheck out Tim’s work seewww.timdurham.<strong>ie</strong>MA SNAPSHOT OF TIM’S CVBorn: 1963 LondonTravel Photography:1989 – 1999Freelance travel photography inAfrica, Europe <strong>and</strong> North AmericaSolo Exhibitions:650-1575: Images Of A MineSolstice <strong>Arts</strong> Centre, Navan,Co. MeathPerfect-ImperfectSolstice <strong>Arts</strong> Centre, Navan,Co. MeathSoap OperaInstitute of Physics, Portl<strong>and</strong>Place, LondonBubblesW5, BelfastThe Multi Coloured WorldOf Soap FilmsBA Festival, Trinity College, DublinSoap OperaDraíocht <strong>Arts</strong> Centre,Blanchardstown, DublinGroup Exhibitions:BubbleSc<strong>ie</strong>nce Gallery, Dublin 2Heartl<strong>and</strong>Riverbank <strong>Arts</strong> Centre, Newbridge,Co. KildarePlatform 1Mullingar <strong>Arts</strong> Centre,Co. WestmeathPublic Commissions:Per Cent for Art, Westmeath CountyCouncil, Mullingar, Co. WestmeathPer Cent for Art, Kells TownCouncil, Co. MeathWestmeath County Council,Mullingar, Co. WestmeathPublic Collections:Fingal County Council, Civic Offices,Blanchardstown, Dublin 15Sc<strong>ie</strong>nce Gallery, Trinity College,Dublin 2Corporate Collections:Fuji Irel<strong>and</strong> Head Office,Glasnevin, DublinWyeth Biopharmaceutical Campus,Grange Castle, DublinAwards:Westmeath County CouncilEquipment GrantAchill Heinrich Böll AssociationWestmeath County Council Bursaryto the Tyrone Guthr<strong>ie</strong> Centre<strong>Arts</strong> Council Travel AwardAbove right: On October 24th 2006 the last edition of the Irish Times was issued from their D’Ol<strong>ie</strong>rStreet offices. Tim’s photographic project records the old building in the last six weeks up to the move.27
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011Energetic Participation: Jessica Clarke of Energy PlusSchool of Dance, Mullingar, performed at the MarketSquare in Mullingar during Wesmeath <strong>Culture</strong> Night.estmeathThe hallmark for <strong>Culture</strong> Nightin the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>sFace-to-Face: Bartle D’arcy,General Manager, BelvedereHouse ensured the historicbuilding played a part inWestmeath <strong>Culture</strong> Night <strong>and</strong>offered a free tour of thefamous estate.Pic: Br<strong>ie</strong>ge MaddenManaging Director of theTemple Bar Cultural Trust –the organisation behind<strong>Culture</strong> Night – is lookingforward to Irel<strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong>Night 2011 <strong>and</strong> hopes thesuccess of Westmeath<strong>Culture</strong> Night will becomethe “hallmark” for the<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s.Dermot McLaughlin told the<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>:“Westmeath <strong>Culture</strong> Night reallycaptured the spirit of the <strong>Culture</strong>Night <strong>and</strong> it blazed a new culturaltrail in people’s imaginations. Fromlooking at the media coverage <strong>and</strong>impact, it is clear that <strong>Culture</strong> Night <strong>and</strong>Westmeath make a perfect match!“The range of events <strong>and</strong> thebroad sense of inclusion <strong>and</strong> sharedinvolvement leading up to Westmeath<strong>Culture</strong> Night reminded us of the rolethat culture plays in defining us <strong>and</strong> increating communit<strong>ie</strong>s.”He added: “I hope that the kind ofleadership <strong>and</strong> confidence thatWestmeath showed this year willbecome the hallmark for <strong>Culture</strong> Nightnot just in Westmeath, but also in the<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s generally.“2011 is a really important year inthe development of <strong>Culture</strong> Night<strong>and</strong> our goal is to work with all ourpartners to create Irel<strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong>Night so that the isl<strong>and</strong> of Irel<strong>and</strong> isbuzzing with culture <strong>and</strong> welcoming toeveryone.”“I expect to see Westmeath atthe forefront of this!" enthused MrMcLaughlin.Westmeath’s first ever <strong>Culture</strong> Night,which was held on September 24,surpassed all expectations. CatherineKelly, Westmeath County Council <strong>Arts</strong>Officer, said: “The very first <strong>Culture</strong>Night to be held in Westmeath inSeptember went brilliantly. We hadmore events than most other count<strong>ie</strong>sdespite this being our first year, whichreally highlighted the vast wealth oftalent Westmeath has to offer.”28
She added: “I would like to thankeveryone involved in making Westmeath<strong>Culture</strong> Night such a success, allthose who organised an event <strong>and</strong>everybody that helped in anyway.“It just proves that when a county,town or village unites togetheranything can be ach<strong>ie</strong>ved.”In the end there were close to 100events taking place throughout thecounty including dancing, family fun,music, poetry, lectures, art, drama -<strong>and</strong> all for free.Grainne Togher, a member of theMullingar Scribblers read excerptsfrom her new novel Comings <strong>and</strong>Goings, All Irel<strong>and</strong> Talent stars TheGolden Sister were on song in Athlone<strong>and</strong> artists throughout the countyshowcased their works.In fact it would seem that onlyDublin surpassed Westmeath’simpressive lineup – despite thisbeing the county’s inaugural event.Events began at 10am onSeptember 24 <strong>and</strong> finished inthe early hours in locations across thecounty including Mullingar, Kinnegad,Castlepollard, Killare, Delvin,Fore, Athlone, Moate <strong>and</strong> Ballynacargy.While this was the first time <strong>Culture</strong>Night was held in Westmeath theevent has been running since 2006 inother count<strong>ie</strong>s around Irel<strong>and</strong>including Dublin which saw more than150,000 people attend some 120venues last year.The event is an initiative of theTemple Bar Cultural Trust <strong>and</strong> is partsponsored by the Department ofTourism, <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>and</strong> Sport <strong>and</strong>Westmeath County Council. MSeewww.westmeathcoco.<strong>ie</strong>/culturenightCULTURE NIGHTSHOWCASEDALL-IRELANDTALENT!Athlone trio The Golden Sisters, whoappeared on the All-Irel<strong>and</strong> Talentshow last year, hit all the right noteson September 24 when theyperformed in Athlone's Dean CroweTheatre during Westmeath <strong>Culture</strong>Night 2010. The Coosan sistersShauna 17, Clíodhna 15 <strong>and</strong> Aishling12 represented the east on the talentshow <strong>and</strong> were one of Bláthnaid NíChofaigh acts. The girls are thedaughters of Barry <strong>and</strong> SharonGolden from Hillquarter.Mayor Mick Dollard launches Westmeath <strong>Culture</strong> Night 2010.A Moment in Time: StudentKevin Glennon fromSt Finian's College Mullingarwith his Back to the FutureTime Capsules.Pic Br<strong>ie</strong>ge Madden.Sneek-A-Peek: The Golden Sisters l-rShauna, Aishling <strong>and</strong> Clíodhna.Pic Br<strong>ie</strong>ge Madden.LOCAL SCHOOLSMAKE HISTORYPictured at the launch inDublin Castle are Br<strong>ie</strong>geMadden, Gráinne Toher,Paul Roy, Anna Duffy,Guy Wingf<strong>ie</strong>ld-Horan, AnnWingf<strong>ie</strong>ld, Angela Madden<strong>and</strong> Catherine Kelly.Hitting the Headlines:Catherine Kelly, Westmeath<strong>Arts</strong> Officer meets GAAlegend Mícheál ÓMuircheartaigh at thenational launch of <strong>Culture</strong>Night in Dublin Castle.ONE WESTMEATH student interredmore than 25 time capsules during<strong>Culture</strong> Night after urging all schoolsthroughout the county to take part inmaking history! Kevin Glennon fromSt Finian’s College Mullingar capturedthe essence of life in Westmeathschools in 2010 by giving schools theopportunity to gather various artifacts,which were then bur<strong>ie</strong>d with the plan theywould be dug up again in 100 years.The contents of the time capsulesfrom some 25 schools includedeverything from photos, prayers, <strong>and</strong>a book of autographs to Tesco ClubCards <strong>and</strong> student stor<strong>ie</strong>s. The timecapsules were bur<strong>ie</strong>d at BelvedereHouse after a short ceremony.Thegirls are the daughters of Barry <strong>and</strong>Sharon Golden from Hillquarter.29
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011Looking at the buildingblocks of Offaly - ArchitectureCentre set to open May 2011PLANS are underway todevelop a temporaryarchitecture centre in Offalythat is expected to open inMay 2011 following thecouncil securing fundingfrom the <strong>Arts</strong> Council <strong>and</strong>the Department ofEnvironment, Heritage <strong>and</strong>Local Government.Offaly County Council explained thatthe temporary architecture centrewill likely be housed in an emptyshop unit in Tullamore. Here threeexhibitions will be held focusing onOffaly built heritage <strong>and</strong> protectedstructures, contemporary designpractice with a talk by YvonneFarrell, a Tullamore native <strong>and</strong>founder member of GraftonArchitectures <strong>and</strong> a public responseto the observing of places <strong>and</strong>spaces around us.Rachel McKenna, Senior ExecutiveArchitect with Offaly County Councilsaid: “This is an exciting project<strong>and</strong> a collaboration betweenarchitectural, arts, heritage <strong>and</strong>Model of the Bocconi Project, Milan by Grafton Architects (winner of World BuildingAward 2009) of which Tullamore native Yvonne Farrell is a key partner.planning offices of Offaly CountyCouncil.“Our aim is to create an awareness<strong>and</strong> debate about our builtenvironment, to take the time toobserve, reflect <strong>and</strong> appreciatewhat is around us. The speed ofhow our built environment increasedin the last decade was phenonmenal.Now with the down turn in theeconomy <strong>and</strong> in construction, wehave an opportunity to reflect onthis <strong>and</strong> how we want ourenvironment to grow with us in thefuture.”For further information on theproject keep an eye on local press<strong>and</strong> www.offaly.<strong>ie</strong> closer to the timeor contact 057 9357400.Athlone Art & Heritage Ltd.invites applications for the position of<strong>Arts</strong> & Heritage Managerinitially for a period of 3 years.The Company was established by Athlone Town Council <strong>and</strong> therole of the Manager will be to manage, operate <strong>and</strong> promoteart, heritage <strong>and</strong> tourism facilit<strong>ie</strong>s such as the Athlone ArtGallery <strong>and</strong> the Castle Visitor Centre.Further particulars <strong>and</strong> application forms are available from theundersigned <strong>and</strong> on www.athloneudc.<strong>ie</strong>/arts <strong>and</strong> the closingdate for the receipt of applications is January 11th 2011.Athlone Art & Heritage Ltd.Civic CentreChurch StreetAthloneYoungpeopleare gettingthe chanceto act up!TWO YOUTH theatreprojects will getunderway in the NewYear in County Offalyin the towns ofTullamore <strong>and</strong> Birr.The project will give young peopleaged 14–21 the opportunity to learnabout acting, improvisation, developingcharacters, devising scripts<strong>and</strong> learning about stage craft.Despite lots of opportunity foryoung people to get involved inmusical productions around thecounty, to date there has beenvery little opportunity to learnabout stage or screen acting.The youth theatre projects will befacilitated by a group of committedtheatre professionals in Offaly,including Anne Moloney, MacdaraDeery, Angela Ryan, Fiona Breen<strong>and</strong> Edd<strong>ie</strong> Alford, who haveprofessional training <strong>and</strong> exper<strong>ie</strong>ncein all aspects of theatredevelopment, from acting todirecting to developing productions.One has already begun in Banagherunder the stewardship of AnneMoloney.It is anticipated that the three‘satellite’ youth theatre teams willcome together for an annualproduction under the auspices ofOffaly Youth Theatre, which will beaffiliated with the NationalAssociation of Youth Theatre.30
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s<strong>Arts</strong><strong>and</strong><strong>Culture</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>Meet the teamTempus Media <strong>and</strong> Brosna Press, using their combined expertisein journalism, marketing, design, print <strong>and</strong> production have createda new-look <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.TEMPUS MEDIAThere's never a wrong time to do the right thingTempus Media was established at the height ofthe recession in September 2009 as thefounders saw an opening for a top quality, goodvalue media company in a challengingmarketplace for business <strong>and</strong> Government.<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s-based Tempus Media specialises infive key areas - Publishing/Copywriting, PublicRelations, Media Training, Lobbying, <strong>and</strong>Business Crisis Management.Editor: ANGELA MADDENAngela has more than 15 years' exper<strong>ie</strong>nce inthe publishing industry as a Journalist, ForeignCorrespondent, Editor, Group Editor <strong>and</strong> GeneralManager for trade, local <strong>and</strong> national press inIrel<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> the UK. Angela has excellent localknowledge as she was previously Editor of theAthlone Voice <strong>and</strong> has an enviable list ofcontacts throughout the country, built up duringher time as Group Editor for 13 River Medianewspaper titles. She also has a wealth ofexper<strong>ie</strong>nce launching new publicationsresponsible for content, layout <strong>and</strong> templateshaving brought a number of new River Mediatitles to market in 2007.Deputy Editor: BRIEGE MADDENBr<strong>ie</strong>ge is a trained journalist who has worked forlocal newspapers for close to four years. Afterattaining her BA Creative Writing & MediaStud<strong>ie</strong>s degree she started her career at TheAthlone Voice before taking up a more seniorrole at the Cavan Post. She joined TempusMedia in April this year as BusinessDevelopment Manager <strong>and</strong> is the leadconsultant on a number of important PublicRelations contracts. Br<strong>ie</strong>ge is also an avid poet,short story writer <strong>and</strong> artist.For further information contact:angela@tempusmedia.<strong>ie</strong> • 086 7732023br<strong>ie</strong>ge@tempusmedia.<strong>ie</strong> • 086 0737227BROSNA PRESSCreative Design <strong>and</strong> PrintLocated in the heart of the midl<strong>and</strong>s, BrosnaPress has been providing a nationwide cl<strong>ie</strong>ntbasewith creative, high quality design <strong>and</strong> printfor over 50 years. Its Irish Print Award acknowledgesthe company’s commitment to thepursuit of excellence in print <strong>and</strong> creativity indesign. Cl<strong>ie</strong>nts in the arts sector include:RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ ConcertOrchestra, Music Network, Music for Galway,New Ross Piano Festival, County Council <strong>Arts</strong>Offices, Dunamaise Theatre, Birr Theatre & <strong>Arts</strong>Centre, Tuar Ard <strong>Arts</strong> Centre. Brosna Pressoperate their design studio <strong>and</strong> print facilityfrom a state-of-the-art 12,000 sq ft facility inFerbane, Co. Offaly.Creative Director: DIARMUID GUINANSenior Designer: ANN QUINLANProduction Manager: CIARAN GUINANCreative Director Diarmuid Guinan holds aBachelor of Design, Visual Communications<strong>and</strong> has more than 18 years professionalexper<strong>ie</strong>nce in graphic design <strong>and</strong> printing.He manages a highly creative <strong>and</strong> exper<strong>ie</strong>nceddesign team including Ann Quinlan, BDes,Senior Designer, Andrew Moore, BDes, SeniorDesigner <strong>and</strong> the highly exper<strong>ie</strong>nced Mary Egan.Managing Director Ciaran Guinan holds aDiploma in Print Management <strong>and</strong> has morethan 25 years professional exper<strong>ie</strong>nce in theprint industry. The production staff at BrosnaPress are all highly skilled press operators <strong>and</strong>print finishing specialists.diarmuid@brosnapress.<strong>ie</strong> • Tel: 090 6454327ciaran@brosnapress.<strong>ie</strong> • Tel: 090 6454327Haveyour storycovered…If you have a story or newsrelating to the arts in the<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s that you would liketo see covered in <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s<strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>,contact your local <strong>Arts</strong> Officer(details opposite).ARTS OFFICE CONTACTSMuireann Ní Chonaill, <strong>Arts</strong> OfficerLaois County Council, PortlaoiseTel: 057 8674342/44mnichonaill@laoiscoco.<strong>ie</strong>www.laois.<strong>ie</strong>/artsSinead O’Reilly, <strong>Arts</strong> OfficerOffaly County Council,Charleville Road, TullamoreTel: 057 9357400soreilly@offalycoco.<strong>ie</strong>www.offaly.<strong>ie</strong>/artsCatherine Kelly, <strong>Arts</strong> OfficerWestmeath County Council CountyBuildings, MullingarTel: 044 9332140ckelly@westmeathcoco.<strong>ie</strong>www.westmeathcoco.<strong>ie</strong>/arts31
<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s<strong>Arts</strong><strong>and</strong><strong>Culture</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>…take a fresh look<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s<strong>Arts</strong><strong>and</strong><strong>Culture</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>A REVIEW OF THE ARTS IN LAOIS, OFFALY AND WESTMEATHPUBLISHED FOR THE ARTS OFFICES OF LAOIS, OFFALY & WESTMEATH COUNTY COUNCILSBY TEMPUS MEDIA • DESIGNED & PRINTED BY BROSNA PRESS
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