Annual Report 2010 Publisher full - Offaly County Council

Staff Photography Project
2010 was second year of this project aimed at providing an
energetic and creative focus for staff, across all sections. 15
staff members attended a photography course and 35 staff
members participated in an exhibition (60% increase on 2009)
which was shown in Áras an Chontae and then at Birr Theatre
and Arts Centre.
Offaly Youth Dance 2010
Youth Dance
A grant to Legitimate Bodies Dance Company (at Birr Theatre)
enabled the dancers to hold workshops in 25 primary schools
across Offaly at a reduced rate, with an estimated participation
of approx 700 students.
Images by staff members Frank Heslin and Leonie Geraghty
Bealtaine, Festival of Arts for Older People
A county wide programme of events was coordinated and developed
by the Arts Office in collaboration with the Library
Service for the Bealtaine Festival. There were 30 events across
the county, including a tour by Tullamore Amateur Dramatic
Society to nursing homes.
Festival Support
The Arts Service facilitated with funding, advice and promotional
assistance to:
• The Shannonbridge Midsummer Music Festival
• Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival,
• The Phoenix Festival,
• Slievebloom Storytelling Festival
The dance company also facilitates a series of community
dance classes in Birr Theatre and Arts Centre including the
Offaly Youth Dance Company, Yummy Dance, First Footing and
Adult Ballet.
45 students in Gallen School Ferbane took part in a
contemporary dance theatre adaptation of Romeo and Juliet
with the dance company, which was performed at Birr Theatre
and Arts Centre
Young Novelists
Novelist Caroline Barry worked with a youth creative writing
group (14 to 18 years) in Birr for a full year teaching them the
skills of composition, character and plot development. The
participants worked on individual projects and held an open
mike session in December at Birr Library.
Page 16 | Offaly County Council Annual Report 2010