Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2011

Foolish Pride needs noPersuasion of InterestThis summer, record crowds attended the official launch of Foolish Pride, a contemporaryAusten-esque novel by Longford author Anne Skelly.Originally from Dublin, Anne moved tothe midlands in 1999 and she andher husband Mike now live nearAbbeyshrule, Co Longford and it’sthere were much of the inspirationcomes from.“It’s been about four years in themaking and is set in contemporaryrural Longford,” said Anne, speakingabout Foolish Pride.The novel, which is loosely based onthe Jane Austen classic Persuasion,centres around the life of heroine BethMaguire (34), a single national schoolteacher living at home with her parents.“The novel begins 10 years on fromher romance with Sam Butler. It wasa relationship that broke up becauseof pressure from parents and thecommunity,” said Anne. “There isnow pressure on her to fulfil society’sexpectations and find a man.”As the plot unfolds a dashing youngScotsman arrives on the scene, takingup a teaching post in Beth’s school.However, nothing is quite what itseems and as the reader movesfurther into the story they share aHAVE YOUR SAYWhat do you wantfrom The Arts inOffaly?Offaly County Council is in the process ofpreparing a new five year Arts plan forOffaly, 2012 to 2016 and the ArtsOffice has issued an open invitation forpeople to come forward with their ideas,comments, observations and concerns.“Much has happened in the Arts inOffaly over the past five years,”explained Sinead O’Reilly, Arts Officer.“Apart from new festivals, new artsorganisations and an increase in artistsin the county, I feel that together wehave achieved very strong foundationsfor the arts to develop even further.Five years ago, apart from a fewexceptions, there was generally a lack aconfidence in the arts; from certaintyin what its potential meant for thecounty to being confident as aparticipant.”She went on to say that even though weare in financially troubled times for thearts, there is a belief and a certaintymyriad of experiences with theirheroine ranging from the joy of anunfolding relationship to the horrorand heartbreak of a dark anddisastrous breakup.“The book also looks at the benefitsof a close knit community and the supportthat is there at all times, particularlyas Beth moves through various troubles,”said Anne. “This is primarily a lovestory but also a reflection on the wayof life of a whole community.”Foolish Pride was published by BookRepublic, an imprint of MaverickHouse Publishing, who have beenhelpful towards first-time writers,explained Anne.“Their mission is to encourage firsttime writers who find it far moredifficult to get published by the biggermainstream publishers. My experiencewith them has been fantastic,” saidAnne. “I would like to thank them andalso Mary Carleton Reynolds(Longford County Librarian) whosupported me so much and wasfantastic to me in every way. I wouldlike to thank her for being a wonderfulcounty librarian.”about what the arts represents,characterises and embodies incommunal and individual identities.“I have seen firsthand how the arts canhave an extraordinary effect on ordinarypeople. The challenge is now to see howwe can take this one step further inways that are even more imaginative,more innovative and more meaningful.“The new Arts Plan when adopted byOffaly County Council will be ourmandate for the next five years, so itis important that everyone feelswelcome to have a say. We will be takingsubmissions by email or in writing up tothe end of January 2012; there will alsobe opportunities for further consultationsand discussions before the final plan isadopted later in the year.” MSubmissions to be considered for Offaly’snext Arts Plan can be emailed toarts@offalycoco.ie or posted to Arts Office,Offaly County Council, Charleville Road,Tullamore, County Offaly.LaunchWell known Leitrim author and creativewriter, Brian Leyden launched the bookin County Longford Library. Speakingat the launch, he commented on theauthor’s ingenuity at taking an eternallyfresh storyline (Jane Austen’s Persuasion)and making it a memorable modern story.“When you snap up your copy of FoolishPride, I think the first thing that willstrike you is just how well and howclearly Anne writes. While I’d love totake the credit and call her a prodigyof my creative writing workshops, I thinkthe truth is that her intellect alwaysdanced to its own tune,” said Brian.“This is a romance firmly set in Anne’shome patch in Longford. We have visitsto the horse show in Moate... we’vethe dining room of the Longford ArmsHotel where the local Golden Nib Writers’Group have their gala Christmas dinnerwith a disco afterwards,” said Brian inoutlining the geographical context ofFoolish Pride.The Leitrim author went on tocompliment Anne on her secondarycharacters and the mannerLaois County CouncilComhairle Chontae Laoise“It’s been aboutfour years in themaking and is setin contemporaryrural Longford”said Anne, speakingabout Foolish Pride.in which she portrayed the smallfictional community of Carrigmore.“As with Jane Austen, in Anne’s FoolishPride the big things are passion andprudence and we understand prudenceall the better because like her weunderstand how gossip travels andhow tongues can wag in these smallvillage and town settings,” said Brian.“Snobbish, ambitious and meddlesomemothers do come out rather badly inthis story. Misguided notions of rectitudeare perhaps the main guiding force ofthe story. And the mothers especiallyin Foolish Pride habitually look to whatis best for themselves rather thanwhat’s best in their offspring.” MTHE ARTHOUSE STUDIO AWARDFOR NCAD GRADUATESApplications are now availablefor the Arthouse Studio Awardfor NCAD graduates. For a secondyear running Laois County Councilin association with the NationalCollege of Art and Design areoffering this award. It is intendedto support an emerging artist/designer to develop their professional practice whilst engagingin a residency project and community context. Applicants musthave graduated in the past 3 years from the NCAD.The Award includes:A bursary of €10,000 for the residency project. To be paid in installments.A studio with accommodation at a rent of €200 per month or a studiowithout accommodation for €120 per month for a one-year period(depending on availability of apartment). Light and heat are extra.Administrative and curatorial support through Laois County CouncilArts Office.Inclusion in exhibition programmes with Laois County Council.Services offered within the complex include a studio space, exhibitionspace, rehearsal space, kiln, garden space, a digital room, and libraryfacilities.Guest Lecturing opportunity on the subject of the Award in the NCAD.Closing date for applications Friday January 27 at 5pmApplication forms and further information about the award are available from The ArtsOfficer, Laois County Council, Telephone 057 8674342/44, website www.laois.ie oremail artsoff@laoiscoco.ie5

BIG IMPACT:Little HousesPublic Art Projectfrom Ceara ConwayAt Home inthe WorldA Public Art Projectby Ceara Conway in EdenderryBriefsPUBLIC ARTPROJECTSLAUNCHED INWESTMEATH:“I found a great symbolism andcorrelation in the ideas of creatingan environment for birds and that ofcreating a context for the residents ofKillane Drive to meet.“However sophisticated we become ashuman beings at the end of the daywhen we make a home it’s the sameprinciple as nesting, and that takes time.“What I learnt through the process andprogress of the project was that to adegree, need creates community.“The relationship developed furtherbetween myself, the residents and thechildren as the work commenced onthe green and when an extra hand orextra wheel barrow was needed. Thechildren became hugely involved ona physical level and also in their greatcuriosity and questioning about the work.“The longer I was on site the more Isaw that it was the process of thephysical work that actually createdinterpersonal connections. MNothing Traditionalabout Music Initiativefor Schoolsby Neil HalliganSchool-goers in county Longford, both primary and secondary, willget an up-close introduction to traditional Irish music through anovel initiative set up by the county’s Arts Office.Michael HardingSeptember saw the launch ofthree Public Art Projects associatedwith Housing Schemes inWestmeath – Kinnegad StoryProject – Memories and Storiesfrom Westmeath by MichaelHarding; EveryonE – a collaborativeproject between Art GroupExquisite CoLab and members ofMullingar Travelling Communityand The Allotments Used to beHere -a photographic history ofCounty Council Housing inWestmeath by Tim Durham.All three projects will be launchedin the Atrium, County Buildings,FUN TRAD is the name given to the musicresidency that will see local musicianstravel to as many schools as possiblein Longford, sharing their experienceand craft.“It’s an initiative to raise awareness inthe schools among children in the countywho listen to music of the fact that thereare local musicians playing traditionalmusic,” Fergus Kennedy, Longford CountyArts Officer explained.“Our objective would be to encourage agreater interest in Irish traditional musicamong the younger generation andhopefully encourage some people tomaybe take up an instrument.“We’ve put together a residency calledFun Trad; we hope to tour the primaryand secondary schools in the countyover the next few months on a pilot basis.”The musicians involved are well knownto lovers of trad music in the county.Pat Finnerty (pipes), Noel Sweeney(flute) and Olive Kilbane (fiddle) willundertake the county-wide tour.“We’ll start by playing some music forthe children, explain our backgroundsand how we got involved in traditionalmusic and talk about our instrument,”explained Pat.“We’d hope to introduce children to away of recognising different tunes andtalk about reels, jigs and the like. There’llalso be an emphasis on getting thechildren who participate to come andjoin in with us at the end of an hour.”As it's a pilot scheme, the organiserswill gauge what kind of a reception theyget from the schools to see where itgoes from here.“If there are expressions of interest,we will then look at how we can bestprovide music education on astructured basis, given the resourcesavailable to us,” said Fergus.Ultimately it's hoped to tie in theresidency with the county's applicationfor funding under Music Generation, amusic network initiative funded by therock band U2 and the Ireland Funds.The Arts Officer said he hopes todevelop more strands to the initialproject and encompass other genres.“This (Fun Trad) is what is evolving aspart of the Longford application toMusic Generation for funding. It’s arolling, funding scheme which meansthat we will be applying for fundingcontinuously until we’re successful.“The process of applying for fundinghas released an incredible amountenergy and interest in all forms ofmusic in the county at all differentlevels.“We’re putting together pilot projects ofvarious types to assess the actuallevels of interest with the ultimate aimof developing an audience for all kindsof music - in this case traditional Irishmusic - and developing the skills ofmusicians in the county. They’re our twoultimate objectives of the larger projectwhich is the Longford Music EducationPartnership, which was set up as partof the Music Generation application.”The long term goal would be to havepermanent classes in musicianship, invarious genres, and in variouslocations around the county. “To makemusic available to anybody that wantsit,” as Pat explained. “One of my greatbeliefs is that there’s nobody whohasn’t got music; everybody has gotmusic somewhere. If you’re onlyclicking your fingers, you’re playingmusic. I’d like to see as many kidsparticipating as possible.”The scheme will be rolled out in thecoming weeks and schools across thecounty will be invited to take part on afirst-come basis. M7

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2011/2012GARDENGALLERYCELEBRATESFIRSTANNIVERSARYThe Garden Gallery in Delvin has celebrated its firstanniversary, after it was officially opened by GrahamKnuttel in October 2010.The past year has been a busy one forthe gallery. In May it organised anexhibition by 18 local emerging artistsat the Garradrimina book fair whichattracted some 2,000 people and formany of the artists exhibiting, it wasthe first time they have ever displayedtheir work.Hazel Revington-Cross was commissionedto paint a piece based on the themeof this year’s book fair Gulliver’s Travelsand it was raffled on the day to helpraise funds for Delvin’s Sports andLeisure Centre.Then, in August, Kilkenny-based IrishArtist, Paul Christopher Flynn exhibitedhis collection of New Works at thegallery. Paul’s contemporary art workhas been attracting critical notice fromknowledgeable art buyers since hebegan showing on the railings ofDublin’s St Stephen's Green in 2003.EXHIBITIONISTS: Dave O’Shea, Paul Christopher Flynn, Mary McEvoyand Hazel Revington-Cross at Paul Christopher Flynn exhibition.PIC: Larry Cooney, Westmeath TopicMost recently the gallery was host toDelvin’s contribution to Culture Nightwhich was a hugely successful nightkicking off with an astoundingperformance by Mary McEvoy of JoBangles written by Dave Lordon.ACTING UP: Actress Mary McEvoy as Jo Banglesperformed in the Gallery on Culture NightDenise Scally, art teacher in ColumbaCollege in Killucan, demonstrated herskills at sculpture making, and peoplePOTTERY ART: Art teacher Denise Scally onCulture Night demonstrating pottery makingwere encouraged to get their handsdirty and try it for themselves. Deniseis to fire the pieces and return them tothe gallery where they can be collectedand taken home as a memento. Anyoneinterested in learning more aboutsculpture making will be pleased toknow that Denise is currently holdingevening classes in pottery making inCulumba College.The Garden Gallery also introducedthe work of Mullingar-based artistKevin Meehan, on Culture Night – andwhile it was the first time his workwas exhibited it attracted interestfrom several buyers.Growing for 2012The Garden Gallery is currently workingon a project for 2012, to bring the galleryto Bloom, Ireland’s largest horticulturalshow held in the Phoenix Park. The outdoorgallery has been designed by Dawn Aston,one of the gallery’s visual artists, whoalso designs bespoke gardens. The projectwill involve six of the gallery’s currentexhibiting artists, Pauline Bewick,Graham Knuttel, Count Jonathan VonBauman, Cormac O’Leary, Dawn Astonand Hazel Revington-Cross.Open for SubmissionsThe Garden Gallery has also announcedthat it is now accepting applications forsubmissions of art work for 2012.Guidelines for submissions are on thegallery websitewww.zhibit.org/thegardengallery. MFor further information:The Garden Gallery is located at the GardenCentre in Crowenstown, Delvin.Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday10am–6pm. Sunday & Bank HolidayMondays 2–6pm. Closed on Monday.It can be contacted at 044 9664723.To subscribe to the gallery’s guest listemail gardengallerycrowenstown@gmail.comor visit www.zhibit.org/thegardengallery.TOY SOLDIERS COMES TO TULLAMOREFilmOffaly 2011 Award Winner announcedRecently FilmOffaly at Offaly CountyCouncil in partnership with Filmbaseset in motion its film award for thethird year running and with twooutstanding shorts already to itsname – Noreen and The End of theReel, a high standard has been set.Coming through a rigorous short listingof 65 entries and an interview process,the emerging winner is Matthew Rocheof Rhoda’s Chaos Ltd for his script ToySoldiers.Toy Soldiers tells the story of an eternallybored teenager and the bane of hisexistence, his seven year old brotherwho he is forced to take care of. Theshort film, which will be shot in Tullamoreover the winter, is a powerful coming ofage drama that focuses on the polarrelationship between two brotherswhile exploring such themes asfamily responsibility, teenageangst and rebellion.Matthew Roche said: “Toy Soldiersdraws a lot of inspiration from myformative years while growing up inTipperary. It was a time when boundarieswere tested and where bravado wonout on a daily basis. I have alwayswanted to tell a coming-of-age dramafull with teenage angst that deals withthe pressures of growing up in Ireland8today. Along with Ciara and Mike, I amdelighted that Toy Soldiers was selectedout of what I’m sure was fiercecompetition. It is our aim to repay thatdecision in creating a memorable shortfilm that will resonate with an audienceboth young and old.”Chairperson of FilmOffaly, Cllr MollyBuckley said: “We are delighted withthe response and the outcome of thethird year of the FilmOffaly award. Weknew that we had to keep proactiveabout encouraging more production inOffaly and this project has certainlyput us on the map. We look forward toworking with the production team overthe winter, to ensure that yet anotherproduction company has a goodexperience of working in Offaly.”The Production team is Matthew Roche(Writer), Ciara Gillan (Producer) andMike Hayes (Director) and they aredelighted to be the third project grantedthis award under the FilmOffaly scheme.About receiving the award MatthewRoche said: “I am both humbled andgrateful to be afforded the opportunityof creating an enthralling and powerfulshort film along with a talented teamof young filmmakers.“We are looking forward to workingclosely with FilmOffaly, the localpeople and exploring all that Offalyhas to offer as we aim to reach thehigh standards that our predecessorshave set.“The coming months will be an excitingtime for us and we hope to share thisexperience with as many people aspossible. We would like to thank everyonein advance for their time, help andpatience as we go on this excitingjourney together.”CAUGHT ON CAMERA:Actor Robert Donnellywill star as Charlie inToy Soldiers. The youngactor already has manycredits to his nameincluding a roles in PureMule and The Tudors;on stage he has actedin the Abbey inMacbeth and The Gatein All my Sons.TAISPEÁNTAIS GEARRSCANNÁIN 2012Beidh fáilte roimh gearrscannáin ó Co. Uíbh Fhailí, Co. Chill Daraagus Co. na Laoise le h-aghaidh clár.TAISPEÁNTAIS GEARRSCANNÁIN 2012. Beidh na Taispeántaisdátheangach ar siúil an tSamhraidh seo chugain.Tá TAISPEÁNTAIS GEARRSCANNÁIN 2011 le fáil ar www.ionad.org(ag bun leathanach baile). Breis eolas ó tadhgoc@yahoo.ieTadhg (Ó Cruadhlaoich)LOCAL SHORTFILM SHOWCASE 2012Bilingual short films are invited from filmmakers in Offaly, Kildareand Laois for THE LOCAL SHORTFILM SHOWCASE 2012.The bilingual screenings take place next Summer.THE LOCAL SHORTFILM SHOWCASE 2011 can be accessed atwww.ionad.org (bottom right of homepage).Further information available: tadhgo@yahoo.ie

sayswords...Opens DoorsMEET THE ARTISTS:MARGO McNULTYOne of the artists who is renting a unitat the studios is Kiltoom’s MargoMcNulty. Originally from Achill Island,Margo lectures part-time in the DesignDepartment at Athlone IT. Her art ismostly in the area of printmaking, andit deals with hidden history, memoryand place, as well as aspects of everydaylife and experience. Margo’s work hasbeen featured in exhibitions throughoutIreland, as well as in Poland, Paris andLondon. She felt that the new facilitywas a great addition to the town, andwas something which had beenneeded for some time.CATHERINE ROCKAthlone artist Catherine works mainly inthe medium of oils. Following completionof two year course in Vocational TrainingOpportunity Scheme she went to CluainMhuire College of Art as a full timestudent and graduated in 2008 with aBA Art & Design. Catherine is an intuitivepainter and her work is concerned withthe human condition and at present,from the new studios in Athlone,Catherine is working on a new body ofwork for her next exhibition. Her paintingsare included in many private collectionsin Ireland and one acquired by CharteredAccountants, Ireland hangs in its HQin Dublin.EMER O’CONNORAthlone’s Emer O'Connor who studiedEnglish and Classical Civilisation atthe National University of Ireland,Galway and Visual Arts Practice at theInstitute of Art, Design and Technologyin Dun Laoghaire, will also be workingfrom the studios.At the new studio Emer hopes to startexploring the genres of art documentary,sound art and the place of the archive inart and wishes to use the opportunity toengage with projects that relate to thelocality during her time in the studio.She recently staged an exhibitionentitled the Loveliest of the Lawexamining the place of the garden inliterature and specifically the works ofMargaret Atwood, Elisabeth Bowen andRichard Huges, at Athlone Library andCivic Buildings.LESLEY WINGFIELD (Pictured Centre)Moate artist Lesley said she waslooking forward to the new venture.“I think it’s an amazing facility and itwill nice to work here because it canget very isolated working in a studiospace at home,” she commented.Lesley’s art is mostly portraiture, andshe hopes to use the Abbey Roadstudios “to be a bit more experimentaland use different media.”She is one of four members of an artcollective, Exquisite CoLab, which heldan open studio project at the new facilityfrom September 19 until Culture Nighton September 23.The open studio project gave thepublic a chance to call in to talk to theartists while they work on pieces foran exhibition entitled The Case of theExquisite Corpse.Paul Roy of Exquisite CoLab said thegroup really aimed to demystify art.“We’ve always taken the approach ofbringing art to the public rather thanbeing aloof about it.”13

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2011/2012One Giant LeapDate: Saturday December 10 2011Venue: The Dunamaise Arts CentreMidlands Dance Symposium 2011Over the past three years danceartists Cathy Coughlan and MichelleCahill along with The Arts Council,The Dunamaise Arts Centre, LaoisArts Office, Laois Sports partnership,CoisCeim Broadreach and LaoisPartnership have initiated a series oftraining programmes and collaborativeprojects that have led to a growingsupport and enthusiasm for communitydance practice in Laois.Each scheme has targeted a specificdemographic such as school children(Erica Borges – Dance in Schoolsprogram), youth groups (CoisCeimBroadreach - Trick or street 2009)(Cathy Coughlan/Dunamaise – YESScheme 2010), Adult groups (MichelleCahill – Laban training 2010/ DanceWaves 2011), Inter-national groups(Cathy Coughlan/DAC – Dance Artist inresidence 2011), parents and olderpeople aged 50+ (Cathy Coughlan/DAC –Dance Artist in residence 2011).However, up until now there has beenno exchange between these groupsand few professional opportunities foremerging dancers/dance artists toadvance their practice beyond specificprojects. This Symposium aims to;Connect communities by cultivating anetwork of dance artists/bodiesworking and funding work made inLaois and across the Midlands.Create opportunities for communitypractitioners and participants toengage and exchange withprofessional dance bodies.Build a cohesive programme ofdance training and audienceparticipation in Laois that isinclusive, sustainable and consistent.The Symposium programme will bedivided into three sections. The firstsection will consist of a series ofperformances (approximately eightgroups) that highlight the ongoingdevelopments in the Laois DanceMAN-I-PULATE Opencommunity. The second section will begiven over to professional bodies whowish to make a presentation.(Provisionally Philippa Donnellan onDevelopments in Community Practice,Legitimate Bodies on Professional dancein rural communities and Anica louw onDance and Education in the Midlands).These presentations may be live/recordedperformances, a lecture or both. Thethird section will consist of discussionand development meetings.MtHE LASt tUESDAY CLUBThe inaugural meeting of tHE LASt members about their attitudes to the arts. to collaborate, push boundaries, challengetUESDAY CLUB took place in Tullamore Combining music, dance and the spoken audiences and ultimately find a way toat the end of September. The club is word the performance is a frantic make work that is consequential andan interaction of Offaly’s artists, writers, manifesto about what it means to be socially relevant.musicians, performers and filmmakers an artist from Offaly.All artists, writers, filmmakers, performersand will meet (as the names suggests!)Coughlan provides the spoken word in and musicians are welcome to come toon the last Tuesday of every month,a manner so intense that audiences any meeting. Each meeting will have aupstairs in Hugh Lynch’s in Tullamore.either find it intrusive or ingenious. theme, but all ideas in relation toThe first meeting was opened by acollaboration, pontification, celebrationThe group had just returned from a weekperformance by MAN - I – PULATE. Theand more are all welcome.in the Dublin Fringe Festival whichgroup is Offaly based and comprises ofinspired the Irish Times to say that For further information on tHE LAStfour musicians – Joachim Hein, Conor“Offaly is the last bastion of hope for TUESDAY CLUB contact the Arts OfficeHein, Ann Magee and Dave Cashen,the arts” but another critic to call in Offaly County Council oninterpretative dancer Nick Bryson andCoughlan “a belligerent bxxxxxxd”. 057 9357400 or join the group onvisual artist Ronan Coughlan who hasFacebook. Mabandoned his usual practice and taken Love it or hate it, MAN-I-IPULATE is aboutup a microphone to berate audience how not to play it safe as an artist, howDUNAMAISE ARTS CENTREDANCE ARTIST INRESIDENCE:CATHY COUGHLANDance Artist in Residence Cathy Coughlanis currently working with adults and olderpeople from the Laois community and hasan interest in the artistic outcomes whichresult from vocational and non-vocationalpractitioners in collaborative practice.The residency will allow the artist to developher practice around participatory modesof choreography through research andinteraction with a wider community ofdancers and musicians in Laois. The artistwill work with targeted groups and individualsfrom a variety of ethnic backgrounds andwill explore ideas around the sociologicalimplications of large scale unemploymentin rural communities. She is particularlyinterested in how a collective cultural identitycan be established through the exploratoryprocess of movement and making. Thisexploration follows on from her experiencewith Unlaois’d Youth Dance Company wherethe artist has identified unique movement,expression and collaborative processesas a direct result of cultural diversity withinthe group. The artist will use live performancealongside dance film/interactive installationto bring this work back into the communityfor a series of ‘smaller viewings’ with aview to a full-scale performance in theDunamaise Arts Centre with attendancefrom the wider community.“There is an expected aesthetic that comeswith a professional dance performance. Itis often refreshing, surprising and disarmingto encounter community dance in aprofessional context. In fact theseperformances can resonate with audiencesin a way that professional dance often failsto. What I’m interested in is the way in whichan audience engages differently with workwhen the performers are ‘real’. Themovements translate in a very differentway because they are often genuinely feltand experienced in that moment.” M14

SWEET SUCCESS: The Honeycomb took ona whole new dimension.VERA MCEVOYARTIST STATEMENTVera McEvoy’s work encouragesan alternative reality by creatingan awareness of the true scale inwestern developed society of thepractice of consumption and ofthe reproductive value of productsand materials.Through a systematic process ofintervention of discarded familiarobjects, products and materialsshe creates work that examinespolarities of scale both fragile androbust. Processes of deconstructionare an integral part of the work,which incorporates textile, paper,plastic and print.HoneycombProjectLights upElectric PicnicThe Arthouse Studios and Gallery,Stradbally, has been involving thecommunity in many creative projectssince its opening in May 2011. Theresident artists have been searchingand advocating vivid, new andwonderful ways to merge colour, lifeand art within the Stradbally community– and, perhaps, the Honeycomb Projectis one of the most inventive of all!The artists involved with the HoneycombProject are Laura Byrne, Pat Byrne(Mountrath), Karen Hendy, Helena Malone,and Vera McEvoy. The community isan integral part of the project and theHoneycomb is a metephor for a buzzingsense of people working together:collecting, cleaning, sorting, painting,testing and finally assembling theHoneycomb.HONEYCOMB STRUCTUREThe Honeycomb is an 8ft hollow MDFcube which has 2,500 x 2 litre emptyplastic bottles protruding. Each bottlecontains an individual coloured LEDbulb and battery, forming a vibrantmulticoloured octagonal pattern. Thiscube was assembled onsite around aCopper Birch tree in the Main Arenaarea of Stradbally Hall for ElectricPicnic.The 2,500 bottles form various colouredsections. Each octagonal shape requires24 two litre bottles. This process isconstructed by hand with the assistanceof the local community, the StradballyYouth Centre, Youth Theatre, andmembers of Cultúrbug and the LinkCentre in Portloaise. (Cultúrbug wasestablished in March 2011 incollaboration with artist Vera McEvoy,the recipent of the Arthouse NCADGraduate Award under the Percent forArt Scheme).The bottles had been collected over athree month period, through donationsfrom Stradbally residents and fromeach of the artists’ respectivecommunities. AES Recycle Centre inAthy also generously donated bottlesto the project. The artists called toAES on a weekly basis to sort throughthe ‘plastic’ collection area to retrievethe suitable bottles. These were thentransported to the Arthouse wherethey were washed, dried and storedinto colour coded areas, by the localvolunteers, awaiting construction.The artists and volunteers commencedthe construction process on August23. Some 20 local volunteersassisted the artists colour-coding,painting and final preperation work onthe cube.In the couple of days proceeding ElectricPicnic the LED’s were connected tothe batteries, dropped individually intothe bottles and the caps replaced.The life-force of the 10mm photodiodeLEDS is 50,000 hours and eachbattery will last for 10,000 hours,ample for the duration of the assemblyprocess and the event itself.The finished work was a spectaculardisplay of various colours that reflectedand sparkled from the numerousshapes of the bottles.Not surprisingly, the artwork attractedgreat attention during the ElectricPicnic festival – some people used itas a landmark and a meeting point,most wanted to be photographedalongside it especially when it gotdark, and many embraced as it wassaid it had a wonderful romantic feelto it. There is even a rumour that aproposal took place on the south sideof the Homeycomb around 10.30pmon Friday night September 2! Wewould love to hear more informationon this. Do you know who the happycouple is?INTERACTIVE ARTAs with some art projects they canchange and take on alternative meaningwhen positioned in an external publicarena, especially one as lively andeclectic as Electric Picnic. TheHoneycomb experienced some damageon the first night of the Festival.The following morning somethingbeautiful and wonderful happened asthe artists commenced the repairwork. Everyone, regardless of agewanted to help, it was interactive artat its very best.People were really creative andexplored many new designs andformats for the bottles and for theoverall colour scheme. The engagementand dialogue between the artists andthe various festival goers in relationto the process of making art wasenlightening.For further informationcontact Vera McEvoy atveramcevoy@gmail.com or seeveramcevoy.blogspot.com15

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2011/2012Mullingar Students PlayersCULTURE VULTURES: Dermot McLaughlin pictured withWestmeath Arts Officer, Catherine Kelly, Laois Arts OfficerMuireann Ni Chonaill and Offaly Arts Officer Sinead O'Reillyat the national launch of Culture Night at Dublin Castle.RDS National Craft Competition WinnersExhibition in the Atrium County CouncilBuildings.Midlands Youth OrchestraConcert in Atrium CountyCouncil BuildingsMidlandsA Hive of Culture onCulture Night 2011By Briege MaddenThe Midlands has been lauded by theman behind the Ireland-wide initiativeas a shining example of what CultureNight is all about.Culture Night is an initiative co-ordinatedby Temple Bar Cultural Trust andsupported by the Department of Arts,Heritage and the Gaeltacht in partnershipwith participating county councils. Itis an all Ireland event and even seescities participating outside the country.This year Laois and Offaly joinedWestmeath in celebrating Culture Night.Westmeath took part for the first timein 2010 and the neighbouring countiesmade sure to be part of the festivitiesin September 2011.Dermot McLaughlin, Managing Directorof Temple Bar Cultural Trust said theway the Midlands ran and promotedCulture Night was to be lauded anddeserved special credit.Alysha Brown, age 6from MullingarJenny Hynes and Valerie Beyer“We were delighted when Westmeathjoined in Culture Night for the firsttime in 2010 and said that thoseorganising and participating in it werea shining example to all due to thehuge success of Culture Night 2010.“And, we were thrilled that Westmeathtook part again in 2011 and that itwas joined by its neighbours in theMidlands – Laois and Offaly.“Each and every year more and morecounties are taking part in CultureNight and I want to thank the ArtsOfficers and all those whocontributed so much in the Midlandsto make Culture Night 2011 thebiggest and best one yet!” MKatie McClean, Tara Fitzgerald, AbigailKorzeniewski, Alexandra Tocher, MeganLynch, Danny Adefulire16Midlands Youth OrchestraConcert in Atrium CountyCouncil BuildingsMarie Therese Nally – harpist at theThe Mark Makers exhibition.Ethan Brown

WESTMEATH – the biggestCulture Night Event OutsideDublinYes again Westmeath came up trumpswhen it came to Culture Night withmore than 80 events all around thecounty for all ages – the largest numberof events outside the captial.A special attraction at the launch of theWestmeath Culture Night Programme inAugust was the news that the RDSNational TouringCraft Exhibition would be on show in theAtrium of the County Council Buildingsin the run up to Culture Night.Councillor Mark Cooney, Cathaoirleach ofWestmeath County Council, said of theone-day spectacular. “Every single eventis free in efforts by the County ArtsOffice to showcase the county’s talentand rich arts and culture heritage forthe all.”Westmeath Culture Night 2011 built onthe success of last year and boastedeverything from drama, music –traditional and modern – performanceart, exhibitions, street dancing, historictours, face painting and much more. Theone-day and night of free events wasdesigned to transform the county into acultural hive of activity in the hope thateveryone would open their eyes to whatis on offer around them and offerpeople of all ages and persuasions thechance to experience culture in variousforms including dancing, family fun,music, poetry, lectures, art, dramaand sport to name only a few – and allfor free.Events started early in the morning andfinished in the wee hours across thecounty including Mullingar, Kinnegad,Streete, Castlepollard, Milltown, Delvin,Ballinagargy, Moate and Athlone andincluded everything from storytelling forchildren to street performance anddrama and even puppet-making andcookery classes!Also, attractions such as BelvedereHouse, Dun Na Si Heritage Centre,Moate Museum, the Cathedral MuseumCathedral of Christ the King all threwopen their doors and providingfree tours. MLAOIS CULTURE NIGHT 2011Laois was a hive of activity forCulture Night 2011. Events in theArthouse and Library in Stradballyincluded workshops led by KarenHendy and Laura Byrne, and ajewellery design display by HelenaMalone.Young and old were entertained by JecaBrazil who hosted a magical show. Aperformance by young members ofthe Ros Carrig traditional musicgroup took place, this was followedby a classical guitar performance byLaois School of Music led by tutorMaurice Daly.The evening concludedwith Hidden Things – a poetry andpainting collaboration with JeanO’Brien, poet and Ray Murphy.At the Dunamaise Arts Centre thelaunch of an exhibition by Joe Hoganbasket weaver took place. Also theChildren’s Gallery hosted an exhibitiontitled Crop Marks celebrating 15years in business by PenhouseDesign. A basket weaving demonstrationby Martin Sinnott also took place.In Helena Malone’s work studio onJames Fintan Lalor Avenue peoplewere invited to decorate the walls ofthe studio with their own favouritejewellery designs. The Parish Centrehosted a Céilí le Chéile Evening ledby Maureen Culleton. In PortlaoiseLibrary Jack Lynch provided an eveningof storytelling. In Áras an Chontae,poet Arthur Broomfield Reading gavea workshop on how to unlock themeanings within poetry. Ann Eganhosted a creative writing workshop inBallylinan Library.Heritage trail walks were held inPortlaoise and in Abbeyleix and therewas a free guided tour of Emo Court.In Mountmellick the MountmellickMuseum extended its opening hoursand provided free tours. In the LibraryMountmellick artist Una McCormackpainted live in the Art Gallery andLaois County Council Choir gave aconcert. This was followed by a talk bybest-selling author Monica McInerney.The Arts Office who co-ordinated theday were delighted with the successand are already planning events forCulture Night 2012.MBogman Premièresat Offaly Culture NightGarret Daly from Daingean, countyOffaly, recently premiered his newshort film Bogman during the CultureNight celebrations in Tullamore onSeptember 23.Written and directed by Daly andstarring Paul Keating, the film tells thestory of the lonely existence of a manwho finds something mysterious in a bog.Shot entirely on location in Daingeanthe film sees local man Paul Keatingmaking his screen debut. Keating wasspotted locally by producer (and wife ofGarret) Martina McGlynn and sheconvinced Garret to cast him in the role.At the premier of the film Garretexpressed his gratitude to the actor,who showed raw talent for the part,despite enduring long and cold wetdays out on the bog for much ofthe shoot.Shot in RED, director of photographyKevin McGlynn, beautifully captures thebig skies above the deep earth tonesof the bog.Bogman is very much a film of Offaly,the subject matter, the location, castand crew; who better to make a filmwith such authenticity of place.The film has been shown locallyrecently and next year is sure to be afeature on the film festival circuitnationally and internationally. MGarret Daly and Martina McGlynnhave a production companywww.mixedbagmedia.com andfurther information about his projectcan seen there.Scenes from Laois Culture Night17

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2011/2012Laois Artist, Gemma Guihan spends a month inFlorenceThe summer of 2011 was one with adifference for artist Gemma Guihan whenshe was afforded the opportunity to travelto The Florence Academy of Art to studyfigurative sculpture. The FlorenceAcademy of Art provides the highestlevel of instruction in classical methodsof drawing, painting and sculpture forthose that wish to pursue the realisttradition. Here Gemma recounts her timespent working in the city that is knownas the home of sculpture.“Residing on the Via de Servi, theDoumo was literally the first sight togreet me as I set out to walk to thestudios each morning. Walking to andfrom the Academy providedme with the opportunity toexplore many interestinglittle streets on route.‘The studios opened from8.30am until 10pm withinstruction given infigurative sculpture eachmorning at 9am sharpthrough to 4pm with theoption to continue workingon our own in the evenings.Tuition was given by fourinstructors – Sanne fromHolland, Eran from Israel,Hywell from London andRob the Director of theSculpture Department. Eachone is a professionalsculptor with studios inFlorence and England.Their passion for theirsubject was evident throughthe manner the coherentinstruction was delivered tous throughout the course. Our groupwas made up of 14 participating artistsfrom Ireland, England, Holland, Germany,France, Australia and the United States.This international mix provided me withmany interesting exchanges of ideasand methods of work. It also offered methe opportunity to pitch my skills againsttheirs which I found to be verybeneficial.The first day was a very practicalintroduction to the tools that we wouldrequire; we were brought to severalinteresting hardware stores that couldprovide these to us at a very modestcost. We were encouraged to make ourown wooden modelling tools or to‘customise’ purchased ones in order tohave them meet our own personalrequirements.Week OneThe first week commenced with a studyof the skull in clay, and the afternoonsession with a half life size study of thefigure in contraposto pose (weight on oneleg with the upper body compensating forthe shift in weight e.g. Michelangelo’sstatue of David). We were encouraged touse two drawing implementsthroughout the process.One is clay for additiveobservations and the otheris an incising tool used todraw internal information orto correct mistakes inoverbuilding. The primaryfocus is to train the eye inorder to compare thesculpture to the model.Proportions are developedand understood byrecognising the large andsmall gestures of the model.As I had worked some yearsbefore with the sculptorRobin Buick ARHA for twoyears using callipers tomeasure the model, it wasinteresting to see that here theemphasis was on training theeye to compare thesculpture to the model, amethod that I have alwayspersonally preferred.Week Two/ThreeIn week two the morning sessionprogressed into a study of a life sizeportrait from a live model namedVladimir, from Montenegro, which was tobe completed by the end of week three.The contraposto pose was to becompleted within the same time frame.Week FourWeek four was spent making rubbermoulds for both of these studies; thesewould then be shipped back to Irelandfor casting on my return home to Ireland.The EndThroughout this time we were broughton weekend visits to the Museo delBargello, Museo dell ‘Accademia, Museodegli Uffizi, and the Galleria Moderna, bya well informed art historian from theAcademy.These combined with the intense studioregime in very hot humid weatherconditions (no air-conditioning allowedbecause of clay particles!) was bothphysically and mentally demanding bututterly stimulating and productive.At the end of my sojourn in Florence Ifelt I had gained useful experience of thepractical approaches to making sculpturebut in the long term I know that theprocess of modelling that I have beentaught at the Academy will have abeneficial impact on my work over thenext year.I can certainly see myself returning tothe city of Florence to spend more timeat the museums and of course to revisitsome of those fascinating little hardwarestores! MABOUT THE ARTISTGEMMA GUIHANGemma, a professional sculptor andpainter initially worked from a studioat The Mill House, Killeigh CountyOffaly, where she exhibited regularlyin The Royal Hibernian AcademySummer Exhibition and received theirArtist of Promise Award in 1991 for hersculpture The World Within I Doublyprize, which explored the complexrelationships of the Bronte sisters.She moved her studio to The Gate Lodge,Ballyfin Estate in 1995, and in 1999she had her first one woman exhibitionat The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin.Upon the sale of Ballyfin House by thePatrician Brothes in 2001, she movedher studio to The Malt House Stradbally,county Laois where she continued tohave several one woman exhibitionsat The Molesworth Gallery and TheDunamaise Art Centre, Portlaoise.In 2007 Gemma embarked on a seriesof commissions and participated ingroup shows in Cork, Wexford, Galway,Laois and Northern Ireland.Gemma is now currently building a newstudio at her home in Mountmellickcounty Laois. She is currently workingon a series entitled Sisters that exploresthe intricacies of relationships begunin childhood. In conjunction with thisshe will begin work shortly on a seriesof portraits in clay that will serve as asort of visual record of the peoplethat are living and working in herenvirons at this time.In September 2011, Gemma had theopportunity to revisit Ballyfin House,now an exclusive hotel, at the invitationof Jim Reynolds the Project Managerof the restoration committee. Theoccasion was to mark the presentationon loan to Ballyfin House of a life sizebronze bust of Brother Maurice Murphyformerly of the Patrician College, Ballyfinsculpted by Gemma in 2001. The bustwill now join the Ballyfin House ArtCollection which consists of many fineexamples of contemporary art as wellas many family portraits and mementoswhich have returned to the houseafter an absence of 90 years.The Story of the Ballymahon Writers’ Group By Neil HalliganA notice placed in a Ballymahon shop window back in1998 invited people along to the first ever meeting ofthe local writers’ group. The tag line invited ‘anyonewho thought that they had a book in them to comealong to a meeting’ in the Dean Egan Library.An impressive total of 17 turned up for the firstmeeting, but by the next week it was just four. Fromthe humble beginnings, the group has grown instrength and numbers, and have just released theirfirst collection of work, entitled Almost Lost.Former member Christina O’Connor initiated the group.“Christina was a writer and she wanted to write andshe just didn’t have an outlet,” explained Valerie.18Meetings moved from the local library to a snug in thelocal pub and now take place in the newly refurbishedlibrary, where paintings of local literary greats OliverGoldsmith and Leo Casey hang.Group member Valerie Masters said the group meetevery three weeks. “There’s no format. People will turnup with their work and we will either have a chat aboutgeneral things or take turns reading out something,then analysing it. It’s very honest and can besometimes painful.”The members come from all types of backgrounds – teacher,psychiatric nurse, writer, solicitor and homemaker – butthey all share a common love of writing, she explained.

HeliumChildren’s ArtHELIUM, an arts and health company for children based in Keoltown, Mullingaraims to improve children’s experience of healthcare systems through thedevelopment of innovative arts programmes and activities.Helium works across the healthcare systemoffering a range of child centred projectsled by professional artists. Projects rangefrom once-off events to longer-termresidencies. Professional development,mentorship and providing collaborativeopportunities for artists are central toHelium’s work. Helium is currently runninga number of projects and professionalevents, including:Scales & Tales at Cork University HospitalScales & Tales, a six-month residency ofmusic and storytelling, is currently takingplace at Cork University Hospital, inpartnership with Cork University HospitalArts Committee and in collaboration withMusicAlive.Once a month, musician Caoimhe Conlonand storyteller Fiona Dowling invite thechildren of the paediatric departmenttogether with parents, siblings andhospital staff to engage with musicalinstruments in making stories andcharacters come to life. The children canchoose an instrument from the musicaltrolley and create their own sound effects:from bongos to bells, xylophones tomaracas, and everything else in between,the children are given an artistic outletin a relaxed and informal environment.This project is kindly supported by theCork Arts and Health Programme, theIrish Youth Foundation, The Arts Counciland Cork University Hospital Arts Committee.Scales & Tales is Helium’s secondresidency in Cork University Hospital,following the Puppet Portal Project in2010, and Helium is delighted to havethe hospital’s continuing support.Infant Imaginings in Sligo and LeitrimInfant Imaginings, Helium’s early yearsarts and health project, is taking placethis year in collaboration with the HSEEarly Intervention Teams in Sligo andLeitrim. Puppeteer Helene Hugel andmusician Sean Callagy have beenworking once a month with the EarlyIntervention staff and onsite healthpractitioners in Sligo to complementtheir service provision. They will bringthe project to the Parent and ToddlerGroup in Leitrim for four months runninguntil the year end.Infant Imaginings aims to promoterelaxation, communication and learningbetween babies, toddlers and their parentsthrough music, performance, puppetryand the visual arts. The emphasis in thecurrent phase is on providing creativeplay experiences for toddlers withdevelopmental delays or toddlers at riskof developmental delay and also onbuilding on-going relationships betweenthe artists, the families, and staff involved.A key focus of Infant Imaginings is todevelop arts experiences which parentscan reproduce in the home environmentand the artists leave behind a kit ofprops, puppets and Sean’s acoustic CDof nursery rhymes for this purpose.Inspired by the play sessions with theParent and Toddler Group, Helene andSean staged The Rhyming Room in TheModel, Sligo, at the end of August, awork-in-progress interactive performancefor children under three years and their parents.Infant Imaginings is produced by Heliumin partnership with the HSE EarlyIntervention Teams in Sligo and Leitrimand was made possible with help fromthe Arts Council, the Community Foundationfor Ireland, the National Lottery throughthe HSE and Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.WHERE ARE WE NOW?A symposium examining arts for childrenin hospital within the context of thePuppet Portal ProjectHelium, in collaboration with Kids’ OwnPublishing Partnership, hosted thissymposium as part of the 2011 InternationalPuppet Festival Ireland in The Ark, ACultural Centre for Children in Dublin.The symposium was for artists andhealthcare professionals interested inparticipatory arts with children in hospital.The day included presentations fromartists and healthcare workers whoparticipated in the Puppet Portal Project,hands-on workshops, and plenary discussionon the future of participatory arts withchildren in hospital with contributionsfrom a panel of healthcare professionalsand arts professionals.The Puppet Portal Project was a nationalarts and technology programme withchildren in hospital which was producedby Helium in partnership with The Centrefor Health Informatics, Trinity College,Dublin, and in collaboration with Kids'Own Publishing Partnership. Over 2009and 2010, the artist-in-residency projectsaw seven artists working collaborativelywith approximately 800 children for 30weeks across seven hospitals using AitEile, the hospital webportal, to sharetheir puppet making, stories, and films.The Puppet Portal Symposium was kindlysupported by the Arts Council. Helium wouldlike to gratefully acknowledge the in-kind supportof The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children, for”providing the venue for this event. MStill Reading After All These Yearsby Cathy Fennelly – Cathy is currently Secretaryof the Portlaoise Literature Studies Group andhas been a member for the last nine years.The Portlaoise Literature Studies Group wasfounded over 20 years ago, with a gatheringof interested readers into a discussion groupand is still serving its purposes today –encouraging people to read good literature,to study the context and era of a work andlisten to other’s opinions on it. By meetingweekly, members keep up a good reading paceand the book is fresh in the mind for discussion.A few of the founding members still participateand new members join each year, keeping themix dynamic. There are several nationalitiesrepresented, so viewpoints are varied andinteresting.The group has always been tutor-led. Currenttutor Gesa Cosby from Stradbally researchesthe author and topic of a book and guides thediscussions.The Literature Studies Group has a longassociation with the VEC and has beensupported by grants from the VEC and LaoisCounty Council Arts Office helping to offsetthe cost. It is a non-profit group, with officerduties volunteered for on a two-year basis.A book title is chosen and studied for severalweeks, interspersed with short stories, somedrama and poetry. During the last year, webegan our reading in the refined drawingrooms of Bath, with Emma, by Jane Austen.A drastic shift in setting and action happenedwhen we rode down the Mississippi riverwith Huckleberry Finn and Jim, the freedslave. The vernacular dialect by Mark Twainand various eccentric characters were veryenjoyable. Another novel set in the AmericanDeep South, The Help by KatherineStockett, was our next choice. Set in the1960’s, it exposed the relationships andtreatment of the black hired help by thewhite well-to-do families they worked for. Itexposed some awful human traits ofselfishness and cruelty.Italian Shoes took us to another climate andplace, since it was set in Northern Sweden.The isolation of the main character was bothphysical and mental. As the story unfolds, hecomes back in contact with an early lover, hisdaughter whom he didn’t know existed andother people he must interact with. Many in thegroup enjoyed his journey of emotion and maturity.Barbara Kingsolver’s The Lacuna was a dauntingbook, a long read peppered with strong roles,including the real life artists Frida Kahlo andDiego Rivera and their refugee guest, LeonTrotsky. The lacuna the boy goes throughencompasses passages of time, culture andrelationships. The book introduced topics suchas McCarthyism, Russian Revolution, art andthe Kahlo/Rivera personas. The vibrancy ofMexico and the artists’ world was brought tolife for us with the movie Frida. Furthercultural enlightenment came with our outingto the IMMA for the timely Kahlo/Rivera exhibit.The guided tour was much appreciated.The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund deWaal was a superb read. The story travelledwith the netsuke through generations of awealthy Jewish clan, through their businessand social successes through the terriblepersecution of Jews in WWII.Our last novel was the beautifully and subtlywritten Love and Summer by William Trevor.The 1950’s Ireland small town was accuratelyportrayed, with the poisoned relationships offamilies, grief and lost love very poignant.The new term has started and runs onWednesdays from 10.45am until 12:45pm inthe Portlaoise Parish Centre. The fee per 10-week term is €60, to cover costs of thetutor and facilities.”MFor further information contact Hilary on087 635 6715 or Cathy on 057 866 1798.19

Following the hugely successfulfirst year of the LongfordPhotography Schools’Programme, which involvedCnoc Mhuire, Granard; Mercy,Ballymahon; St Mel’s College,Templemichael College andMoyne Community School, abook is now on the horizon.Photographer Shelley Corcoran,who facilitated the schools’programme, and CountyLongford Arts Officer FergusKennedy are joining forces toproduce a book which will bean art educational tool forthose interested in exploringphotography as an art.Snap“The aim of the book is to encouragethe students to increase their visualawareness and creativity throughphotography,” Shelley explained.“It will be there to give them guidelinesand exercises they can try whichultimately involves them having tobring their creative selves to eachphotograph that they execute.”The book is aimed at secondary schoollevel and its purpose is to demystify thetechnical side of photography and showstudents how to use photography toexpress themselves artistically, like anyother art medium – paint, clay, sculpture.“After all, paint is just paint, it is whatthe artist does with it that makes it awork of art,” Shelley noted. “The bookFestive Entertainment withAmahl and the Night VisitorsHerbert Lodge Arts Centre with theHerbert Lodge Ensemble present Amahland the Night Visitors, by Gian CarloMenotti, on Saturday, December 3 inStradbally Hall, county Laois and onSunday, December 4 in the ConventChapel Arts Centre, Nas na RioghHousing, Naas, Co Kildare.This short opera focuses on Amahl andhis widowed mother who live in a little hutperched precariously among the hills,on the route of the Magi to Bethlehem.The Three Kings break their journey atthe hut of this impoverished family whereChristmas comes early to change theirlives forever.This opera is followed by a performanceof the Bach A Minor Violin Concertoperformed by Samuel Allen, anexceptionally talented 11 year old whostudies violin in Moscow. Samuel whohas attended the Herbert Lodge SummerMusic School plans to continue hisstudies at the Moscow Conservatoire.The evening will conclude withChristmas carols.20will focus on photography as an art formbut also explains the technical side tophotography so that the students arecomfortable in the knowledge thatthey can create an art photographbecause they understand camerafunctions, settings and operations.“The book is there to encourage creativeideas in the students with outlines ofsituations that they can try for themselvesand to encourage them to expressthemselves and their ideas creatively.”The book will be illustrated by photographstaken in the first year of the Schools’Programme by the students from theLongford schools that took part in theprogramme to date – all of whom haveput their creative stamp on what theywere thought throughout the year. MTickets are €15 and available fromthe Dunamaise Arts Centre Box Office,Portlaoise, Co Laois on 057-8663355or at www.dunamaise.ie.For further information contactBerna Hayden, on 085 1612474.CharactersAmahl: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David O CarrollMother: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eimear McCarthy& Sophie O CarrollKing Kasper: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Duffy TenorKing Melchior: . . . . . . . .Philip Scott BaritoneKing Balthazar: . . . . . . . . . .Dave Murphy BassPage: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Con Mc McNamara BassShepherdesses: . . . . .Annie Mae de Clare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Roisin King. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Helena O’Brien. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Emer O’Connor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aimee McGfrath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Toya Retigan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rebecca Troy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anna BarryDancers: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Leinster Schoolof Dancing, NewbridgeDirector: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Berna HaydenProducer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Colonel Co McNamaraMNowYou’reTalkingtoPatrickCartonThe BorderBy Patrick CartonThe fence is dense, the wall is tallbut the border is not there at allit wanders in a lonely line throughrows and rows of pensive pinesa little line marked on a mapbut when you go there to mind the gapthere isn’t any gap to mindjust the wind that whistlesthrough the pinesand the lads from the legionof the lostwho man that lonely frontier postthey’ve been yearning therefor manys the yearto face a fundamental fearthough standing still they fight a warbetween what seems to beand what isn’t therePatrick Carton is a poet from Horseleapon the Westmeath-Offaly border.“‘I live in a liminal land,” he said, “‘theplace where poetry comes from is onthe border – the border between sleepand wakefulness, where the darknessof the night meets the brightness of theday, where the land meets the sea. Thereare little birds that fly along the shorelineand little fish that swim in the sea nearthe shore and I go out with a net andtry to catch them.” After being schooledin Horseleap and Moate, followed by acouple of years working in Athlone PublicLibrary, Patrick wandered out into theworld but wherever he went he broughtalong his notebook and pens.He eventually fetched up in Galway, thecity of the tribes as a mature studentin the university where he studied for anArts Degree. Patrick also has a Mastersin Philosophy and a thesis entitledEgo-Consciousness in Descartes’Meditations no less.He first cut his teeth as a performancepoet in Galway reciting “blasts of bardicbrilliance” across crowded public housesat Irish traditional music sessions beforegoing on to devise a one man show. Thisis a constantly evolving entity, featuringan eclectic mix of old and new, poetryand song, original material and oddbits he picked up here and there.At this stage Patrick has appeared atseveral venues at home and abroad and anumber of years ago also recorded aCD Now You’re Talking. He recited materialfrom this CD on The View with John Kellyon RTE1 television to enormouslypositive reaction.He also featured on an hour-lengthdocumentary on Midlands 103 localradio in the Living Voices programmewith Maurice O’Keefe talking about suchtopics as the time when every field hada name and vernacular architectureand the power of poetry to lift us outof the ordinary.He recently appeared in The Parish, alsoon Midlands 103 with Kieran Feeneywith a number of other local Horseleapcharacters. Patrick entertained all with arendition of Second Hand Horse, hissong about the equestrian statue whichnow graces the village green there.Patrick feels it is a calling to entertainthe public and so when he recites it isan exhilarating theatrical performancerather than a staid old poetry reading.“This is the authentic voice of the Irishheartland – witty, pithy, acerbic – frequentlyhilarious,” according to Kilian Kennedy.But his poety recitals have brought himmore than fame and popularity as onOctober 1, 2009 when Patrick was recitingpoetry in the Arts Centre in Mullingarone impressed audience member AnneWillis just had to say hello. The meetingwas, as they say, poetry in motion andPatrick and Anne are now the proudparents of 11 month old babyCharlotte Jane.PATRICK HAS APPEARED AT:The Electric PicnicCuirt Festival of Literature, GalwayFestival of the Fires, UisneachGalway Arts FestivalMuscailt Festival, NUI GalwayIrish/American Arts Festival,Washington DCAll-Ireland Amateur DramaFestival, AthlonePatrick Kavanagh Raglan RoadFestival Inniskeen Festival,Monaghan – and many others.With a repertoire suitable for bothchildren and young adults Patrick is afrequent visitor to Horseleap NationalSchool and has also worked withTransition Year Students in MoateCommunity College and told storiesin Athlone and Mullingar libraries.If you are interested in organising apoetry performance or storytellingsession contact Patrick atpatriccarton@eircom.net M

Artists Nicola Lane and Karl Somerslast year took over the running of ateashop in the courtyard of TullynallyCastle in Caslepollard with a view toeventually expanding into the disusedstables adjacent to it and openingtheir own gallery space, from wherethey hoped to foster and champion thevisual arts.And, so, last spring they opened ThePlatform Gallery. This space has beencreated with dual objectives, the first ofwhich being to provide a foothold forContemporary Art in the locale, givingvisibility to professional visual artistsat various stages in their careers andworking in a wide range of media.The two intend to give preference towork which challenges the traditionaland conservative preconceptions onwhat constitutes valid art both by wayof medium and content.Their second aim is to facilitate thediscourse on Contemporary Art and toprovide a base for the production of arange of cultural activities – such asartists’ talks, screenings, workshops,performance pieces and other events.Artists, both local and international willbe given the chance to work in a spacewhich lends itself both as a neutral backdropfor existing work and as a space formore responsive, site specific work.Anne Egan opens Ursula Meehan’s ShowThe remit of The Platform is to be an artistfriendly space, run by artists for artists.The space itself is in a converted Georgianstable block, and occupies what wasoriginally three loose stalls. The floor isthe original brick, complete with drainagegullies, and the wooden stall dividers stillbear the gnaw marks of its earlier equineinhabitants. The stalls are steeped inatmosphere and history, but are opento use as a blank stage for the exhibitingof existing works as well as works whichseek to draw on and respond to thespace itself, and to the setting, thehistoric Tullynally Castle and Gardens,dating back to the eighteenth century.So far, this year, there have been fourexhibitions in the Platform, starting withUrsula Meehan’s Retrospective, followedby Marta Szczudlo’s Faith, There Are AlsoCircles: a group show by Nicola Lane, NinaTanis and Mai Ryan, and Goosle Earth,Coming Home by Eloise O’Hare. Thework has ranged from abstract painting(in the case of Meehan), to CubistExpressionism in the work of Szczudlo, toabstract, figurative and illustrative drawingin the cases of Lane, Tanis, Ryan andO’Hare’s work respectively.In their capacity as curators and asartists, Lane and Somers plan to introducethis sleepy rural idyl to installation works,Toffee Noses by Nicola LaneArtist-run Galleryin Castlepollardsound works and street art in theforthcoming future, as well as hopingto cultivate interdisciplinary fusion betweenthe visual arts and other art forms.This approach of bringing togetherdisciplines evidenced itself during thevery first opening at The Platform, whenpoet and writer Anne Egan gave anintroductory talk on the works of artistUrsula Meehan, in which she exploredthe work verbally, riffing on the themesprevalent within it. This had the effectof giving a foothold to the audience, some ofwhom might not have had either exposureto, or tolerance of abstract art works. Egan’spoetic approach to Meehan’s work provideda bridge between the work and the audience,which made it accessible to some, anddeepened the experience for others.Finding this to be a worthwhile formula,Platform repeated this method andthere will be further developments ofthis kind down the line.In terms of their own work as artists, Laneand Somers both graduated from NCADin 2003 and 2004 with a Degree andMasters (respectively) in Fine Art,choose to work in what ever mediumthe work dictates. MGallery hours are1–6pm, Thursday–Sunday, all year round.Also see tullynally castle tearooms atwww.tullynallycastle.com.ABOUT: LANELane works in a diverse range of materials,tending to make ephemeral pieces whichcombine traditional sculptural techniqueswith less traditional, experimental materialssuch as toffee, paper and soap.These ‘Time based’ works tend to disappearover time leaving behind only whateverrecord the artist has made of the ‘action’.She also works in Sound and in VideoInstallation.ABOUT: SOMERSSomers, whilst being equally at homepainting, film-making or working in sculpture,is also very interested in the written word,and is currently working on a volume ofpoems. Both in visual and written media,Somers is excercised by the idea of thecity merging with the countryside, oneoverlaying the other in a sort of tidal pulse.Both artists feel the city to be a prevalentforce within their work. This can manifestas a sense of loss at the city’s distance,and at the same time, it can create animpetus – as if bybeing separatedfrom the citycreates an urgeto re-create it insome form.CALL FOR SUMISSIONSThe Platform Gallery is now open forsubmissions and will be putting out acall to artists via the usual channelsvery soon. For inquiries please contactNicola Lane 086 8647451 or emailnicolapeola@gmail.com.Lost in Traffic by Karl SomersFROM THE CENTRE OUTBY KARL SOMERSFrom the small street the light creeps slowlyalong the wall. Up to the window above andthrough the crack in the curtains. It playson the ceiling and as the cars drive by,reflections like doodles draw the morningsfirst thoughts. Car horns and buses andquick feet passing by. Down the road wherethe children play, the gold light takes theirplace. The shades walk in the morning likefootsteps on the path. The silent light fallsand lands on the moss in the corner of thedark street.Out on the country roads the rain falls again.Quiet rain, it fills the eyes with tears. Peoplecry in the rain and most can’t be seen init’s mask. Seagulls weep in the skies above,out along the Booterstown wall. By thewaves where the corn crakes don’t live, mencollect lug worms. Their in the distanceand reflections in the grey are small. Greentrains full of wavers crosses this wateryplace and buckets with castle memoriesfill the boys thoughts. Ice creams and greenballoons and hula hoops hanging outsidethe seaside shops. “Can I have a 99daddy?” the boy asks.On Henry street the shutters are comingdown on the evenings eyes and the shopswill soon sleep again, tucked up in receiptsand thoughts of dreaming shop makers. Thelight nearly cries now coming to the end ofa swollen day. The artists make their wayto Howth to watch the sun go down and fallasleep by the tune. Coffee houses still openand artist eyes watching the last light fallingon faces across the room. The street manfrom Templeogue, head down and watchedfeet, walks slowly along the edge of thebroken town. He follows the last light andhe’s wondering into the last blankets ofnight. Those bricked up eyes have seen alot and the walls will fall again and leavethe ground covered in dust and the man willwalk free. The evening falls into the nightlike a drunkard in the alley. It trips and crawlsand swells it’s eyes and shouts at the sky“WHY?”. Across town dinners are cookedand bedsit diners sit by the glow of thetubular light. Projection on the back screenand projection on the autumn leaves gold.Caged in thought and falling down walls thesitters cry in their uncomfortable ways. Letthe city cry for us, let it crawl through the nightfor us and let it feed its cats in the tunnelsbeneath the streets where the peopledon’t know.Out by Ringsend the boats smile their lightsand slink through the watery road. The captainwhistles tunes and drinks from the sight ofthe moon. The men call at the night doorsand captains eyes weep at the wantingcompanionships drifting the bay. The stringsof happy lights and thought of darker days.The mullet who rolls, shallow in the deepwater, watches the ships eyes for years, shefeels the soul and tenders the night, thebroken hearts sink in the sands. Alongthose walls lovers that once called now throwthere dreams into the darkness and screamat the fish of the town. The taxis don’t stopfor the cross roads and walkers foot stephome on the cracked pavements. Pathwaysin the dream state, hollowed out by the night.M21

Big Turnout forBelindaMcKeon’sBook LaunchA capacity crowd filled the BackstageTheatre for the recent launch of thedebut novel Solas, by the latestwriter to emerge from Longford,Belinda McKeon.The night was an enjoyable combinationof classical music provided by theWindsong Classical Harp Ensemblefrom Lanesborough, an in-depthinterview by award winning poet anddramatist Noel Monahan fromGranard and a reading by the author.The night’s proceedings were smoothlyorchestrated by Adrian Duncan amusicologist from Ballymahon.There was a tremendous atmosphereof affection and pride for the authoron the night, due in no small part, tothe huge numbers of past teachers,old school friends and extendedfamily members who were presenton the night.The novel was particularly wellreceived as it was by a local writerbut also because it was based,partly, in rural Longford and themajority of the cast of characterswere also Longford people.It is felt that the success of thisnovel and its close association withcounty Longford will provide invaluableencouragement to the myriad ofaspiring writers in Longford andBelinda has now added her name tothe many writes who have emergedfrom county Longford in moderntimes, writers such as; Noel Monahan,Vona Groarke, Breda Sullivan, AnneSkelly, Margaret Nohilly and MaryMelvin Geoghegan.M22

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2011/2012Wise Beyond her YearsAngela Madden heads to Leitrim to catch author Belinda McKeon ather in-laws’ between book launches of her acclaimed Solace on herwhirlwind trip back home from the Big Apple.Chatting, curled in an armchair inher in-laws warming home in Leitrim,mug of coffee in hand, BelindaMcKeon appears to hold a maturityand understanding far beyond her32 years. In fact looking at her shehas a somewhat ephemeral andchild-like appearance making her seemeven younger than she really is.She also excludes an air of calmand quiet practicality associatedwith a long life rather than one thatis near its start – and yet it is yearssince she started her craft, almosta quarter of a century ago!“I started writing very young but Ithink a lot of people do but not a lotof people become writers becausethey don’t carry it through. I lovedwriting stories; it was always part ofmy education, story writing both inIrish and English.”“...you just have tosit down and startwriting and thewords will come”However, she highlights that a teacher,Eamon Brennan was a huge influencein her early education and her storytelling – then and now.She recalls how, even back then infourth class, her mentor advised herthat life as a writer might not pay thebills and planted the idea of journalismas an ideal one to write to pay the billssitting alongside her desire to developas an author. “I wanted to be ajournalist from I was very young. Theteacher said it was a way to make aliving writing.” Today Belinda still worksas an arts writer for the Irish Times.But, Belinda says she writes exactlythe same now as she did when shewas eight and says simply “you justhave to sit down and start writingand the words will come”.This matter of fact approach seemsto work for the mild manner Belindaas the critics have been raving abouther debut novel Solace.“Accomplished… Thoughtful andintelligent… A work steeped inverisimilitude, whose integrity ispalpable and its concerns clear-cut,”said the Times Literary Supplementwith the Irish Independent commenting:“The juxtaposition of urban andrural Ireland is very effective… Acompelling story of how the adultfamily unit renegotiates itself.There is no denying McKeon’stalent.” The Guardian, Economist,The Times, The Sunday Times, SundayBusiness Post, Sunday Herald andthe Belfast Telegraph are among araft of titles publishing reviewspraising Solace.However, it seems that, despite thefull marks from the critics, her teacherwas indeed wise and Belinda herselfadmits that the price put on art ingeneral, in the vast majority of cases,would not afford a living. So, shehas a varied career encompassingmany aspects of the arts from workingas a journalist, teaching andrepresenting Culture Ireland in the US.In the last position Belinda plays acrucial role in the promotion of Irishwriters and arts in the US andhelped arrange for some 100 writersto appear in 25 states last year – animpressive feat in itself and evenmore so when you consider that thelikes of Seamus Heaney have takenpart. Part of Belinda’s role is toidentify venues where artists can beshowcased and then work with thevenues to make the event happen.It is perhaps not that surprising thata key aspect of Belinda’s career isharnessing Irish talent and giving itvoice. After all she said: “It is soimportant to offer the opportunityto meet with other writers or artistsand give the opportunity to peopleinterested to fully develop themselves.”Belinda also strikes you as a personwho holds a practical outlook on lifeand as a young person living in theUS, away from home, I ask her aboutemigration and the Irish diaspora –two sides of the one coin and goodor bad depending on one’s view orexperience of emigration.“The Irish always had a big reach,even way, way back. By and largeAustralia and America exist as theydo today because of the Irish.” But,she points out that no-one likes tobe forced to leave their home andtheir roots. “We will not really seethe impact for another 10 to 15years; they have only just left.”She herself admits that, at the presenttime, coming home is simply not anoption for herself and her husbandand so Brooklyn has become theirmodern-day home – at least for now.Belinda’s roots lie in Cloonany, asmall townland close to Stoneparkwhere she attended National Schoolbefore heading to Scoil Mhuire,Convent of Mercy in Longford. Sheshares the fact that sometimes theeducational system can be tooheavily focused on the regurgitationof facts and figures and can be“It is just normal tothem. It is differentwith members ofyour own family; firstand foremost theyare just your family.”quite limiting for a teenager.She has two sisters Rebecca, 29and Alice who is 20 and a brotherMichael, 28 who, she admits, areunderwhelmed by her success andacclaim as an author despite themany recent newspaper, radio andTV interviews following the criticalapplause of Solace. “It is just normalto them. It is different with membersof your own family; first and foremostthey are just your family.”Her more star struck fans will bepleased to hear that she has alreadyinked her quill for her next book whichshe hopes to reveal in 2012. Thetalented writer who is not limited toone medium, and is an award-winningplaywright, is also working on a playcommissioned from the Abbey Theatre.And, so, Belinda is showing allthe signs that Solace is only thebeginning of a prolific writing careerwith offerings eagerly anticipatedand well received from ‘those in theknow’ and the public alike. And,who knows, maybe one of thesedays her art will pay the bills. MExcerptfromSolaceMark Casey has left home, therural Irish community where hisfamily has farmed the same landfor generations. He is a doctoralstudent in Dublin, a vibrant,contemporary city full ofpossibility. But to his father, Tom,who needs help baling the hayand ploughing the fields, Mark’spursuit isn’t work at all, and theyare set on a collision course,while Mark’s mother negotiates afragile peace.To escape the seemingly endlessstruggle of completing his thesis,Mark finds himself whiling awayhis time with pubs and parties.His is a life without focus orresponsibility, until he meetsJoanne Lynch, a trainee solicitorwhom he finds irresistible – andwho he later discovers happensto be the daughter of a man whoonce spectacularly wrongedMark’s father, and whosebetrayal Tom has rememberedevery single day for twentyyears.Joanne too has escaped the lifecircumscribed by heroverbearing father, and she istorn between the opportunitiesto succeed in this new wealthyDublin and the moral dilemmasit presents. But for a brief timeMark and Joanne are able toshare the chaos and rapture of alove affair, an emotional calm,until the lightning strike oftragedy changes everything.M23

IN CONVERSATIONQ. Eddie, will you tell me a littleabout yourself?A. I’m from Saggart, county Dublin. I’velived in Naas, Newbridge and now I amin Rathdowney. Laois which is greatfor my work. I am right in the middle, Ican travel.Q: You are deeply inspired by yourmusic. Can you talk about your journeywith music to where you are today?A: I’ve been playing drums since I wasround 12 years of age. I was taught bya gentleman called John Wadham, afamous jazz drummer around Dublin butI’m largely self-taught as well. Like anykid, I started playing with my brothersan we even had a little band. We usedto play a lot of support – the little bandbefore the showband.Q: What was the name of your bandand where did you play?A: We were called, The Red Handsbecause of the name O’Neill. Therewere four of us and we played in a lotof the ballrooms – The National Ballroom,Parnell Square, The Olympic off CamdenSt and TV Club, Harcourt St.24Q: What bands did you support andwhat was the experience like as amusician?A: The Miami Showband, The RoyalShowband, The Indians and many more.It was a wonderful experience and wasa great way of learning. I used to watchthe drummers playing with the bands.I’d be behind them on the stage. I’d watchevery move they’d make. It was a greatexperience because when you’re a youngguy like that, getting to watch themusicians up close was a great learningcurve. From that I moved on to play withsome of the bands professionally. Inthe mid seventies, I becameprofessional myself.Q: What bands did you play with?A: I worked with Joe Cuddy for manyyears. There was a great cabaret circle… the Joe Cuddy Backing Band, AengusMcNally was on guitar. We toured theUK and all over Ireland, north and south.After Joe, I moved and played withGeraldine Brannigan’s Backing Bandand through Geraldine I did quite a bitof work with Phil Coulter and did a TVshow with him. I went to the Lebanontwice with Geraldine’s band to performfor the United Nation’s Troops. Thatwas a marvellous experience. It reallyopened my eyes to a lot of things – notso much musically – as it was the firsttime in my life I had ever been that faraway. I remember driving through Beirutand the whole place bombed out of it.We used to go from one camp to anotherto play for different countries, theirbattalions. I remember there were theFiji, the French, the Norwegians and wehad an entourage when we were movingfrom camp to camp, of body guardsbecause there used to be lots of rebelgroups and they had roadblocks. They’dstop us, come over to our tour bus,they’d check us out – passports,everything. It was scary. They wererebels not officials. We survived.Q: What did your music mean to thetroops?A: It was a great morale booster forthe troops but, I think for the Irish soldierswhat was really good for them wasmeeting people from home. They usedto talk to us a lot. The soldiers reallyappreciated and enjoyed Geraldine andher band and because there was suchdanger involved, they were very grateful.Q: Where did music take you afterthis, Eddie?A: I actually had my own band againwith my brother. We started a rockbandcalled, Ez Feelin. I actually stoppeddrumming for a while then. I was thefrontsman, the singer with that band.At one stage we had a minor hit with aEDDIE O’NEILLDrum Circle Facilitatorin conversation with writer, Ann Egansong called What About Me? For abouteight or nine years, we toured Irelandand England as well. People, particularlyin Kildare, Meath and Dublin, wouldremember us well. This was the eightiesand we were quite popular.Q: Where did you play?A: This was the age of pub music, acover charge on the door and in thenightclubs – Zhivago, Whelan’s, TheBaggott Inn, The Embankment. We playedin Navan, Trim, Naas – Dan Donnelly’s,loads of places. We finished up aroundthe beginnings of the nineties and Iwent back to my first love again –drumming. That’s when my careertook a big turn - at that stage I gotgreat interest in the health benefits ofdrumming which is what I do now.Q: How did that change occur?A: I experimented a lot with differentdrumming cultures especially West AfricaDrumming, Japanese Taiko Drummingand Afro-Cuban Drumming. One thingthat happened was I had a group ofDrummers based in Newbridge. Weplayed the Japanese style Taiko Drummingand we performed at the opening ceremonyof the 2003 Special Olympics in CrokePark. That was a great experience. Aroundthis time I started to study in a place inNottingham in the UK, called, TheTherapeutic Drumming Foundation. Iactually ended up doing four years therestudying to Diploma level.TherapeuticDrumming involves facilitating DrummingCircles in various settings such ascommunity groups, schools, corporateteams, active retirement groups, specialneeds settings, hospitals. TherapeuticDrumming promotes the psychological,emotional, social, recreational and spiritualwellness and development of the person.I’m now doing this work for fifteen years.Q: What would you say was yourmoment of illumination into thepower of Drumming for Wellness?A: I think I have to say there it wasn’tactually a moment. I just always knew,even from a very young age, when I wasdrumming, I always really felt good.Because I was so young, I didn’t thinktoo much about it, but no matter whatstate I was in – just generally feelingdown, depressed, despondent – justconnecting with the rhythm seemed tostrengthen me some way and gave mea feeling of general wellness andempowerment. Even when I’d practice,I’d leave it feeling rejuvenated, relaxedand more confident in myself.Q: What are your hopes for the future?A: My own ambition for the future is tocontinue doing what I’m doing but I wouldlike to travel a bit more, to study some ofthe traditional drumming and healingpractices in different indigenous culturesaround the world, Africa, definitely Asia,South America – all those cultures; andto generally promote as much as possiblethe use of what I actually call, RecreationalDrumming in general health and wellness.Q: With the way life and the world aretoday for our young people, and theway our youth are searching for valuesfor life, would you have a guidingmessage for them?A: I think it would help greatly if youngerpeople became a little more spiritualand learned to slow down. The worldis going far too fast. We’ve lost contactwith the rhythms of nature. For centuriespeople lived at the same tempo, nowadaystechnology, whatever the pace of lifefor humans, has increased enormouslyand yet the natural rhythms of the worldare the same as they were and alwayswill be. We’ve lost connection withthat rhythm. I would suggest to youngpeople to take care of themselves -their holistic wellness – psychologicaland emotional – and find ways to dothat. Drumming is a great way, andthere are other ways as well.For more information:Check out Eddie’s CD Drum Energy – originaldrumming tracks for recreation, motivationand relaxation composed by Eddie. He inviteslisteners to connect with their innerrhythmical spirit and guides them throughthe following steps: energise early in the day;relax, meditate and concentrate; get freefrom fear, guilt, regret; give thanks forlife’s gifts; unravel a dilemma and seekguidance. See www.rhythmretreats.com;email: info@rhythmretreats.com or call087 9151134.

Harping on . . .Music in the familyBy Neil HalliganIn our last edition we took a look atMother and daughter harpists. Thisedition we check in with daughterAlida to see what beckons in the nextfew months.As she readily admits, Alida Loftuslearned how to walk by pulling herselfup with harp strings. The instrumentbelonged to her mother, Edel, and so itwas no surprise that Alida has grown upto be an accomplished multi-instrumentalist,specialising in harp.At the tender of 18, the Lanesboromusician has seen more than most in alifetime and it’s all through her undoubtedmusical talent.China beckoned in October, and withbookings and concert tours right upuntil 2016, there’s little time to relaxfor the well travelled Alida.Music is in the blood. Her mother Edel– an outstanding harpist in her own right– runs the successful Windsong MusicSchool in Lanesboro, Co Longford.Alida has recently returned from Vancouverwith her mother, where they attended theWorld Harp Congress, where “seminars,workshops, all the greats of the worldare there,” said Alida,“It was an amazing experience to goover. There were so many differentharpists, with different techniques. Itwas wonderful to see so many harpistscoming together.”Playing an instrument started early forAlida. “I started playing harp when I wasfive. There were always musical instrumentsaround my house so it was automaticthat I was going to be playing.“I started pulling myself up by the stringsto try and teach myself how to walk,”she quipped.“I started violin, cello and piano at six.I’ve kept them up the whole way,” sheadded.She also started singing at eight, but itwas the harp where her focus remained.“I started performing with mum when Iwas six; I did my first concert tour ofEngland when I was six,” she revealed.Studies started early too. “I studied withthe Guild Hall in London when I waseight, and graduated a few years ago.”The studies continued and now’s shestudying with a harp teacher in theUniversity of Arizona through a webcamas well as doing a degree in London.“In the University of Arizona, they offeredme a place when I was 14. At the timeI had lots of other projects going onwith my other instruments, but nowgradually the harp has taken over.“I don’t think you ever stop learning.There’s always something else that youcan learn to do.“Now I’m going from the classical into thejazz and the other genres, like Irish rock.”By day Alida teaches new students theskills of the harp, an instrument shesays is relatively easy to pick up.“We can get a student playing within fouror five days. During the summer we didworkshops down in the Lanesboro co-op.“We had players of all ages; some hadstarted a couple of years ago, and weretaking it up again. We also had completebeginners and within five days they allperformed a concert.“One thing that’s great about the harpwhen they’re starting off is that it’s notas bad as the violin – it doesn’t soundlike a cat being strangled!“They really get enthusiastic when theyhear themselves playing music and notmatter what you play on the harp, itsounds really good and gives people alot of confidence.“The group we’re teaching at the momentis a great group. They’ve been offeredto go to the States, to Canada and nowto Hangzhou, which is fantastic. It’s agreat opportunity for them.”As to her own future, Alida says thelearning process will continue.“Hopefully to become a brilliant performer,and to keep enjoying what I’m doing,learning different things with the harp.Hopefully get my Masters from Arizona,which is down the road a bit.”She embarks on a concert tour nextMay with her teacher, along with anensemble of previous students. Startingin Dublin the tour goes through Brazil,Tokyo, Seattle, London and Canada.MUNIFIED: Peter McMorris’Eternal Embrace was openedthis autumn at Tihilly HousingScheme, Tullamore.The work was commissioned by Rights for the ElderlyVoluntary Housing Association. The sculpture’s design, basedon the union of two people is aimed to promote interactionamong the residents and the landscaped areas in thedevelopment.A seat is held within the embrace of the figures and thusoffers a sense of security and peace. The work encapsulatesthe spirit of the scheme, from its community based establishmentto the residential community housed in the scheme, similarlyoffering support and shelter to each other. The sculpture ismade from stainless steel, cement, ground limestone and pigment.25

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2011/2012Tullamore Writer’s DebutCollection LaunchedTullamore writer Ken Humerecently launched hisdebut collection of poetrySnowstorm of Doubt andGrace, which also featuresa collection of new poemsby his mother CatrionaHume – one wracked withdoubt, the otherenamoured by grace.The book is a collection of poems,lyrics and reflections that are full ofcontrasts and observations and offeran honest insight into the struggle awriter can experience in having theconfidence to be a writer, the doubtsthat most writers go through butseldom acknowledge on paper or ashe says himself, “highly caffeinated,poetic and lyrical observations from‘an awkward boy’.”However, it is not all introspective andthere are lighter and more contentedofferings which make this a variedand absorbing read.ABOUT THE AUTHORSKEN HUME is 31 years of age fromTullamore, county Offaly but currentlyresiding in Clara. He was a prolific filmand music critic for his local paper, theTullamore Tribune from December 2005to September 2008.Snowstorm of Doubt and Grace is hisfirst book.CAITRIONA HUME is also from Tullamoreand lives with her husband John. Beinga reflective person by nature, she hasalways found writing a natural means ofexpression. She has written two bookletscalled You Give Me Life published in 1997and On Wings of Love published in 1998.The Coffee Shop & MeBy Ken HumeThe coffee shop and meMet some years agoWhen I was walking byIt’s portal to another worldThe sweet smelling aromaGrabbed me by the noseAnd dragged me insideTo sample it’s caffiene delightsAnd now, we’re best of friendsThe coffee shop and meWe meet together anytimeTo conspire, to communeIn reflective caffeinated blissWith my notepad and penPeople come and people goWe listen and observeWith outstretched sensesIn this coffee shop of ideasHide MeBy Catriona HumeHide me behind the laurels of the worldOut of sight of would-be-plauditsKeep me out of view, save that ofknowing my own lightWhere is there to hide in a worldThat seeks to see itself in its own gloryWith little knowledge of whence it came?Can you find a place for meWhich seeks not to magnifyits own greatnessBut knows its place among the stars?It’s there amid the dross of egoismA treasure hidden in a worldwhere self’s aliveA humble jewel in a world wheresoul has diedCopies of the book are available locally in Chocolate Brown's, William Street & Balcony Books, Bridge Centreboth in Tullamore or on www.originalwriting.ieLongford Writers’ GroupLighting Up the CountyFrom an informal gathering around a fire to the launch of their first publication this year,it has been an interesting 16 years for Lasrai Writers Group.Having previously been involved with twobooks under the auspices of the county’sarts office, they released their own book,Kindlings – a collection of writings from allmembers.The group’s beginnings are traced back toan informal setting of people sitting arounda fireplace, sharing a common love ofliterature and writing. What sparked thedecision to formalise matters and createan official writers’ group was a talk givenby a famous local author.“It arose from a reading that was given byJack Harte from his short stories,”explained Margaret Nohilly, the group'sChairperson. “I think he was alsodetailed to tell us how a writing groupworked,” she added.Those who attended on the night wereasked to put their name down and soLasrai Writers Group was born.Sr Rosarii Beirne, who invited Jack to givethe talk, explained the name. “We had alittle women’s centre on the RathclineRoad – it was a group known as Lasrai,the Irish word for lights. We were trying tolight the place up.“We had a little group going – about six orseven – who were writing and then felt alittle bit lost. Eventually we invited Jack toformally launch the group,” she said.The group now meet once a month, witheach meeting lasting around two hours.The 'rules', as many writer groups know,are simple but important.“Everybody prepares something – a piece ofwriting – and reads it at the meeting,” saidMargaret. “The others then give theircriticism or feedback. Through attendingreadings and workshops we later got theidea of having copies of the poem orpiece of writing so people can work on itthere and then.”The result is an extremely active groupwho have members from all over theregion, and from all kinds of backgrounds.Budding playwright Paddy Lawrence, andone of the group's newer members,explains that it has helped him bring hiswork to fruition, with a hope to stage hiswork on the local, if not national, stage.“It was difficult because it’s my first timeto join a group, but I’ve settled in now.There's a warm atmosphere – I wasexpecting it to be harsh, but it wasn’t.“It’s been a great help. I’ve been writing awhile and I met Margaret at the launch ofLoose Leaves (anthology of writing byLongford authors), which is when I joined.I live in Longford town and there was nogroup there at the time.”In the time he has been with the group,he has completed two plays - one of whichhas been given to the local BackstageTheatre Group and the other one hasbeen sent to The Abbey.Mary McGuishin, native of Lanesboro whohas recently returned to the area fromDublin, said she joined the group for thesociability. “I didn’t want to living out inthe field away from life in general. I knewMargaret and she told me about thegroup. I have enjoyed every bit of it,” saidMary, who writes poetry, drawing on heryounger days in the area for inspiration.Sean Cahill, another member, said theatmosphere among the group helps withthe writing. “It has a very creative side toit and helps to enrich one’s life. We wouldwrite poetry and prose, from the sacredto the profane to the sublime, with quitea bit of humour at times.“The atmosphere in the group is lighthearted,but at the same time we keepthe little bit of writing in focus,” he said.Having been involved with two previouspublications by Longford’s Arts Office –Heartlands and the previously mentionedLoose Leaves – their own book was anatural progression.“It was inspired and motivated by KieranFurey,” Jimmy Casey noted. “He saidearlier in the year ‘we have all this stuffand we’re doing nothing about it and it’sabout time we get off our backsides anddo something about it’.“He took the responsibility of putting ittogether. He got about seven or eightcontributions from each member of thegroup and he worked on it and Kindlingswas what come out of it.”Jack Harte, who also is the Director of theIrish Writers’ Centre, returned to launchthe book in Lanesboro earlier this year.He has also invited the group to read inthe centre in the coming months.M26

Film FestivalOFFlineLongford Painter makes theOrdinary Extraordinary By Neil HalliganInspiration for artists comes inall forms. Between conversationson a street and a specific,ordinary-looking field, theinspiration for one Longfordpainter is all around his ownlocality.Gary Robinson, operating out of a smallstudio space in Longford town just off themain thoroughfare, is an accomplishedpainter of note, drawing praise from manycorners, not least renowned artist JohnKingerlee.In trying to describe his current workprocess, which has evolved over the years,Gary said: “You have to get in to a flowwith this kind of work. You have to gothrough a whole lot of rights and wrongs,and mistakes, before you’re able towork properly.“The work I’m on at the moment, and havebeen for at least four or five years, is allbased on Longford, it’s my raw material. Iwould describe it as reconstructions ofevery day experiences – taking somethingthat I may have seen or heard experiencedby somebody else and using it for this work.”He describes them as being ‘Converscapes’.“They’re a cross between streetscapesand conversations. Previous to this I wasmaking drawings of Longford streets,which were like OS maps. It was throughthis process that I thought the only way Icould work with any of this kind ofmaterial was to have some kind ofexperience with it.“So with those maps I developed itfurther into what people say on thestreet – ‘Converscapes’.“They’re overhead conversations (from thestreet); I would take snippets of theconversations back here to the studio, itwould be like taking a polaroid of a randomconversation. They would be handwritteninto the work that I’m making here. Thetext would become a really big part ofit. Joyce said that ‘it is through the spokenword that we achieve the universal’.“You hear the most extraordinary thingswhen you’re listening. I transfer thosewords on to the work here and theseworks would be buildings, footpathsand blocked-up doorways.”For his most recent exhibition in Dublin,however, the inspiration was drawnfrom a completely different source.“It was a different sort of a show.Previous to this all the work that I havedone has been on board, where I wouldbe working them intensely for years.Then a painter friend of mine hadsuggested that I work on paper.”The work was inspired by a field on theBallagh Road, just outside Longford town,described as an epiphany by author BelindaMcKeon in her essay on Gary’s work.“Something happened when I was lookingat this field one morning. I ended upwatching this field for about a year and ahalf, observing the changes in the field,isolating this one field from everythingaround it. In a way, taking example from it.“I would transfer what I had seen on topaper here.“Everything I was doing was different. Itwas an antithesis of what I was doingbefore. It was completely out of the blue.“I’m still working on it (the field). There’snothing extraordinary about this field,”Gary said, "but as an artist, I feel thatis part of my job to look at things thatmay go un-noticed by other people, it’slike making a documentary of thethings that you forget about”.Gary has received praise for his workfrom all quarters, not least from famedpainter John Kingerlee, with whom hehas struck up a firm friendship.Living in West Cork for 25 years, therelationship with English artist started anumber of years ago when Gary cameacross a piece of John Kingerlee’swork in a book. He was so taken by it,he felt he had to go about trying tomeet him.Through Kingerlee’s publicist, Gary senton samples of his work. Kingerlee repliedwith an invite to meet up, and the paireventually did in Dublin.“When we met it was like meetingsomeone I knew from before,” recalledGary. “He’s a prolific, internationallyrecognised painter, and has beenpainting for 50 years.”Having viewed Gary’s work first hand,he says John was kind enough to givehelpful feedback on his work.“A lot of the time with this kind of work,you need a certain amount ofconfidence to fill your work with what itis you’re trying to do. You can lose yourconfidence very easy.“There was a book published this yearabout John Kingerlee and I was askedto write a piece for the book and tocontribute a painting. It was a real honour.There were six artists (asked) and Garywas the only painter from Ireland.”At the moment, Gary is working towardsanother exhibition next year. In betweenhe will have some of his work exhibitedin London, Dublin, Cork, Galway andBelfast“Galleries are being more creative inway they’re doing things – runningdifferent sort of occasions. I have workgoing into an art fair in London whichwould have been something that thisgallery wouldn’t have done before.”Mark Graham, a young man on aFestival Quest to visit three festivalsa week in Ireland, has just spentsome time in Birr at the OFFlineFilm Festival. This is an extract fromhis blog which can be read in full onhttp://ayearoffestivalsinireland.com/2011/10/17/high-nellies-tall-talesshort-films-and-beer-sales/“The first pub that I walked into had asuper-hero sitting at the counter, in fullregalia, having a bottle for himself. Birr.It was good to be back.Most of the festivals that I’ve been to sofar have been dreamt up to promote anarea, bring in some bodies and hopefullya few bob. This isn’t always a bad thing;The OFFline Film Festival in Birr is one ofthe first festivals that I’ve been at wherethe economics of the affair are dwarfedby a passion for film and a desire tospread the gospel of flickering images.One of the first indications that there wasa festival on in the town were the groupsof guerilla camera crews and cast buzzingaround the place.The interesting and somewhat unplannedupshot of this competition is how itinvolves the community of Birr, who maynot otherwise engage with a film festival.People from the town are cast in films,young people watch on bemused asstrangely clad characters romp throughthe street-scape of their home place andcast and crew are invited into townsfolk’shomes and businesses to make theirfilms. This brings and immediacy andvibrancy to the streets that would usuallybe restricted to the venues where thefilms are being shown or where workshopsare taking place. As well as the on-thehooffilm making over the weekend,there is an extensive schools programmethat adds further to this sense ofcommunity that I wouldn’t haveassociated with film festivals.I met one of the jury members for theshort film making competition, his nameis Gabor, an industry magazine editor, critic,producer, foreign film distributor andexperienced juror from a number ofdifferent festivals including the Berlinaleearlier this year; he came all the wayfrom Hungary. I was rapidly becomingimpressed with the international feel ofthis fledgling festival. I asked Gabor washow did Birr compare with Cannes; heearnestly replied that he much preferredBirr, and he wasn’t taking the piss! I wasmessing, but he was quite serious andhe justified his answer.The dedication and effort that all involvedin organising this festival gave freely(literally!), to realise an event that seemsa great deal more worthy than I imagineda film festival could be, is laudable. Is itpossible that a community group in Offalycan organise a festival that has deepermerit and is more laudable than somehigh profile European film events? Yesthey Cannes! “For more information onOFFline Film Festival seewww.offlinefilmfestival.com27

“Art is in the DNA...My Motherwas a painter, always painting andmaking things. Obviously therewas no opportunity for her.”EVEN THE RAINBOW WEEPSFace-toFace-to-Face with sculptor, MICHAEL BULFINFace-Angela Madden spends anafternoon with Mike Bulfinand discovers he is ascientist and an artist.Mike Bulfin is now retired – as ascientist that is and now has the timeto return to his love of art full time.Originally from county Offaly Miketells me that art is in the blood and thathe believes it really is in the DNA handeddown from generation to generation.His Grandfather William Bulfin, amongother things was an author, penningRambles in Éireann and his motheran artist. “My Mother was a painter,always painting and making things.Obviously there was no opportunityfor her.” His Mother hailed originallyfrom Kerry and had the wonderful nameNora Brick, which seems apt as itwould appear that she provided thefoundations for Mike’s interest in art.Even when Mike was a young manopportunities to progress in the artswere not many and it was a difficultcircle to gain access to in many ways.As fate had it Mike went off to hisstudies gaining a Forestry Degree fromUniversity College Dublin and thenheaded to Yale in the US where hecompleted an Environmental ScienceDegree – and it seems Mike may wellhave been the first person in Irelandto complete such a course. It isperhaps ironic that some 40 or soyears after he finished this courseIreland and the world have nowrealised the job in hand to ensure thesustainability of our environment.It was during his educational studiesthat his interest in art blossomed. “Mysister would take around the galleries;28

I really enjoyed that and after a while Ithought to myself ‘I could do that’.”So Mike is really a self taught artistand influenced naturally by his interestin sustainability and our threatenedlandscape of forestry and bog.in science and in art from then.”He went on to say: “Science paysfor the art and afforded me thechance to do exactly what I wantedto do in my art.”In fact, Mike feels that the way ofna Móna brought in to work the bogs:the ditchers, ridgers and trains anddecided to use this vision, thesememories as his inspiration forSkytrain. Flat on the horizon, I decidedto take this image and commemorateELECTRON SPIN: OPW Offices, TrimIn many ways Mike was aforefather of arts as it is today asback in the 60s when there was alimited number of galleries in whichto show work, he and some otherenthusiastic talents formed the ProjectArts Centre to afford artists theopportunity to exhibit. “People likeJohn Behan, Michael Kane, John Kelly,There were 24applications forthose two jobs and Igot one of them andI have never lookedback. I had a dualcareer in scienceand in art from then.the world means that for most artistswhether painters, sculptors, writers,whatever the medium is that nearlyall will need a day job as art, in manycases, does not have a high enoughvalue placed on it. However, notrelying on your art for a living cancreate a sense of freedom, said Mike.“Sometimes when money is involvedor art commissioned it can sometimeslimit an artistic vision.”Mike has had long and successfulcareers in both science and art with acurriculum vitae which has sufficientachievements to make an interestingbooklet – and it is impossible to dohis career justice here. All we can dois take a look at some of hisincredible achievements.Through his art he has worked orbeen commisioned across the globein places as diverse as Budapest,Spain, Liverpool, Copenhagen, London,Paris, Boston, Belfast.THE ARTISTAT A GLANCEMike held solo shows at the ProjectArts Centre at its former Dublinlocations in Abbey Street andSouth King Street.His work has appeared in manygroup exhibitions including the IrishExhibition of Living Art; OireachtasExhibition; Independent Artists; AosÓg, Paris (1973); Cork ROSC(1980); A Sense of Ireland, London(1980); many Sculptors’ Society ofIreland exhibitions; Skulptur Biennale,King’s Garden, Copenhagen (1990);and Parable Island, Bluecoat Gallery,Liverpool (1991).He has contributed pieces to severalenvironmental art and land artprojects, including West Cork SculptureTrail; Slate Quarries SculptureSymposium, Kilkenny; KraakamarkenArt in Nature, Aarhus, Denmark;it by translating it into a sculpturalcontext – using the Bord na Mónatrains and wagons in a different plane– hence the introduction of the‘rainbow curve’.Castlewellan Forest Park, NorthernIreland; Tír Sáile, Mayo 5000Sculpture Symposium and mostrecently Sculpture in Woodland, atDevil’s Glen, county Wicklow.He has won a number of competitionsfor public sculpture commissions,including Bank of Ireland BaggotStreet, Castlebar Roundabout, andSouth Dublin County Council Offices,Tallaght. His competition-winningpiece A Walk Among Stone inBallymun, Dublin, won the ConcreteSociety of Ireland Sculpture Awardin 1990.He served as Chairman of theSculptors’ Society of Ireland (1984-1992) and of Project Arts Centre(1972–76), and he has been onthe committees of various publicart institutions.to carry turf on horse or donkey. Thispiece is a celebration of the Bord naMóna machines and the men whooperated them”.Michael Byrne, James McKenna wereinvolved with the starting up of thegallery with the ethos of givingpeople a chance.”Painting a picture of what life asan artist can be like, Mike explained:“When I finished my degree andstarted to paint I was on welfare anda man from the social welfaredepartment came to visit me. Hesaid he could not believe where I wasliving and told me ‘If you are to stickat this lark you will be seeing me forthe rest of your life’. I alwaysremember that.”And, so Mike said he then saw therewere two jobs going at Forstultantis.“There were 24 applications for thosetwo jobs and I got one of them and I havenever looked back. I had a dual careerIn Ireland his individual worksstand all across the country. As aninvited artist Mike completed theDevil’s Glen Sculpture in WoodlandSymposium in county Wicklow; TirSaile, North Mayo Sculpture Trail;Castlewellan Sculpture Symposium,Northern Ireland; Slate QuarriesSymposium, Kilkenny; West CorkSculpture Trail; Celbridge ConcreteSymposium, Kildare; Arklow SteelSculpture Sympoisum but perhapsthe one Mike has a special affection forhis Sculpture in the Parklands, LoughBoora in his home county of Offaly.“I grew up in Derrinlough andcould see the bog every day and sowas familiar with and knew and lovedthe landscape – the landscape of mychildhood.” He said that he alwaysremembers the machines that BordDERBHILE’S TWIST: Mayo“To put emphasis on the traingoing up into the sky, ditcher wheelswere introduced to form tunnels inthe supporting mound so the lightcan be seen through it. The engine isa ‘Rustin’, one of the oldest modelsand the wagons are of the open creeltype, reminiscent of the creels usedNowadays Mike is working fromhis studio at home in Dublin andpreparing a series of smaller worksfor exhibition.In fact, he is now more prolificthan ever and seems set to be a keyplayer in the arts in the years to come.29

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | WINTER 2011/2012PALANQUIN STILLSat the Good HatcheryPALANQUIN STILLS ran for six months toSeptember 2011 at The Good HatcheryParticipating artists were:Phoebe Dick, Adrian Duncan, Cleo Fagan,Emma Haugh, Louis Haugh, Aine Ivers,Kevin Kirwan, Kathryn Maguire,Elaine Reynolds, Charles Stewart Libertyand Chanelle WalsheCurators:Ruth E Lyons and Carl GiffneyBelow thoughts from some of theparticipating artists:CLEO FAGAN:“I went to the Good Hatchery in Junewith artist and fellow curatorJeannie Guy for four days. Away from ourusual daily routines and the lure of theinternet we went on walks, enjoyedcooking, eating, yoga and talking.Somewhere in the midst of this we alsodiscussed curating a collaborativeeducational project which we have sincedeveloped together further and justmade a funding application on.For the last day of our project I organiseda small screening at The Good Hatcheryof visual artist Gillian Wearing’s featurelength film Self Made. I had previouslyseen this film in the IFI and wanted toothers to see it too. The process of SelfMade began in 2007 when Wearingplaced an advert in newspapers, online,in job centres and elsewhere which read'Would you like to be in a film? You canplay yourself or a fictional character. CallGillian'. Like fellow artist and filmmakerClio Barnard, Wearing imaginatively andexcitingly blends fact and fiction toexplore personal stories in thiscompelling and emotionally intense film.Many thanks to The Good Hatchery,Eileen and Fly Film.PHOEBE DICK:“At The Good Hatchery I was working ona story in rhyme and image called LikeA Marble Rolled.While on residency there I was primarilywriting – in the studio tapping out lines onmy typewriter and pensively pencilingout or in alterations, pacing around thebeautiful courtyard mentally (re)writingand memorising lines, and searchingthe surrounding woods, fields andboglands for a particular word or turn ofphrase I needed.I climbed Croghan Hill on St Patrick’sDay with some of the others involved inThe Good Hatchery (and everyone fromCHARLIE STEWART LIBERTY:“Bord na Mona, Coillte, Industrial Estate,Two Hundred Year Old Garden, Somewhere,Nowhere – it’s all the same. My use oflanguage doesn’t seem to reflect realityanymore. It simply recreates itself asfiction – or a metaphysical curiosity. Ihave begun to liken myself to Kurtz – ormaybe just to a latitudinarian anarchist.I simply don’t care if it is real or if it isnot true – if you say it is, it is, if you sayit’s not, it’s not. Both are so very finewith me – just let me keep trying to dothe impossible, to sink and disappearinto the essence of what I’m imposingmy broken thoughts upon, my shortcircuitsand missed interpretations. Ithe surrounding area it seemed), andspent another wonderfully windy dayout in the bog nearby “helping” one ofthe other artists build a soundsculpture.I also spent some time engraving platesfor printing which illustrate the text(some prints are attached as images). Iuse the printing facilities at the LeitrimSculpture Centre and exhibited a selectionof first draft illustrations from platesproduced at The Good Hatchery at a groupprint show we organised there in July.Having the residency at The GoodHatchery allowed me to put Like Arender anything I create as useless. Thissits well with me. I am trying to becomea landscape to further imagine how Icould possibly understand the landscapeI’m constantly disrupting.What is correct – to leave a microphonealone, to let a camera record for anhour, to close eyes and wander, todevelop and destroy, to record everything, todo nothing at all? To legitimise through someportrayal of frustration, some selfdefeatingattempt to philosophiseexistence? In doing all these things I getfurther away from myself. I see more ina puddle by ignoring it, falling asleepbeside it. I get closer to a bird by beingMarble Rolled on the proverbialbackburner beforehand and push someother work to completion, andsubsequently gave me the confidenceto/idea of moving to Manorhamilton fora month to finish the text and work onillustrations. I felt that despite theenjoyable company of everyone I met atand through The Good Hatchery that Istill had the physical and mental spaceI needed to work and am alreadyplanning a return trip there tocollaborate with some musicians/singer songwriters. Long may it last.”further away from it. The subject is nature,but the pre-occupation is with the natureof things. Or at least it tries to be. Evenif it can’t.”NEXTISSUE...BORN TO DANCEBrazilian born Erica Borges, Contemporary DanceTeacher, chats with writer Ann Egan.See full interview in next issue of Midlands Arts & Culture Magazine30

My Residency inThe TyroneGuthrie Centreby Ann EganThe year 2010 had been avery fruitful and fulfillingyear for me as a writer; itsaw the culmination of ayear’s work as Laois Writerin-Residencebeingcelebrated with the Launchof the Laois Echoes WithFionn MacCumhaill, theanthology of stories, poemsand songs of six generationsof people living in Laois whoparticipated in the Legendof Fionn.Relating its themes to their own lives,the book marked that poignant meetingplace of legend and contemporary life.At the night of the awards' ceremonyin Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise, I wasawarded The Laois Bursary to TheTyrone Guthrie Centre to afford methe opportunity to create and developmy own writing. So it was with a greatsense of anticipation I set on Monday,September 12 to begin my two weeksresidency there.I arrived just after 2pm, having drivenin the rising winds of Storm Katia whosegusts were forecast at over 100 milesan hour and I was anxious to be offthe road as soon as possible.I passed the first sign that readAnnaghmakerrig Lake and followingdetailed and helpful instructions. Icontinued on until I came to a specificroad marking that read L63101 and Iknew I was nearing the house. I drovethrough the quiet shelter of a forestand that led me to a gateway. I enteredthe code and soon I was driving up abeautiful curving avenue. I arrived atthe Big House – the common namegiven to it here and I was very warmlywelcomed by its Director, RobertMcDonald and by the staff. I wasshown to the most beautiful roomHaveyour storycovered…If you have a story or newsrelating to the arts in theMidlands that you would liketo see covered in MidlandsArts and Culture Magazine,contact your local Arts Officer(details opposite).Part 1I have ever been in – Lady Guthrie’sroom, and I began to settle in.I had a plan of work for my forthnighthere. I planned to write a series ofpoems inspired by the past. I had alsobrought with me notebooks in which Iwrite on a daily basis; I had them asa fall back. I wanted to make thevery best of this marvellous andblessed opportunity gifted to meso my notebooks were with melike familiar friends but a littleneglected...See next issue for Part 2ARTS OFFICE CONTACTSMuireann Ní Chonaill, Arts OfficerLaois County Council, PortlaoiseTel: 057 8674342/44 • mnichonaill@laoiscoco.iewww.laois.ie/artsSinead O’Reilly, Arts OfficerOffaly County Council, Charleville Road, TullamoreTel: 057 9357400 • soreilly@offalycoco.iewww.offaly.ie/artsCatherine Kelly, Arts OfficerWestmeath County Council County Buildings, MullingarTel: 044 9332140 • ckelly@westmeathcoco.iewww.westmeathcoco.ie/artsFergus Kennedy, Arts OfficerLongford County Council County, Great Water St., LongfordTel: 043 3346231 • fkennedy@longfordcoco.iewww.longfordcoco.ie/arts_office.htmlMEET THE TEAMTempus Media and Brosna Press,using their combined expertise injournalism, marketing, design, printand production have created a newlookMidlands Arts and CultureMagazine.TEMPUS MEDIAThere’s never a wrong timeto do the right thingTempus Media was established at theheight of the recession in September2009 as the founders saw an opening fora top quality, good value media company in achallenging marketplace for business andGovernment. Midlands-based TempusMedia specialises in five key areas –Publishing/Copywriting, Public Relations,Media Training, Lobbying, and BusinessCrisis Management.Editor: ANGELA MADDENAngela has more than 15 years’ experiencein the publishing industry as a Journalist,Foreign Correspondent, Editor, GroupEditor and General Manager for trade,local and national press in Ireland and theUK. Angela has excellent local knowledgeas she was previously Editor of theAthlone Voice and has an enviable list ofcontacts throughout the country, built upduring her time as Group Editor for 13River Media newspaper titles. She alsohas a wealth of experience launching newpublications responsible for content, layoutand templates having brought a numberof new River Media titles to market in ’07.Deputy Editor: BRIEGE MADDENBriege is a trained journalist who hasworked for local newspapers for close tofour years. After attaining her BA CreativeWriting & Media Studies degree she startedher career at The Athlone Voice beforetaking up a more senior role at the CavanPost. She joined Tempus Media in April thisyear as Business Development Managerand is the lead consultant on a number ofimportant Public Relations contracts.Briege is also an avid poet, short storywriter and artist.For further information contact:angela@tempusmedia.iebriege@tempusmedia.ieBROSNA PRESSCreative Design and PrintLocated in the heart of the midlands,Brosna Press has been providing anationwide client-base with creative, highquality design and print for over 50 years.Its Irish Print Award acknowledges thecompany’s commitment to the pursuit ofexcellence in print and creativity in design.Clients in the arts sector include: RTÉNational Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ ConcertOrchestra, Music Network, Music forGalway, New Ross Piano Festival, CountyCouncil Arts Offices, Dunamaise Theatre,Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Tuar Ard ArtsCentre. Brosna Press operate their designstudio & print works from a state-of-the-art12,000 sq ft facility in Ferbane, Co. Offaly.Creative Director: DIARMUID GUINANSenior Designer: ANN QUINLANProduction Manager: CIARAN GUINANCreative Director Diarmuid Guinan holdsa BDes, and has more than 18 yearsprofessional experience in graphic designand printing. He manages a highly creativeand experienced design team includingAnn Quinlan, BDes, Senior Designer,Andrew Moore, BDes, Senior Designerand the highly experienced Mary Egan.Managing Director Ciaran Guinan holdsa Diploma in Print Management and hasmore than 25 years professional experiencein the print industry. The production staffat Brosna Press are all highly skilled pressoperators and print finishing specialists.diarmuid@brosnapress.ieciaran@brosnapress.ieTel: 090 645432731

66% of the adult population, approximately 2.3 million people, are arts attendees(meaning attendance at any performance in a theatre, plays, opera, ballet, contemporarydance, classical music events, folk and jazz performances as well as art galleries andexhibitions) 1.5 million people (44% of the adult population) attend once a year or moreoften Just over 1.2 million people regularly do artistic or creative activities, such asdrawing, photography etc. This includes for example: 111,000 participants who attend the592 events in every county nationwide as part of the Bealtaine festival, celebratingcreativity in older age. 30,000 people who attend festivals in Offaly, Laois and Westmeath455,000 individuals who bought 2.3 million tickets worth €45.7 million for 12,650 eventsin 59 Arts Council funded theatres, arts centres and festivals. This means that 1 in 3 Irishhouseholds bought tickets for arts events in these festivals and venues in 2010. The totalof direct, indirect and induced employment in arts council funded organisation and thewider arts sector is 26,519. The total of direct, indirect and induced employmentsupported by the arts and creative industries is 95,649 jobs. Total Exchequer expenditureon the cultural and creative sector in 2008 was €330 million. Direct Exchequer revenuefrom the cultural and creative sectors in 2008 was approximately €1 billion.1 Of the €76million that was used to fund arts organisations and individuals across Ireland in 2007,€54 million was returned directly to the Exchequer in the form of income, VAT and othertaxes. Irish Film Board invested €17 million in 36 film, TV and animation productions in2008 that resulted in €80 million expenditure in Irish economy 1.6 million overseastourists attended museums/galleries (2010) 80,000 people visited the Book of Kells intwo months this year 433,000 overseas tourists attended festivals/events (2010) 27% ofFestival audiences are from overseas 18% of tourists visited Ireland because of Irish filmin 2008 Cultural Tourism is worth over €2 billion to the economy – both domestic andoverseas tourism. Cultural tourism is the only growth area of the tourism market andhas continued potential for growthUNVEILED: Offaly Artist Michelle O’Donnellrecently installed a new public art piece,commissioned by Banagher College underthe percent for art schemewww.glasshammer.ieSources for this information are www.ncfa.ie (National Campaign for the Arts) Failte Ireland CulturalActivity Product Usage report for 2010 (provisional figures) Failte Ireland Activity Product Usage reportfor 2010 (provisional figures) Irish Film Board Failte Ireland Survey of Overseas Travellers/CSO Traveland Tourism Tourism Ireland DKM Economic Consultants for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism,2009 Assessment of Economic Impact of the Arts in Ireland, Arts & Culture Scoping Research Project,INDECON, 2009 2010 Annual Audience Benchmarking Survey, Theatre Forum, published June 2011 ArtsAudiences 2010, Arts Attendance in Ireland – Target Group Index Report 2009/2010MidlandsArtsandCultureMagazineA REVIEW OF THE ARTS IN LAOIS, LONGFORDOFFALY AND WESTMEATHPUBLIC ARTCOMMISSIONEDFOR GRAND CANALIn 1960 the Grand Canal closed to commercialtraffic and today it is one of Offaly’s best naturalresources – an artery that should be celebrated forits historical, cultural and social impact on the county.Through a Public Art Commission, Offaly CountyCouncil aims to foster the idea of the Grand Canalin Offaly as a Cultural Corridor; for it to becomea nationally visible cultural signature of Offaly.In a call for applications, the brief recognised thatthe dramatic change of pace journeying along theCanal, should offer artists opportunities to consider their own practices in a new light, and for the transientcontexts to provide inspiration for a series of exciting new works. Some 39 entries were received andfollowing a short listing and interview process, three artists have just been commissioned to make anartwork in response to their journey and experiences along the Grand Canal. Geraldine O’Reilly (fromWestmeath) has been commissioned to make a series of prints, Martina McGlynn (Offaly) has beencommissioned to make a documentary following writer Eugene O’Brien, musician Wayne Brennan andphotographer Veronica Nicholson as they travel along the canal together by barge collaborating andmaking new work and Susanna Caprara (Dublin) has been commissioned to make a sound piece incollaboration with engaging with communities along the canal. The resulting work will form a collectionof artistic responses in a variety of media which will be presented together and tour nationally and willalso be on accessible on line. However each artwork will also stand alone and have the potential tocontinue to disseminate the concept of the Grand Canal as a Cultural Corridor in Offaly.PUBLISHED FOR THE ARTS OFFICES OF LAOIS, LONGFORD, OFFALY & WESTMEATHCOUNTY COUNCILS BY TEMPUS MEDIA • DESIGNED & PRINTED BY BROSNA PRESS