John B Keane

Foreword
Kerry has long been an inspiration to artists. The landscape, seascape, culture,
heritage and the people, inspire and provoke responses from those who communicate
through their creativity.
This exhibition showcases a selection of the creativity that exists in Kerry.
The broader picture of creativity, writing, music, dance, film, visual arts, theatre,
circus arts and much more could not be contained in a single display of work!
This exhibition is of tremendous significance as it brings together the best of
contemporary painters in Kerry. Minister Deenihan and the Arts Office have worked
together on this project to provide a showcase of Kerry artists, and their thoughts
on ‘The Gathering’. Following the Department’s hosting of work in Killarney and
the Dublin showing in The Copper House Gallery, the Exhibition will return to tour
Kerry, there will be an online version (www.kerrycoco.ie/en/allservices/arts) of
the catalogue making this exhibition widely available and an important tool to
promote the artists involved.
Thank you to Róisín McGuigan, Artist and Director of the Kerry Film Festival for
hanging the Killarney Exhibition.
Thanks to those supporting the project; Minister Jimmy Deenihan, The Department of
Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Kerry County Council, the Arts Council and
The Copper House Gallery.
I hope many people see this work, I hope many artists sell work, and hope that
Gatherings of Irish people to celebrate our culture and heritage continue for
many years.
Le gach dea ghuí,
Seamus Cosaí Fitzgerald
Mayor of Kerry
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