ART & WORDS - Author Nessa O’Mahony to Read

Dublin-based writer Nessa O’Mahony is the next guest in artist collective Group 8’s Art & Words series of talks in Ballinasloe. She will appear at Gullane’s Hotel, Ballinasloe, on International Women’s Day, Friday March 8^th at 7pm. Nessa will give a reading from her début crime novel The Branchman and she will be interviewed by Group 8 member, Nuala O’Connor. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served.

Nessa’s novel The Branchman was published in late 2018 by Arlen House. Set in Ballinasloe in 1925, it features Detective Michael Mackey, ex-British Army and Civil War veteran and one of the first members of the Free State’s new elite Special Branch. Mackey is assigned to the Garda Barracks in Ballinasloe and uncovers a plot by subversives to disrupt the peace. 

The novel is inspired by the real-life adventures of Nessa’s grandfather, Michael McCann, who was a member of the original Special Branch and was stationed as a Garda in Ballinasloe from 1929 to 1945.  Donal Ryan has described the novel as ‘a taut and absorbing thriller’ while writing in the Irish Times, Declan Burke said that ‘most fascinating, perhaps, is O’Mahony’s evocation of the wider political backdrop, that fragile, imperfect peace that took hold in the wake of the War of Independence and the Civil War.’

NOELLE LYNSKEY POETRY READING - ART & WORDS

Portumna-based writer Noelle Lynskey is the next guest in artist collective Group 8’s Art & Words series of talks in Ballinasloe. She will appear at Tosnú Art & Craft Gallery’s studio in Brackernagh, Ballinasloe, on November 17^th at 7.30pm. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served.

Noelle, now living in Portumna, is originally from Strokestown. She is Director of Shorelines Arts Festival, Portumna for the last eleven years and founder and member of the Maple Poetry Group and Portumna Pen Pushers writing group as well as a member of The Peers, a professional writing group of ten years standing. She is also a member of the Strokestown International Poetry Festival committee.

In the past, Noelle has read at Cúirt Literary Festival, Baffle, Inis Cealtra Arts Festival, Terryglass Arts Festival, Shorelines Arts Festival, RTE Sunday Miscellany, Clifden Arts Festival and Cos Cos, with poems published in many anthologies and literary magazines including Crannóg, Skylight, Scríobh, Roscommon Anthology, Maple Leaves and West 47. Her literary awards include Baffle, Scríobh and the Hannah Greally Award.

With three adult daughters, Noelle works as a community pharmacist in Portumna. Poetry is one of Noelle’s passions and when possible, she takes time out to write. She is currently readying a poetry collection for publication.

We are delighted to welcome Noelle Lynskey, a stalwart of the Galway arts scene, to read at Tosnú. We promise a magical night of words, candlelight, tea, cake and lively discussion. Everyone is welcome.

Jenny Wood-Sullivan Artist Talk

Jenny Wood-Sullivan

County Galway-based artist Jenny Wood-Sullivan is the third guest in artist collective Group 8’s Art & Words series of talks in Ballinasloe. She will present a slideshow, show paintings and a video, and talk about her art practice.

Jenny will appear at Tosnú Art & Craft Gallery’s studio in Brackernagh, Ballinasloe, on Friday April 21^st at 7pm. Admission is free. Tosnú will be open on the night selling quality hand-crafted gifts and cards. Refreshments will be served.

Overlord by Jenny Wood-Sullivan

Jenny Wood-Sullivan is a multidisciplinary artist whose main focus is painting. Her work is rooted in an interest in ancient history, language, storytelling, philosophy and symbols. She also draws influence from the sciences, and has a keen interest in physics and the natural world. There is an undeniable influence of science fiction incorporated into much of her imagery.  Re-occurring animal motifs, common to many cultures, are used symbolically to represent humanity as a whole within the overall context of humankind’s place in the universe.

Jenny was born on Long Island, New York and currently lives in Co. Galway. She worked as a community artist/arts facilitator for twelve years with various centres and groups in Dublin. She is a graduate of the DIT School of Creative Arts.

All are welcome. Free admission.

SHEILA FLANAGAN ART TALK - PICS

Sheila Flanagan

We had a great night on Friday at Tosnú Art & Craft Gallery's studio for our second Art & Words talk with artist Sheila Flanagan. Sheila gave a slideshow and talk about her own art work, as well as about ArtFarm and its residencies, and the community work she does to bring art to Ballygar and its surrounding areas.

Nuala introducing Sheila

Sheila talked about her use of the feminine in art and her love of found objects. She also spoke about her reservations about artists being overly productive. When she first moved to what is now ArtFarm, she realised that she had to figure out a way to be in synch with her new community and she sought to solve that by bringing artists, and art, to the community at large. She set up artists' residencies in which the artists engaged with the local community, and also set up events for both the Bealtaine Festival and Culture Night.

Sheila in full flow

Sheila also spoke about the miniscule arts budget allocated to County Galway (€400k for the whole of the county area, including Connemara) and she emphasised the need for groups to unite and lobby for better funding.

In the future, ArtFarm may run a writer's residency and we will bring news of that to you anon. In the meantime, go here for further info on residencies for visual artists.

ArtFarm - slideshow image

Sheila is an artist of great energy, talent, charm and commitment, and the studio at Tosnú was packed with eager listeners on Friday night. Thanks to everyone who came along to enjoy Sheila's talk and the copious amount of tea, coffee and cakes.

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The following images are my photos of slideshow images of Sheila's artwork so excuse the poor quality. They don't do the pieces justice, but you get the idea:

Slideshow image of eggshell faces

Slideshow image of the reverse of Time Please

Slideshow image of woman made from recycled plywood with mirror in stomach cavity

Slideshow image of woman in a web

ART & WORDS - SHEILA FLANAGAN

Cloonkeen-based artist Sheila Flanagan is the second guest in artist collective Group 8’s new Art & Words series of talks in Ballinasloe. She will present a slideshow and talk about her artwork, as well as socially engaged practice in a rural setting, and Artfarm, the rural art space in Cloonkeen, Newbridge, that she runs.

Oscailt - Sheila Flanagan

Sheila will appear at Tosnú Art & Craft Gallery’s studio in Brackernagh, Ballinasloe, on Friday March 4^th at 7.30pm. Admission is free. Tosnú will be open on the night selling quality hand-crafted gifts and cards. Refreshments will be served.

Time Please - Sheila Flanagan

Sheila received a BA in Fine Art from GMIT in 2003 with first class honours specialising in sculpture. In 2005 she moved to Cloonkeen which led to a deep questioning of her art practice and its meaning in a rural context. Through this introspection the concept of Artfarm emerged The mission of Artfarm is to create opportunities for artistic expression by providing interaction through residencies, projects, talks etc., and for artists to go there with an aspiration to inspire, share, experiment and develop new ideas. The aim is to navigate towards explorations of ecologically sustainable art and contemplative art practice.

Vessel - Sheila Flanagan

Artfarm is part of an evolving sculptural installation entitled R10 based on time, ecology, identity and intervention. Artfarm is the centre point and the surrounding circular region of landscape, villages and community are the artpiece, a living, evolving time-based work. This Artwork has a radius of 10 miles and a 10 year deadline up to 2020.

All are welcome. Free admission.

MARGARET HICKEY AT TOSNÚ - A FEW PICS

Margaret Hickey at the Tosnú studio

Group 8 had a wonderful night on Friday night at Margaret Hickey's reading at our very first Art and Words talk. Margaret read from her book Irish Days, as well as from her poetry and her wonderful book-in-progress which is a history of Irish food.

The studio at Tosnú was packed and everyone enjoyed perusing and buying before and after in the re-launched art and craft gallery.

Local artist and singer Andrew Duke

Tosnú Art and Craft Gallery will be open 10 to 6, Monday to Friday from now on.

Zara Little-Campbell of Tosnú

Margaret Hickey to Read at new Art & Words Series

Author Margaret Hickey

Portumna-based writer Margaret Hickey is the first guest at artist collective Group 8’s new Art & Words series of talks in Ballinasloe. She will appear at Tosnú Art & Craft Gallery’s studio in Brackernagh, Ballinasloe, on Friday November 27^th at 7.30pm. Admission is free. Tosnú will be open on the night, selling hand-crafted Christmas gifts and cards. Beautiful soaps, candles, cushions, knitwear, wood-turned boxes, children's wall art, textiles, clothing, books etc. Refreshments will be served.

Before Margaret Hickey moved to Ireland fifteen years, she worked as editor of a literary travel magazine and as a freelance writer in London. Prior to that she taught at a school for delinquent boys in Edinburgh and at the university in Paris. In 2001 Kyle Cathie, her UK publisher, brought out Irish Days, a collection of oral histories narrated by older people from different walks of life in Ireland.

Margaret writes short fiction and poetry, and mentors a creative writing group. Her current project, a social history of Ireland seen through the prism of food and drink, is near completion. In addition, she is Vice-director of Shorelines Arts festival in Portumna.

Group 8 is delighted to welcome a writer of Margaret Hickey’s calibre as our inaugural guest speaker. We promise a magical night of words, candlelight, quality crafts, tea, cake and lively discussion. Everyone is welcome!