By Ciaran Tierney
It was the exhibition which captured the imagination of thousands of visitors to Inis Oirr last summer and now you can celebrate it with a superb new colour poster which has gone on sale online.
Áras Éanna has teamed up with Charlie Byrne’s bookshop in Galway City to sell copies of the new poster from the ‘Curacha’ exhibition which were designed by Caomhan O Scolai and Dara McGee.
The poster is now on sale on the Charlie Bryne’s website, so it could make a perfect present for any person with West of Ireland connections across the globe.
You can purchase a poster at this link: https://charliebyrne.ie/product/curacha-poster/
The exhibition, which opened in July, featured 21 hand-painted or decorated currachs which were located all around the island.
Seven were in the theatre, four in our courtyard, some were located near the wreck of the Plassey and the island’s iconic lighthouse – and we even had a spectacular piece inside the island’s church.
Inis Oirr based photographer Cormac Coyne took photographs of all 21 currachs after they arrived on the island – artists throughout Ireland were given a couple of months to decorate them with their own styles.
From Kerry to Belfast, they were delighted to take part.
In response to the pandemic, at a time when our theatre was closed, Artistic Director Dara McGee came up with the idea of celebrating the traditional boats of the Gaeltacht island and to stage a stunning exhibition throughout the island.
“The pandemic actually gave us time as an arts centre to step back and think about Áras Éanna as a physical building, the island, the people, the community, the location,” he says.
“There is something very special about this art centre, located on a Gaeltacht island with the support of the local community. ‘Curacha’, which showcased the work of Irish artists, was our main production of the year in which we celebrated our 21st birthday as an arts centre.”
The exhibition celebrating the traditional boat allowed visitors to follow a trail, outdoors and in safety, around the island.
“This wonderful exhibition was a very neat example of how we can bring professional, top class art to the general public and compliment the tourism industry on the island,” adds McGee.
The 21 currachs are currently in storage just outside Galway for the winter and four o of the 21 pieces have been sold. Anyone who wishes to inquire about purchasing one of the currachs can email Dara at eolas@aras-eanna.ie
‘Curacha’ featured stunning art work by Dolores Lyne, Alannah Robins, Naoise Sheridan, Áine Philips, Sean O Flaithearta, Margot Quinn, Pat Quinn, Ger Sweeney, Mick O’Dea, Kathleen Furey, Jennifer Cunnigham agus Tim Acheson, Dara McGee, Breda Burns, John Behan RHA, Sadia Shoaib, Daniel Coleman, Sean Cathal O Coileán, Tom Meskell, Jay Murphy, Cathal McGinely, and Deirdre McKenna.
