News - Page 5 of 9 - Áras Éanna

08June2022June 8, 2022

Máirtín O Connor Trio

By Ciaran Tierney One of the best-loved musicians ever to emerge from the West of Ireland, Máirtín O Connor, is headlining a special free outdoor show on Inis Oirr this Saturday, June 11 (8pm). Accordion player Máirtín will be joined by Cathal Hayden (fiddle, banjo) and Kevin Doherty (guitars, vocals) for what promises to be the musical highlight of the summer on the Gaeltacht island. Support comes from the cream of musicians on the island, including Michéal Ó hAlmhain, Clann Uí Domhnaill, and other local guests. This event is supported by Galway County Council Arts Office and funded through the...

Two national nominations for Inis Oirr play

11May2022May 11, 2022

News, NuachtBy admin_aras

Two national nominations for Inis Oirr play

by Ciaran Tierney The superb vision of theatre director Sarah Jane Scaife to stage an Irish language version of a Samuel Beckett play at an outdoor location at the back of Inis Oirr is reflected in two nominations for ‘Laethanta Sona’ at the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards next month. Sarah Jane used a month long residency at Áras Éanna,after more than a year of lockdowns and restrictions, to fuse her passion for both the works of Beckett and the smallest of the Aran Islands at a stunning location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The Company SJ and Abbey Theatre production,...

Bringing ‘The Pirate Queen’ to Inis Oirr

28April2022April 28, 2022

News, NuachtBy admin_aras

Bringing ‘The Pirate Queen’ to Inis Oirr

By Ciaran Tierney The story of a fierce feminist leader, seafarer, and mother from the West of Ireland will be brought to life in a special 50 minute stage production at Áras Éanna Ionad Ealaíne, Inis Oirr, on Wednesday night, May 4th (8pm). This family show, which is mostly ‘as Gaeilge’, tells the story of Gráinne Ní Mháille, the Irish Chieftain from West Mayo, who travelled to London to meet Queen Elizabeth and is seen by many people as a powerful symbol of Irish freedom and resistance. She famously met Queen Elizabeth I in London in September 1593 for a...

31March2022March 31, 2022

News, NuachtBy admin_aras

An Criú artists embrace island life

By Ciaran Tierney A collective of Galway-based artists known as An Criú are planning to stage a major community event on Inis Oirr next year after seven of them completed a wonderful ten day stay on the island in partnership with Áras Éanna this week. An Criú, former performers and production people with Macnas in Galway City, have been regular visitors to the island since their formation in 2017. They staged an outdoor exhibition, ‘Amach’s Amach’, at An Gleann Draíochta last summer. But they felt a need to engage more with the people of the island and artists Emma O’Grady,...

The ‘mad, bad, and dangerous’ women of Ireland

10March2022March 10, 2022

Events, News, NuachtBy admin_aras

The ‘mad, bad, and dangerous’ women of Ireland

By Ciarán Tierney A series of four documentary films celebrating the lives of older Irish women who have been “mad, bad, and dangerous” will be screened at Áras Éanna, Inis Oirr, on Sunday. The screenings of the films, which were created and directed by Emma O’Grady, is part of our celebration of International Women’s Day this week. Emma, who has been enjoying time out on Inis Oirr this winter and is a frequent visitor to the island, will screen the four films at two hour intervals from 1pm to 5pm. Each of the films is one hour and 45 minutes...

28January2022March 16, 2022

News, NuachtBy admin_aras

A six week adventure on the island

by Ciarán Tierney Two Gaeltacht artists, Clare Cashman and Caitríona Ní Conaola, are set to make Inis Oirr their home for the next six weeks thanks to a wonderful new residency in partnership with Ealaín na Gaeltachta. The artists, who are both based in Connemara, successfully applied for the residencies at Áras Éanna when we advertised them in November of last year. The residencies were open to any two artists, based in the Gaeltacht, who wanted to take six weeks out on our beautiful island. They will stay in our artists’ house on Inis Oirr and will be able to...

17January2022January 17, 2022

News, NuachtBy admin_aras

A place that inspires visiting artists

By Ciaran Tierney Can you think of a better place than Inis Oirr to take time out and find inspiration? As restrictions eased last year, we opened up and expanded our artists in residence programme to bring a wider variety of artists to the island. For 22 years now, artists have been coming to Áras Éanna to enjoy the atmosphere, scenery, language and culture, and the friendliness of the people on the island. In 2021, we were delighted to welcome some amazing theatre companies, visual artists, writers, and musicians, and even acrobats, who worked on some fantastic projects during their...

07January2022January 7, 2022

News, NuachtBy admin_aras

A stunning location for outdoor shows

By Ciaran Tierney 2021 was the year when Áras Éanna Ionad Ealaine began to look at the beautiful island of Inis Oirr as a perfect location for outdoor shows. For decades, artists have been coming to the smallest of the Aran Islands to take inspiration from its beautiful landscape, friendly people, stunning views, stone walls, and a Gaeltacht culture which connects them with our ancestors. Programming in a pandemic has been a challenge for arts centres all across the world. But, as the arts centre celebrated its 21st birthday in 2021, Artistic Director Dara McGee came up with the idea...

23December2021December 26, 2021

News, NuachtBy admin_aras

A year like no other for Áras Éanna

By Ciarán Tierney It was like Christmas morning here on Inis Oirr in July when 21 currachs, from Donegal to Kerry, were unwrapped and unveiled to reveal the spectacular pieces of art which formed the centrepiece of the 21st birthday celebrations for Áras Éanna Ionad Ealáine this year. What an amazing exhibition, with the concept of painting or decorating 21 canvas and metal currachs being embraced with such a relish – and such spectacular variety – by artists all along the western seaboard. In a year of restrictions and lockdowns, the ‘Curacha’ exhibition which ran from July to September was...

A wonderful opportunity for Gaeltacht artists

04November2021November 4, 2021

News, NuachtBy admin_aras

A wonderful opportunity for Gaeltacht artists

Aras Eanna is delighted to announce two artist residencies on the beautiful island of Inis Oirr early in the new year. Applications are open to artists who are based in the Gaeltacht, from any art form. The two residencies will begin on January 30, 2022 and continue until March 12, giving artists a fabulous opportunity to spend six weeks on our Gaeltacht island. Accommodation will be provided in an artists’ house on the island and studio space will also be available at Aras Eanna. Aras Eanna is the most westerly arts centre in all of Europe, based on the beautiful...