2 Fab Music Festivals in 2 Fab Irish Towns

Here are 2 music-based festivals in delightful settings for you to consider for your calendar of Irish fun this year- and take note of for next, as they are annual events.

First off in May is Kilkenny's Rhythm & Roots festival, from the 3rd to the 6th. The small medieval city of Kilkenny is perfect for this fantastic festival- everything is within walking distance & the chances that you'll rub shoulders with musicians in the intimate venues is high. There are over 60 free gigs, and even the paid gigs are inexpensive. One of my favorite festivals, the craic is mighty! If you'd like to get a taste of it, here is my post from last year's festival.


If you'd like to head out West, Westport is a fun town with beautiful scenery, outdoor activities, and interesting history all around the area. I've been sent some information on Westport's Festival of Music and Food on 29 & 30th of June, and Westport House's offer of tickets & camping for the weekend.

I've been privileged to see the cup & ring standing stone and watch the sun 'roll down' Croagh Patrick outside of Westport- pity I was there in the years before blogging & smartphones, but click here for a site that does have photos & info. Scroll down on that page for the rolling clip.

Head Wesht! Here's the Westport info I was sent:

Westport House Camping

''One of the most anticipated highlights of Westport House’s events calendar this summer is the return of The Westport Festival of Music and Food which takes place on Sat 29^th & Sun 30^th June 2013.  The festival will be a two-day celebration of music and food, embracing local and international rock, folk, celtic and acoustic sounds, headlined by Elvis Costello & The Imposters and Imelda May, and joined by a host of other top music acts such as Christy Moore, Ryan Sheridan, Damien Dempsey among others.  

Westport House offers an incredible festival camping experience for festival goers.  With hot showers, real toilets, wifi, picnic areas, laundry, and family-friendly facilities onsite, all set against a stunning backdrop, it’s no surprise that camping proved a huge hit with thousands of revellers last year and is expected to be even bigger and better in its second year.  Combined festival & camping tickets are on sale through www.WestportHouse.ie  only start at €155 per person for the weekend.''

So, there's 2 Irish festival ideas to get your motor revving for holiday fun. If you have other hot festival tips, please let everyone know in the comments below. Thanks, & have fun festivaling!

Fun Events for Kids & Adults at The National Craft Gallery

Beautiful work by Nuala Jamison at a past gallery exhibit

The National Craft Gallery in Kilkenny is a fantastic place to see gorgeous craft for free, and they also have free events. Here are e upcoming ones from their newsletter. Apologies that I haven't time to write a proper post on the events, but I'll pass on what they've sent me. I think I may borrow a child so I can do the Tin -Can Treasures. Luckily we adults can do Hand To The Wheel without having to source a child as an excuse!

FAMILY DAY: Tin-Can Treasures April's Family Day is guaranteed to be a noisy one! TIN-CAN TREASURES with Carrie Lynam is a workshop inspired by the metal objects in our exhibition Paradigm. Young makers will explore surface design and create textures on metal.This workshop is suitable for 5 to 12 years of age but all the family are welcome to stay and join in. Free workshop, book early to save disappointment. Book now or call: 056 7796151 Sat 13th April, 10.30am ( 5-7yrs old ) & 12noon ( 8-12yrs old )

LATE DATE Hand to the Wheel Have you ever wanted to 'have a go' on a pottery wheel? What is it about throwing pots that captures people's imaginations? Join us at the National Craft Gallery for an informal evening of clay experimentation for beginners with a glass of wine, you may never look at a ceramic pot the same again! The Late Dates are an ideal place to meet friends or make new ones, see our exhibitions and chat with like minded people and gallery staff. Thurs 25th April, 6.30pm No booking required. FAMILY DAY Clay Creations

Our exhibition Views on Clay is the inspiration for our CLAY CREATIONSworkshop with ceramist Ciara O'Sullivan. For a fun clay workshop inspired by our Finnish exhibition that all the family can take part in join us on the second Saturday of the month. Suitable for 5 to 12 years of age but all the family are welcome to stay and join in.   Book now or call: 056 7796151 Sat 11th May 10.30am (5-7 yrs old) & 12noon (8-12yrs old)

For more on the National Craft Gallery of Ireland, and to sign up to their newsletter, visit their site here.

Where To Stay In Kilkenny City & County

Kilkenny Castle, Ireland. Looking up from the rose garden.

 Kilkenny- a county of great food, an exciting arts scene, 1,000's of years of history, and very friendly people. It is a beautiful, special part of Ireland, with rolling, river filled countryside, charming towns, & a splendid medieval city. I've gotten an enquiry as to where to stay B&B in Kilkenny, & I wanted to share my answers with you in a blog post. 

Kilkenny City

If you don't have a car, or want to stay B&B as close as possible to everything in Kilkenny City, Carriglea B&B looks to be a winner. It is in a lovely area near Kilkenny Castle and you should be able to reach all the delights of Kilkenny City on foot. Though I've not personally visited, nor know any who have, their TripAdvisor visitor comments are excellent.  

Graiguenamanagh bridge near Waterside Guesthouse 

If you've a car and would like to sample the delights of the small towns and villages, as well as the city, I've great ideas for you. 

Small Towns

The first is along the river Barrow in the medieval village of Graiguenamanagh, home to the ancient Duiske Abbey. Around a 25 min drive southeast from Kilkenny City, Waterside Guesthouse is a stone built, restored mill, and all of the rooms have a view of the river. I've been inside here, and it is lovely and cosy. 

Also, I've worked with the owners Brian & Bridget on The Town of Books Festival, and they are good fun. Brian is a real outdoors & nature enthusiast, and Graiguenamanagh is a terrific base for walking, biking, canoeing & so on. Their website will tell you more. For more on what I've written on Graiguenamanagh,click.

The second village area accommodation is near Stoneyford, about a 15 min drive south of Kilkenny City. I've not been to Lawcus House, but Will who writes at The Cook's Belly has been twice, and he writes about it here. Stoneyford is also home to the delicious, award winning Knockdrinna cheese, and their farm shop & cafe, which I've written about here. If they're serving their pork sambo, get it! Yum!

Kells Priory is also near Lawcus House & Stoneyford- don't miss it!

Rural Clochan, 5 Star 

My final suggestion is located 10 minutes drive south from Graiguenamanagh, but if you'd like to really treat yourself, it is perfect! Ballilogue Clochan is a 5 star guesthouse in an idyllic rural farming area near the river Nore. 

The reason I know it so well is that we lived in (rented) a part of the Clochan that wasn't visitor accommodation. Also, my husband Terry helped restore the main guest buildings- they used to simply be a series of stone barns.

The welcoming owners, Pat & Mark, have created a perfect blend of modern design and traditional charm in the guest buildings, and Mrs Meaney's Cottage Museum is a real treasure of how Irish living used to be.

Looking out the window of Mre Meaney's Cottage, Ballilogue Clochan, Kilkenny, Ireland

  *Do stop by to visit  Mrs Meaney's Cottage Museum  even if you are not staying at Ballilogue.* 

To see more posts on Kilkenny City & County, click here

If you have any questions, or would like to ask me for suggestions on specific interests you have, please do so in the comments, or email me at:  hello @ vibrantireland.com

I'll do my best to give you any tips!

Enjoy Kilkenny!

My top Kilkenny Christmas pick

Christmas at Mount Juliet (photo from http://www.mountjuliethotelkilkenny.com)

Christmas in Kilkenny -city and countryside- is a real treat. There is plenty to see, do, eat & buy, but in this post I'll just give you one set of my top Kilkenny Christmas picks.

Mount Juliet Christmas Village & Santa Train
Set in the rolling Kilkenny countryside, the luxurious Mount Juliet country estate hotel puts on a lovely, free, Christmas village. Beautifully decorated, Mount Juliet's gorgeous buildings are a feast for the eyes, as are the stands full of fabulous craft, food, and more. My top tip: consider going after dark (open noon til 9pm) for the full effect of the twinkling Christmas lights. Those with children rave about the Santa Train- but do book ahead as it sells out quickly.

Where: 20 min outside Kilkenny City. Click here for directions

Note: The Santa Train leaves every half hour between 12pm and 8pm, Dec 8th-23rd inclusive and costs €15 per child (includes present) and €10 per adult.

Mount Juliet serves food, in particular the 3 rosette restaurant, The Lady Helen is highly regarded. If you follow any foodies on Twitter, you may have seen folks posting drool inducing photos; The Lady Helen's tasting menu seems a firm favorite.
 *Sighs* The Lady Helen is still on our 'one day' list... 

You won't go hungry at Mount Juliet even if you don't have a restaurant booking, because there are  some of Ireland's finest local artisan food producers at the Christmas village. Last year we satisfied our tummies with their fresh hot food & drink, and of course thoughtfully bought packaged foodie gifts for others :-)  

Glasswork at Jerpoint Glass gallery

Jerpoint Glass

While you're in the area, don't miss Jerpoint Glass just a few km down the road. We like to call in late in the afternoon to see what gorgeousness is on show in the gallery, & then head to Mount Juliet as dusk falls- perfect!

Jerpoint Glass Studio Christmas Opening Hours:

Shop & Gallery

 Open 10.00 – 17.30 Monday to Saturday and 12.00 – 17.00 Sundays

Glassblowing Demonstrations

 10.00 – 16.00 Monday to Thursday and 10.00 – 14.00 on Fridays

Closed Christmas Eve at 2pm

Want another top notch Christmas idea? 
Try Waterford's Winterval! 

Happy Christmas! Susan 

Happy Holidays! Mulled wine simmering at The Grapevine, KK City, & cute sign at Bridies Bar & Store, KK City.

5 great places to get Christmassy in Kilkenny

snow along the river Barrow, Ireland. Christmastine 2010

 In Ireland the days are fairly short in Winter, with daylight being (roughly) from 8am to 4pm. No wonder the holiday season is so welcome; the joyous lights & the festive colour and sparkle speaking to the need for more light. So- here are a few things on in Kilkenny to kick start your holiday cheer!

 First is a 1 day only event sponsored by Kilkenny Arts Office- The Market on Sat 1 Dec, 10.30-6.30. You won't want to miss it- there will be ''amazing artists, illustrators and makers selling exceptional, original, unique, quirky, and exquisite creations. The range will include jewellery, ceramics, paintings and drawings, t-shirts, fine art prints, origami accessories, pill boxes, crocheted collars, hats and vintage inspired headbands and plenty more besides.'' There will also be lots of handmade edible yummies, plus some of the fantastic Lego creations made at  Lego Quest will be on display!

One of the fab Lego Quest creations! Photo Ken McGuire

 Also on 1 Dec, the craftspeople of Made In Kilkenny open up their pop-up shop (runs til 24 Dec) Tis worth calling in on opening day, as they are offering 10% off  as well as some special offers & mulled wine :-)

The next Christmass-y event in Kilkenny is Rothe House's Christmas Miscellany, Weds 5th December, 7.30pm. They'll  have ''Music and musings on a Christmas theme, with mulled wine and mince pies. €20 with all proceeds going to Rothe House Fundraising campaign. Book by calling 056 7722893, or emailing info@rothehouse.com.

Also at Rothe House is a children's workshop Saturday 8th December, 10.30 - 12.30  ''Lots to do and make, and lots of Christmassy stuff to bring home! €6.00 per child'' Book at 056 772 2893, or info@rothehouse.com.

This weekend only (1-2 Dec) there is a pop- up craft shop in Thomastown by Jennie Castle, and after visiting the exhibition collect a voucher to enjoy a complimentary tea or coffee with every purchase from SOL Bistro, Thomastown. See their Tripadvisor reviews here. Nice!

Last but not least is Shankill Castle's Christmas Fair, which is 30 Nov to 1 Dec; read more on it from The Kilkenny People here.

I'm battling the flu, so I'm not sure will I get to any this weekend, but many more holiday events will be on in December, such as The Kilkenny Christmas Market, Kilkenny On Ice, The Mount Juliet Christmas Village & Santa train. More on them later!

 Plus, don't forget Winterval now on in neighboring Waterford- it looks to be the biggest Christmas festival in the Southeast!

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Day for Night at Butler Gallery (Any Narnia in that wardrobe, I wonder?)

After getting cultured up in Kilkenny, take a break

Kilkenny is such a fabulous wee city! Before relaxing with a glass of something nice, there's always something interesting to see or do. Currently there are brand new exhibits on at The National Craft Gallery- "Out of the Marvelous", and across the Parade in Butler Gallery, Kilkenny Castle, now open is Lorraine Neeson's "Day For Night."  It also sounds worth a visit, & here's what information I was given about it: 

Day for Night, also known as Nuit Américaine or American Night, is the name given to cinematographic techniques used to simulate night scenes while shooting in daylight. Filters and methods of underexposure are applied to footage shot in bright sunlight conditions, to create the illusion of darkness or moonlight.

Lorraine Neeson’s exhibition engages thematically with the reversal and inversion of light and darkness implied by this technique. A similar sense of inversion pervades in the modern day phantasmagoria that Neeson has created in the Butler Gallery. Working with light, sound, video installation and architectural intervention the space is transformed into an environment of ambiguity in which illusion and reality are interwoven by means of reflection, shifting shadows, projected light and disembodied sound.

Lorraine Neeson; part of her Day for Night exhibit, Butler Gallery

Very intriguing! The exhibit is on until December 16, 2012, and on 19 November, Meet The Artist is at 1pm. Butler Gallery (like the National Craft Gallery) is free, so drop by & check it out! The photo here makes me think of the magic wardrobe to Narnia!  Must go see if it brings you to another world :-)

Gallery Opening Hours
Butler Gallery is open seven days a week throughout the year:

January, February: 10am – 1pm; 2pm – 4.30pm

March: 10am – 1pm; 2pm – 5pm

April: 10am – 1pm; 2pm – 5.30pm

May, June, July, August, September: 10am – 5.30pm

October, November, December: 10am – 1pm; 2pm – 4.30pm

Got kids? Get 'em on Lego Quest- creative fun!

Ok, this may be a little elaborate! Lego tiger

Got kids? How fun is this for them?! The Kilkenny Arts office presents:

LEGO QUEST!

Lego Quest is a fun challenge for Lego loving kids aged 6 – 12 years old!

Participants will invent and construct 3D Lego animals and other figures. 

Children’s ideas will come to life by learning how to connect art paper with Lego bricks to make 3D multimedia creations.

Overall this will be a great opportunity for the children to work with a professional artist furthering their

creativity, using their imagination and being resourceful in a fun and relaxed environment.

Hey, if they get really good, maybe they can make you this:

Lego car!

Age group: 6 to 12 years

Dates: Sunday 11^th November and Sunday 18^th November

Times: 2 different sessions on each day above – 10:30am – 1pm and 2pm – 4:30pm

Participants can only attend one session out of the four

     

Venue: Kilkenny County Council Arts Office, no. 76 John Street

Prices:

€10 / €8 for a second child from the same family

i.e. two children from the same family €18

Concessions €8 / €6 for a second child from the same family

i.e. two children from the same family €14

TO BOOK:

Please mail: niamh.finn@kilkennycoco.ie giving child’s name, age, parent / guardian name and contact number, indicating payment method.

Cash or cheque / draft made out to Kilkenny County Council is accepted. If cash / cheque / draft this can be left at the Customer Service Desk of County Hall, Mon – Fri 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm, or post to me at the address below if cheque / draft. The Arts Office at no. 76 is closed to the public so post or calling to the Customer Service Desk would be best.

Early booking advisable as Siamsa is very popular, with places are limited to 15 per group.

Comfy?? Lego shoes

Will there be a 'possotive vibration' in Kilkenny this weekend?

Tom Cambell's 'possotive vibration, yeh' 

I'm not sure if the piece 'possotive vibration, yeh' will be one of the ones on show, but if you are in Kilkenny this weekend, call in to the new location of The Blackbird Gallery (in the Castle Yard,) because they will be hosting a weekend of artist and musician Tom Campbell’s work. He'll also be doing a free live performance at 4pm on the Saturday. The show is open Saturday & Sunday; 11am to 5.30pm. (29th & 30th Sept)

The gallery's blurb tells us ''The multi-talented Campbell is not only an acclaimed visual artist he is also an incredibly talented performance artist and musician. His Terracotta Head show has been highly acclaimed and his recent Ice cream man preformed on the streets of Cork was thought provoking and entertaining.'' Sounds interesting! 

OF COURSE there is going to be a positive vibration in Kilkenny, because the Cats are going to win the hurling championship on Sunday, aren't they!?! ;-)

For more information call Valerie 0877843015
www.theblackbirdgallery.ie
Here is an ''experimental documentary portrait of artist Tom Campbell'' from You Tube

50 Shades of Graig, & Tinnahinch! Photos of Ireland's hidden gems

http://bestfootphoto.wix.com/fiftyshadesofgraig  

See all the festival signs? never a dull moment in our area!

This weekend -21 to 23 September 2012- the Town of Books Festival AND the Michealmas festival are both on here in Graiguenamanagh (Kilkenny side of the river Barrow) and Tinnahinch (Carlow side of the river Barrow.)

Have a look at this fantastic new photo site showing off the 50 Shades of Graig. Many thanks to Best Foot Photo for putting this together to show off some of the fantastic things in our patch of Kilkenny & Carlow.

http://bestfootphoto.wix.com/fiftyshadesofgraig  

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Try a fun & creative Mosaic Weekend in lovely County Kilkenny!

 If you would like to do something a bit different, fun, & creative, why not try a mosaic workshop with Jennie Castle? I did another class with Jennie, & she is a very good teacher, & a lovely person. The workshop is a very reasonable price, and runs the weekend of 13-14 October. Check details on the flyer (to the left,) and here is Jen's invite :-)

''Come and enjoy a

MOSAIC ART EXPERIENCE

 in County Kilkenny.

Learn the skill of mosaic artistry 

to use for your own pleasure, as a professional skill or to pass on.

Take home a functional or decorative piece for yourself

 or as a gift or to mark a special occasion.

Take time out and enjoy a weekend break in my studio set in rural County Kilkenny; you can

stay in one of the lovely B&Bs close by.

Enjoy a lunch at the studio, of local County Kilkenny foods:

 Goatstsbridge Trout, Knockdrinna Cheese and Chocolates from the Truffle Fairy €8 per person, or bring your own.

There is a  Jennie Castle Artist 'Like' Page on Facebook

to keep you updated with posts of new work, workshops etc

Telephone Jen at  087 9836342

www.castlerinstudios.com

Mrs Meaney's Traditional Cottage Museum

Beauty, History, & Fun!

September's sunshine has been a welcome joy after the wettest & cloudiest summer in Ireland for many a year. Last weekend we got out & enjoyed it at a real hidden gem- Mrs. Meaney's Cottage Museum at the gorgeous, special, Ballilogue Clochan.

Now open on weekends serving tea, coffee & homemade cakes, the cottage is a joy, very lovingly restored under the guidance of Pat McCarthy who had great affection for the late Mrs. Meaney.

Her cottage is part of the clochan, often translated as 'farm town'- a traditional small group of homes, farms & even little shops clustered together in the Irish countryside. Mrs Meaney's cottage dates back to the 1700s, and is a treasure well worth seeking out, regardless of the tasty weekend cakes & coffee! 

the fabulous old hearth in Mrs Meaney's- still works!

the stairs to the sleeping loft now display crafts

I should add a disclaimer here-- we used to live in one of the old stone barns in the Clochan, and my husband was the project manager & general labourer for the renovation of the main Inn building- another set of old stone barns. We've seen the love & care that has gone in to the development of the whole Ballilogue Clochan, and think it is a really special place to stay over in if you can't get enough of the charm of the clochan! The Inn is fabulous; a wonderful mix of the traditional and modern, and of course Pat & Mark are fantastic hosts. Lots of the jams & such for sale in the shop are made from their garden, as well as in the cooking for the Inn.

Mrs Meaney's Cottage, Ireland

Out to the Golden Fields

After cups of very good coffee, slices of  sinfully good chocolate cake, & a jar of locally sourced & made Ballilogue honey, you might want to hit the great outdoors and burn off some calories. The whole Ballilogue/Graiguenamanagh/Inistioge area is perfect for strolling or being even more active, with walks, hills, and rivers galore.

We collected our four dogs from home, and headed out to a hilltop field for a bit of fun under the warm September sunshine. September is a brilliant month to visit Ireland/staycation in Ireland as the weather is often at its best, lots of festivals are on, but crowds are less. Here in Graiguenamanagh, for example, the Town of Books festival is on 21-23 Sept 2012, & the week of 10-16 Sept the Waterford Harvest festival is on- just a half hour drive away. (If you click the links you'll find out a bit more.)

We had a great bit of craic playing in the fields, take a wee minute & have a watch. Enjoy! ;-)

50 Shades of Graig! Ireland's Town of Books Festival

Don't Miss it!!           

Books, craic, history, music, & fun for the whole family on September 21-23 in the wonderful medieval riverside town of Graiguenamanagh, Kilkenny!

 One of Ireland's hidden gems, the town is filled with booksellers from all over Ireland & the UK during the festival weekend. This year the theme is 50 Shades of Graig, & in addition to the readings/talks from (non-Graig) Irish authors, there are fabulous walks & tours where you'll enjoy the nature and  history of Graiguenamanagh, music from Graig's own Brass Band- the longest running in Ireland!- local food, plants, craft, & books from local authors. Go on, mark the dates in your calendar!   

    

Get stuck in at Graiguenamanagh Town of Books Festival

Graiguenamanagh is the best place in Ireland to pick up a bargain in new and second hand books, antiquarian, childrens and specialist categories. The festival also features several readings for young and old alike, a smashing food and craft fair, music, street entertainment a host of interesting activities. 

Graig is the outdoor activity headquarters for southeast Ireland, and is constantly alive with hillwalkers, cyclists, & canoeists,  as well as fishing and boating enthusiasts.

So come on down to the river and take your time to browse the bookshops, walk the Barrow towpath and pop in for afternoon tea or enjoy a wee drink in a local hostelry. Here's the 2012 schedule:

Friday 21^st September

Booksellers open 2-6pm

Bridget in Werewolf Rehab: Author Maura Byrne reading & Workshop for 9-12 year olds – Graiguenamanagh LIBRARY 3pm €3

Louise Philips: Crime writer, A reading from her book ‘Red Ribbons’

All welcome –hosted by Graigue Bookclub at Graigue Library 7pm

Saturday 22^nd September

Booksellers open 10am to 6pm

Graiguenamanagh Community Garden open day: with willow weaving display & plant sales, 10 –5

A Walk through Silaire Wood: Graiguenamanagh. Meet at the boathouse 10.30am. €3

‘The Backwards Speller’ – Children’s author and backward speller extraordinaire David Donohue, reading and workshop for 7-13 years old at Graiguenamanagh Playgroup 11.30am €3

Graiguenamanagh Brass Band: on the streets of Graigue 11am

Funky Kids Art & Craft workshop and Funky Disco: for 7 to 12 years 2.30pm at Graiguenamanagh Playgroup €3

National Chamber Choir of Ireland in Concert Duiske Abbey: conducted by David Hill and singing sacred music connected with the Autumn Equinox 3pm €15.00(€12.00 concession)

Sunday 23^rd September

Booksellers open 10am to 6pm

Artisan Food & Craft fair: Upper Main St. 11am to 5pm

Graiguenamanagh Brass Band: 12 to 1pm Upper main St.

Street Entertainment: with Cory O’Brollochain followed by 

Juggling workshop for kids: (workshop €3) 2pm

The 800 year walk: Through the ages since establishment of Duiske Abbey in 1204. Includes fascinating visit to the historic, working, Cushendale Woollen Mills with guidance from current owner of the mill. Walk guided by Graiguenamanagh Historical Society, meet at Duiske Abbey 3pm

Jazz by the river: 3pm at the boathouse with FourSquare Jazz

The Festival Monkey – Mark Graham: creator of the popular Blog ‘A Year of Festivals In Ireland’ gives his version of the fun, culture, & plain old bizzare events he's experienced this year.
 Murrays Pub 4.30pm

I'm certainly going to be there! Hope to see you!!
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Ireland In Venice, Kilkenny In Venice!

 Ireland in Venice! 

 one of Richard Mosse's Infra photos

 Don't let the photo confuse you, yes, there is a reason for a picture of Congo in my section titled 'Ireland in Venice.' In fact, it could even be titled Kilkenny in Venice! 

What am I on about??

Kilkenny native Richard Mosse is going to be the artist representing Ireland in the2013 Venice Bienale, and Kilkenny's Butler Gallery director, Anna O'Sullivan,

 is Ireland's commissioner/curator for the Biennale.

  

Powerful

Mosse will be continuing the work he started with his Infra photoghraphs, surreally documenting the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo. These are very powerful pieces, and I had the privilege of seeing some at Dublin Contemporary in 2011. You can currently see a show of his photos at Sirius Art Cenre in Cork. For 2013 in Venice, he will be doing things a bit differently:

“At Venice, Richard will push this work into a strong, immersive multimedia environment,” said O’Sullivan. “I am thrilled for Richard, who I know will rise to the challenge of this important opportunity, and will create an extremely original installation that will represent Ireland powerfully on the international stage.”

                              To find out more, do read the Irish Times article the quote came from, here.

                           

                                                                            

Venice (not my photo)

Venice

Like many of you, I would love to visit Venice. It has been on our wish list for a long, long time. I think that going to see 'Kilkenny in Venice' is a great excuse! I'm starting to do my research now for a visit in one of the quieter months of 2013.

I'd love to hear any tips you may have! 

Thanks, Susan

Utensil- some pieces bite back! At Kilkenny Craft Gallery

By Jennifer Slattery,  at Utensil

There's a lot to enjoy at Utensil, the current exhibition at The National Craft Gallery in Kilkenny. There are items you'd love to have on your own table, as well as ones that look like they might bite you back as you ate! The pieces mirror the experiences we have at the dinner table- pleasure, sharing, squabbles, angry or awkward silences full of emotion or worry.

The exhibit gets you thinking about the utensils in your own life, your own family heritage. As Gemma Tipton writes in her Irish Times article about the show:

"There is nothing humble or boring about the spoon in this exhibition, as the German silversmith Wiebke Meurer describes it as 'an everyday object, always found in the same spot, picked up and handled over and over again. A ritual that lasts for many generations. The life and thoughts of the spoon’s owners merge with the object itself. The spoon becomes a storyteller.'" 

(Ouch!)  items by Stuart Cairns at Utensil

This show was opened during the Kilkenny Arts Festival, & I went along to the informal tour/talk given by Craft curator Angela Kelly, which was quite interesting. These talks are enjoyable & it is interesting to learn more about the pieces, processes, or just even what others think/feel about the works.

If you missed that talk, head over for the free 'Late Date' at the gallery (there will be wine!) presented by Ken McGuire, Thurs 30 Aug, 6.30

items from Utensil, during tour

There are a few surprises, like the Whispering Table and Crossfire, so be sure to spend some time with these pieces on your visit.

To see more about the National Craft Gallery, and Utensil, visit their website here.

Utensil will be on show at the gallery until 29 October, 2012.

If you would like to see some of the other wonderful craft items that have been on show at the gallery

click here

You may also enjoy reading this interview with Irish maker Enya Moore, who has pieces in the show. 

The photo below is one of her works. (photo from KilkennyArts.ie, the rest of the photos are mine.)

Enya Moore

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