A COSY crowd gathered at An Gailearaí in Gaoth Dobhair on Saturday last to discuss the idea of a ‘Gaeltacht sensibility’ just before the formal launch of their latest exhibition ‘Ciall’.
The bilingual public discussion was chaired by Kerry based artist and curator, Andrew Duggan and he welcomed Connemara based artist and curator Nuala Ní Fhlathúin and Donegal’s own Professor Lillis Ó Laoire, to explore this concept, or this ‘sensibility’ further.
An Gaileraí had commissioned Nuala and Lillis to select from the Irish Museum of Modern Art, The Arts Council of Ireland and The Glebe Gallery collections, artworks that gave expression to, or exemplified in some way, this sensibility.
Their selection and their written thoughts about the works they had chosen is what makes up this new exhibition and includes artists such as Jack B Yeats, Maria Simonds-Gooding, James Dixon, Maggie Madden, Donegal artist Cliodhna Timoney together with film works, sculpture and much more.
The group attending was made up of poets, singers, artists, historians, arts managers, curators, linguists and more and the entire discussion was simultaneously translated by Dónall Ó Cnáimhsí, Gaoth Dobhair Language Planning Officer.
It was an informative exploration and an open and ongoing theme to be continued by An Gailearaí.
Adrian Kelly, Curator of The Glebe Gallery, Churchill, who lent works for the exhibition, was also in attendance.
Katrina Quille and Brian Lacey in Gaoth Dobhair for the ‘Ciall’ exhibition at An Gailerai.
Dónall Ó Cnáimhsí and Máire Ní Chassaide.
Anne Marie Bellew, Cathal Ó Searcaigh, and Fiona Doohan at the ‘Ciall’ exhibition launch in Gaoth Dobhair. Photos: Eoin McGarvey.
William Coyle and Ian Gordon at An Gaileraí, Gaoth Dobhair at the weekend.
Lillis Ó Laoire, Nuala Ní Fhlathúin, and Andrew Duggan at the ‘Ciall’ exhibition that opened at An Gailearaí.
Una Campbell and Shirley Greene.