samhlaiocht.com news

New Exhibition of Work from Isabelle Gaborit to go on display in Samhlaiocht

2008-08-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

Isabelle Gaborit's 'Somewhere In Between' exhibition opens in Samhlaiocht, Thursday, September 4th

Tony Bennett's signature tune, I Left My Heart in San Francisco, speaks of the magical effect a place can have on a person and while Tony's heart was captured by the City by the Bay, many who visit Ireland experience the same feeling. Captivated by the beauty of the landscape or the beauty of the 'cailini' many a visitor has left their heart in Ireland!

One such visitor was Isabelle Gaborit who hails from La Rochelle in the South West of France. She visited Ireland, fell in love with the place, and stayed from the first! "I came to Ireland in 1993 on a student exchange from my college in France," says Isabelle. "But I came with my car fully packed because I knew I would love it and I have been here ever since!"

Her primary reason for visiting was to study English but she was also taking classes in Celtic Studies and has always had an interest in Art. "I was lucky, because while I was studying in France we were encouraged to take extra-curricular classes and I took Art. When I came to Ireland I found the place absolutely beautiful, just as I was expecting, and having graduated decided to dedicate myself to my Art."

Having completed her primary degree she remained in Ireland and since then she has become an active member of the artistic community and recently graduated from the Galway, Mayo Institute of Technology with an honours degree in Fine Art.

Isabelle is captivated by the landscape and her inspiration for this exhibition 'springs' from Holy Wells. "I once did a project called 'Sense of Place' that encouraged us, as Artists, to think about the place from where we come or the places that are dear to us," says Isabelle. "I'm inspired by the holy wells and ground waters of Ireland. They almost seem to record the relationship between the land and its people. The wells evoke a depth and stillness while also working as a reflection or mirror of the soul. The waters are gentle, soft and beautiful, but also there's a history to these places while many are legendary for their healing powers. So there are many different layers at work."

Her work mirrors this, "I use my art to explore these different layers," says Isabelle. "My work reminds me to look underneath, to unwrap the numerous layers and, hopefully, it allows the viewer a space in between, somewhere, perhaps, between reality and memory."

To this end her work uses a collage of objects which she has found while incorporating inks, watercolours, acrylics, pastels, and pencil drawings. "I guess my work is almost like a personal jigsaw," laughs Isabelle. "I deal with fragments of my own memory, things I have found and I try to work on different layers, planes or levels. The idea is to capture the eye of the viewer and draw him or her into the painting, into the different details in the work."

The paintings, which were completed between 2007 and 2008, became, almost, a mirror to the changing moods of the Artist and the many changing moods of Irish weather as the seasons passed, from winter to summer. The paintings reflect this passing with shades ranging from cool, cold tones to bright, cheerful splashes of colours.

Isabelle grew up next to the sea and admits to absolutely loving water but there may be just a little too much water for her here! "While I feel absolutely at home in Ireland, I have a two year old baby girl and a wonderful partner, I have to admit to sometimes missing the weather in the South of France," laughs Isabelle. "But at least the rain here keeps the holy wells full to brimming!"

The exhibition, which is titled 'Somewhere In Between', opens on Thursday, September 4th, and runs until Friday, September 26th, in the new Samhlaiocht Gallery which is located in the Old Presbytery on Lower Castle Street in the heart of Tralee. The Gallery is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, is free to visit and all are welcome. For more information on Samhlaiocht please log on to http://www.samhlaiocht.com/

Oscar winner to Join Take 2 Film Festival

2008-08-07T04:38:00.000-07:00

Laura Waters Hinson

The Take-2 International Student Film Festival (T2FF), which runs under the umbrella of The Kerry Film Festival, and takes place from November 3rd to November 7th, 2008, has announced that Laura Waters Hinson, a golden award winner at this year's 35th Student Academy awards, will adjudicate films for Take 2.

"We are overwhelmed and delighted at Laura coming on board as adjudicator," said Jerry Fitzgerald, Director of the Take 2 Film Festival. "We approached Laura, during a very busy time for her, off the back of huge success for her Documentary, so we thought the opportunity had passed us by, but when she accepted our proposal we were very happy. It’s always nice to have an Oscar winner on board!"

The Take-2 Film Festival (T2FF) will focus on student films and on the short film format in particular and will feature a competition in a number of categories including Best Irish Short, Best International Short, Best Short as Gaeilge, Best Animated Short, and best Documentary, which Laura Waters Hinson will adjudicate.

Laura Waters Hinson is a filmmaker and photographer based in the Washington, DC area. She is president of Image Bearer Pictures and has a Master of Fine Arts in Film from American University. Laura’s most recent project, As We Forgive, is an Oscar award-winning documentary about two Rwandan women coming face-to-face with the men who slaughtered their families during the 1994 genocide. Laura said, "I am honored to be a part of the Take-2 Festival and am eager to see the work of student filmmakers from around the world."

The organisation of the Take-2 Student International Film Festival is shaping up incredibly well with close to 200 entries expected at the festival in its pilot year. Kicking off on November 3rd, and running under the umbrella of the Kerry Film Festival, Take-2 will be host to many special short films as well as guest feature films, at the Institute of Technology, Tralee’s North and South Campuses. The Festival runs until Friday November 7th and it promises to be a festival that the people of Kerry and the enthusiastic students, both from home and abroad, who are involved won't forget in a hurry!

For more information on the Take-2 Student International Film Festival please log on to http://www.t2ff.com/

Arts Council Announces Funding

2008-08-07T04:27:00.000-07:00

The closing dates for the Arts Council's Small Festivals Scheme for 2009 are:
Round One Closing Date: Round One of the scheme is available to festivals taking place on or before the 30 June 2009. Closing date for receipt of applications for Round One is Friday 19 September 2008. If applicants are organising a series of events (e.g. concert series) taking place over the course of the year, i.e. continuing beyond 30 June, they should apply under Round One.
Round Two Closing Date Festivals and Events taking place in the second half of 2009, i.e. after 1 July 2009, should apply under Round Two of the scheme. The closing date for Round Two is to be confirmed (early to mid February – tentative date)

Application form The application form and guidance notes for this scheme is available through our online site http://applications.artscouncil.ie/smallfestivals or you can request a hard copy form by calling Regina O’Shea with full postal details on telephone +353 1 618 0260 or by email to smallfestivals@artscouncil.ie.

First Time Applications First time applicants to the scheme are advised to contact Una McCarthy, Head of Festivals and Events, prior to submitting an application; telephone +353 1 6180272 or by email to firsttime@artscouncil.ie.

Festivals, Local Arts and Venues Officer The Arts Council 70 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, 70 Cearnog Mhuirfean, Baile Atha Cliath 2.TEL: + 353 1 6180 260 Fax: +353 1 6761 302 E: regina.oshea@artscouncil.ie W: http://www.artscouncil.ie/

The Arts Council publishes an email newsletter that provides monthly updates on grants and awards, news and events, and arts policy. Register to receive the newsletter through the Council website by visiting http://www.artscouncil.ie/en/newsletter.aspx.

Commissions award-Arts Council
Closing date: 11/09/2008
Maximum awarded: e10000
Art area: All
Audience type: All
Collaborative application possible? Yes
Contact: Sara Stokes
Position: Grants and Awards Assistant
Telephone: 01 618 02 49
Email: awards@artscouncil.ie

Purpose and priorities of award
The primary purpose of this award is to facilitate creative partnerships between a diverse range of commissioners and artists that result in new work or repertoire renewal. These partnerships should lead to a public performance, a publication, an exhibition or another form of dissemination of the commissioned work in Ireland or abroad. In theatre the commission might lead to the completion of a script but not necessarily a full production.

In the context of this scheme the definition of a 'commission' is where one person or entity commissions another to create a new piece of artistic work or dynamic repertoire renewal, and where the creative results will be controlled by the commissioned artist(s).

ARTIST IN YOUTH WORK RESIDENCY 2008 SEEKING APPLICATIONS
The National Youth Council of Ireland is now seeking applications for this scheme. The Artist in Youth Work Residency award is offered as a means of extending and enhancing opportunities for young people to experience and participate in the arts. The aim of the Residency award is to encourage artistic collaboration between professional artists and young people. Young people will have the opportunity to work with and learn from practitioners of excellence in their field. Equally, artists will have the opportunity to enrich their own professional practice through the contextual experience of working with young people.

Funding of up to e15,000 will be awarded to successful residency applicants. This scheme is open to applications from established youth organizations, or a consortium of such youth organizations, whether locally based independent groups or groups affiliated to voluntary or statutory youth organizations. Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.pm on Friday the 3rd of October.

You can download the Application Form at: http://www.youth.ie/what_s_new/artist_in_youth_work_residency_scheme

For more information contact emmet@nyci.ie Emmet Sheerin Youth Arts Project Officer
National Youth Council of Ireland 3 Montague Street Dublin 2 01 4784122 http://www.youth.ie/

YOUTH ARTS DEVELOPMENT AWARD 2008 SEEKING APPLICATIONS
The National Youth Council of Ireland is now seeking applications for this scheme. The Youth Arts Development Award is offered to further sustainable development of youth arts practice at a local level. The aim of the Youth Arts Development Award is to encourage the formation of partnerships between relevant agencies and organisations at a local level, to work towards integrated development of long-term youth arts programmes in a specific geographical area. Awards of between e5,000 - e20,000 will be awarded to successful applicants. Applications are invited from local youth organizations, or a consortium of organisations with one or more of the following – Community Development Organisation, Local Authority, Arts Organisation/ Venue, Educational Institution (second or third level), Business Corporation, other.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.pm on Friday the 3rd of October.
You can download the Application Form at: http://www.youth.ie/what_s_new/youth_arts_development_award_2008

For more information contact emmet@nyci.ie Emmet Sheerin
Youth Arts Project Officer National Youth Council of Ireland 3 Montague Street
Dublin 2 01 4784122 http://www.youth.ie/

INTERNATIONAL ARTS GRANTS - CULTURE IRELAND
Culture Ireland offers awards to Irish artists or arts organisations to facilitate participation at strategic international arts events in other countries of Irish cultural activities of excellence. For information call (01) 6313905, Email cultureireland@dast.gov.ie or visit http://lists.visualartists.ie/lt/t_go.php?i=119&e=MjIw&l=-http--www.cultureireland.gov.ie. Deadlines: 15 August and 15 November.

The Arts Office of Galway County Council is pleased to announce a bursary initiative for musicians to attend the Music Network 2008 / 2009 Continuing Professional Development Programme.

This programme is aimed at professional musicians working and/or wishing to work in a variety of outreach scenarios, for example education, healthcare and audience development.
The 2008 / 2009 course will take place over three weekends between September and April: 6 and 7 September, 2008 (DIT Conservatory of Music & Drama, Rathmines, Dublin 6) 10 and 11 January, 2009 (The Coach House, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2) 25 and 26 April, 2009 (The Coach House, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2)

Musicians of all genres (classical, traditional, world, folk, jazz, contemporary, popular etc.) practicing in a variety of contexts (formal and non-formal education, youth, community, health etc.) are invited to apply for a bursary. Musicians in receipt of bursaries are required to attend all three training weekends.

The 2008 / 09 Facilitation Team will include:
Elaine Agnew (formal and non-formal education scenarios, healthcare, prison and other institutions)

Mel Mercier (Using tuned & untuned percussion as a resource in formal and non-formal settings)

Ros Hawley (Healthcare: children)

Joe McKenna (Healthcare: older people)

Kevin O’Shanahan (Healthcare: mental health scenarios)

Muireann Aherne (Drama and outreach workshops)

Jenny Elliot (Healthcare: dementia & adults with brain injury)

Paul Roe (Structure & Practicalities)

Lucy Champion (Song as Resource)

Naheed Cruickshank (Early years music)

The Facilitation team will also be supported by presentations from key representatives from the Arts Council including Rachel Holstead, Music Adviser to The Arts Council and Margaret Rogers, Child Welfare Officer, The Arts Council.

This course will offer musicians: - The highest standards of Facilitation - Training in a comprehensive range of outreach scenarios - Networking opportunities with musicians working in other counties and disciplines - Support, resources and materials - Appropriate standards of course facilities and services

Further information about this course is available from Music Network, The Coach House, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2 Ph: Tel: 01 6719429 / development@musicnetwork.ie / www.musicnetwork.ie Bursaries are valued at €750 – which covers course fee [e300] and e450 contribution to travel, accommodation and subsistence

To apply, please complete the application form together with an up to date CV and submit to the Arts Department, Galway County Council, County Hall, Galway . Ph: 091 746877 E: artsoffice@Galwaycoco.ie W: www.Galway.ie/Arts

The deadline for receipt of applications is 5.00 p.m. August 21st 2008 The Successful Applicants will be contacted no later than 25th August 2008
Late and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

The Arts Council, The IRMA Trust and Music Network Announce Details of the Music Capital Scheme and Research Project
The Arts Council, The IRMA Trust and Music Network announced details of the Music Capital Scheme and Research Project, an action-research initiative designed to provide support for the purchase of musical instruments in 2008. The scheme and research project will be operated on a pilot basis in 2008 and will be designed to recommend formalised structures for ongoing support in this area beyond 2008.

Closing date for applications 5:30pm Monday 29th September.

Commenting on the initiative, Mary Cloake, Director of The Arts Council said, "The Arts Council is aware of a range of needs for capital investment in music throughout Ireland. One of the principal areas of difficulty for musicians and for ensembles can be the purchasing of instruments. The costs of instrument purchase, maintenance and repair can be significant barriers to the development of many organisations and this scheme aims to address this."

There are three categories of support under the Music Capital Scheme aimed at highly skilled performing artists, non-professional performing groups/ensembles and those working in youth or community organisations supporting musical practice. This scheme marks a new departure for The Arts Council as for the first time non-professional music groups can apply for funding under one strand of the scheme.

The Music Capital Scheme, managed by Music Network, will focus exclusively on the area of music instrument purchase in 2008. Awards in this scheme will be made to individual artists, to ensembles and to organisations supporting musical practice in other ways. A total fund of up to e350,000 in grant aid is available in 2008, of which up to e130,000 is specifically intended to support the purchase of rehearsal equipment and instruments for use by youth and community groups, via a once-off investment in the scheme funded by the IRMA Trust.

Dick Doyle, IRMA Trust Director and CEO of IRMA & PPI, stated, "the IRMA Trust is pleased to partner with The Arts Council on a national scheme of this nature. The Trust has invested over €1.5 million to date in helping young people gain access to music. What this scheme is all about is bringing rehearsal facilities locally to young bands."

The Research Project, managed by the Arts Council, will look beyond the scope of the new scheme at a broader range of related issues including the needs for equipment purchase; for the provision of rehearsal venues; and for the development of performing venues for artists, ensembles, venues and support organisations working in all areas of musical practice.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5:30 p.m. Monday 29th September 2008. For further information visit http://www.musicnetwork.ie/ or contact The Music Capital Scheme Manager, Music Network, Tel. 01 6719429 or email capitalscheme@musicnetwork.ie.

Arts Council July Newsletter

2008-08-01T02:39:00.000-07:00

1. The Arts Council announces new, three-year funding plan for the Abbey Theatre The Arts Council has announced the offer of new, three-year funding for the Abbey Theatre for the period 2009-2011. Read more

2. Arts Council awards over e900,000 to individual artists A total of 76 individual artists from across the country received the grants as part of the Arts Council's Bursary awards for 2008. Read more

3. Arts Council publishes arts and education report The Arts Council has published Points of Alignment the Report of the Special Committee on the Arts and Education. Read more

4. Music Capital Scheme and Research Project The Arts Council, the IRMA Trust and Music Network announced details of the Music Capital Scheme and Research Project, an action-research initiative designed to provide support for the purchase of musical instruments in 2008. Read more

5. Child welfare and protection - update July 2008 An update on child protection and welfare. Read more

6. Local Partnership Scheme 2008 Details of the three local authorities who were awarded funding to develop and deliver their proposals. Read more

7. Decisions: Commissions award 2008 (round 1) The Arts Council is pleased to announce funding for the first round of the Commissions award 2008. Read more

8. Decsions: Travel & Training (March - June 2008) The aim of this award is to improve the professional development, formation and networking opportunities of artists and people working professionally in the arts. Read more

9. Decisions: Projects: New Work Award, round 1, 2008 The Arts Council is pleased to announce funding for the first round of Projects: New Work in 2008. Read more

10. Decisions: Projects - Once-Off 2008 (round 1) The Arts Council is pleased to announce funding for the first round of Projects: Once off in 2008. Read more

11. Decisions: Deis June 2008 Deis is a scheme established under the Arts Council's Traditional Arts Initiative, 2005-2008 for one-off or short-term projects. Applications are received on an ongoing basis and decisions are made monthly. Read more

12. News from the arts community Opportunities in the arts community in July include: details of the Music Network Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Training Programme 2008/09; Dance Ireland is seeking applications for the post of Administrator; the National Youth Council invites applications for the Artist in Youth Work Residency 2008 and the Youth Arts Development Award; and St Patrick's College Drumcondra is seeking applications for an Irish language Writer-in-residence. Read more

13. International news from the Cultural Contact Point News from the CCP in July includes details about EU Culture Programme information meetings; corrections made to the EU Culture Programme application form; the publication of a call for proposal for ERASMUS for Young Entrepreneurs, the launch of a new publication reviewing sectoral training funds in Europe; and an announcement about Ljubljana as World Book Capital 2010. Read more

Samhlaiocht Exhibition is Rubbish!!

2008-07-30T03:52:00.000-07:00

Junk Art and Recycled Sculpture Competition and Exhibition to Open on August 7th

How often have you heard Art described as 'Rubbish'? Well in this instance, the opening of a new Exhibition in Samhlaiocht, the description is perfectly apt and, yet, as far from the truth as possible! The Exhibition titled, 'Don't Rubbish It', focuses on raising awareness of the creative potential of much of the rubbish that is thrown away on a daily basis. The challenge set to Artists was to create innovative art and sculpture from 'junk' materials that would, in the normal course of things, be thrown away.

The competition has been running for a few years now and the quality of the work and the number of entries received has continued to astound Jane Savage, one of the judges of the competition, and the lady charged with opening the exhibition in Samhlaiocht. "Sarah O' Brien, Michael O' Coilean, the Kerry County Council Environmental Awareness Officer, Paul Sherry, manager of the Killarney Outlet Centre, Tadgh Moriarty, manager of Killarney Summerfest and I were the judges of the competition. It was far too important a decision to leave to just one person!" laughs Jane.

The competition had four different categories for National Schools, Secondary Schools, Adults and Professional Artists and with the growing realisation of the importance of recycling and the environment the competition has certainly struck a chord across all age groups and categories with a wonderfully eclectic mix of Artwork. It also struck a chord amongst sponsors with The Kerryman, Astellas Ireland Ltd, Sport Corran Tuathail, KWD Recycling and Killarney Town Council Arts Committee climbing on board to offer a whole slew of prizes totalling over 4,000 euro in value!

"We're delighted the exhibition is coming to Samhlaiocht," said Trish Thompson, Samhlaiocht Gallery Coordinator. "I think it's hugely important that people become more environmentally aware and conscious of the decisions they make when it comes to reusing and recycling. Everyone can remember being children, getting lovely fancy toys, setting them aside and then having hours of fun playing in the box the toys came in! We should all try to rediscover that magic, and strive to ensure that absolutely nothing that can be used is carelessly discarded."

"I've always been environmentally conscious," adds Jane. "I live in Killarney on the outskirts of the National Park, one of the most beautiful locations in the whole county, if not the world, I love gardening, love the outdoors and this just ties so well into that."

Over twenty pieces were created for the competition all utilising materials that would otherwise have ended up in the bin and while one little competition is unlikely to change the world it is certainly proof that people are moving in the right direction.

"When we were young, my Mom used to chase after people and give out to them for littering," says Jane. "It used to embarrass me terribly. But I'm so proud of her now. And the funny thing is, she's still doing it and she's eighty eight years old!"

The exhibition opens on Thursday, August 7th, and runs until Friday, August 29th, in the new Samhlaiocht Gallery which is located in the Old Presbytery on Lower Castle Street in the heart of Tralee. The Gallery is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, is free to visit and all are welcome.

For more information on Samhlaiocht please log on to http://www.samhlaiocht.com/

Askeaton Contemporary Arts presents Welcome to the Neighbourhood

2008-07-17T02:42:00.000-07:00

Taking place from July 14 to 26 2008

NOT ABEL (Ireland) / Peggy Franck (Holland) / Oliver Heinzenberger (Germany) / Marie Jeanne Hoffner (France) / Michael McLaughlin (Ireland) / Curated by Michele Horrigan

Founded in 2006, Askeaton Contemporary Arts aims to promote and provide contemporary visual art to the locale of Askeaton Co Limerick. July 2008 will see the third edition of Welcome to the Neighbourhood, an annual programme of invited international and Irish artists resident and working in the town.

By developing community involvement and understanding how art might be produced and experienced in this locality, ACA aims to open up new possibilities of how contemporary art might operate outside a city environment, while concurrently supporting the production of new artists' projects.

Two editions of Welcome to the Neighbourhood have been staged, introducing the work of artists from Sweden, Denmark, Turkey, Germany, Canada, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and Ireland to Askeaton. ACA has advocated an experimental approach to the production of artists' projects, furthering an understanding of the possibilities of the project in a very broad cultural sense, and allowing for the development of the festival as a fluid conceptual model rather than as a more traditionally-structured event.

A series of events and talks and tours are scheduled during Welcome to the Neighbourhood, culminating with a reception for the artists on Friday, July 25, at 8pm at the Civic Trust. On Saturday, July 26, a daylong series of talks, tours and artists' project will be presented throughout Askeaton, and at Limerick City Gallery of Art. Also, other conversations and discussions will occur, as artists and artworks are infused into daily life in Askeaton town.

Askeaton Contemporary Arts is kindly supported by the Arts Council, Askeaton Civic Trust, Shannon Development, Limerick County Council, Limerick City Gallery of Art, and many local businesses and individuals. Further details, festival brochure and accommodation arrangements from Michele Horrigan on 087 297 7179, or askeatonarts@yahoo.ie

Feile na mBlath Festival is a Stunning Success

2008-06-27T07:06:00.001-07:00

Musicians entertaining the crowd at Feile na mBlath

The 2008 edition of Feile na mBlath was a fantastic success despite a torrential downpour on Saturday. With over 3000 people attending events over the three day course of the Festival, this year's Feile na mBlath was the best attended in the Festival's short history.

Samhlaiocht presented 18 workshops as part of the Festival. With 9 workshops taking place on Friday and an additional 9 workshops taking place on Saturday, that covered everything from flower making to painting.

Workshop participant at Feile na mBlath

Over 300 school children attended the workshops on Friday and Samhlaiocht brought in a magician, stilt walker and face painters to brighten up the proceedings further. The weather on Saturday tried its best to make a damp squib of things but those that braved the rain had a wonderful time.

Fire eaters and stilt walkers liven up proceedings

And while the weather did its worst, Tralee Town Council did its best providing entertainment, music, guided walks, gardening workshops and recitals for both adults and children ensuring that people left with a smile on their face.

Exhibition Of New Work By Eileen Kennedy

2008-06-26T04:57:00.000-07:00

Eileen Kennedy outside her studio in Ashgrove, Tralee

You sometimes hear an artist say they find art therapeutic and when you visit Eileen Kennedy's intimate little studio, it's easy to see why! Eileen, who is married to local music legend, James Kennedy, and has two children, Clare and Ciaran, has a delightful studio behind her house in Ashgrove in Tralee. Access to the studio is by way of a meticulously kept garden that features statues of the Buddha and is soothing to the senses from the first moment of entry.

"Before we built the studio, I used to paint in an upstairs bedroom and when I was preparing the dinner I'd move the easel down to the kitchen and place it next to the cooker," laughs Eileen, "so it's nice to have a space that's dedicated to Art."

Eileen, who is from Tralee originally, studied art at Crawford School of Art and Design where she was awarded Student of the Year by the Cork Arts Society. She is a born painter, sculptor and print-maker and finds inspiration in life but also in the tactile interaction with the materials she uses. In fact one of her earliest memories is of asking her grandfather to show her how to paint at the extraordinarily young age of two! "I love the freedom and sense of discovery every time I create something," she says, "and it's a feeling that I have loved for as long as I can remember."

And while Eileen works primarily from her painting studio at home she also travels to Cork Printmakers on a regular basis. Her work has been shown extensively in Ireland and she has exhibited in Belgium, China and right across the U.S.

One exhibition currently running in America was organised by Jimmy Deenihan, TD for Kerry North. The exhibition, titled, A Different Land: Irish Bogland Interpretations, opened in New York in March of this year at Magnan Projects and features Eileen's print, Windblown Cotton, as well as work from another 26 Irish artists. "Jimmy has been a huge help to me and many other Kerry artists," said Eileen, "not just for this but for all the work he puts into the annual art exhibition in Finuge, during The Sean McCarthy Weekend, and much more besides."

Another two of Eileen's prints were selected for a touring exhibition in the U.S., Prints from Ireland, and, as you read this, are on route to Hawaii.

Luckily, though, you won't have to go to Hawaii to view her prints, as an exhibition of her work will go on display at the new Samhlaiocht Gallery on Thursday, July 10th. The exhibition will be opened by Jimmy Deenihan. Eileen is no stranger to Samhlaiocht having exhibited at the gallery in 2004.

Paper Pool of Love. Watercolour by Eileen Kennedy

"Eileen's last show was a sell-out success," said Trish Thompson, Gallery Coordinator of Samhlaiocht, "and we're delighted to have her back for another exhibition. Her prints flow with an energy that mirrors life and while some are imbued with painterly vigour that belie the formal structure of the printmaking process others are implicitly adherent to the process. It's a wonderful combination and the work is both free flowing and immediate, yet, at the same time, structured and considered."

Eileen elaborates saying, "I relate to Art that is honest and real and reveals life with all its perfections and flaws. There is a beauty and rawness to life and Nature that I seek to express in my work."

This beauty and rawness resonates with the viewer and is surely, at least, partly responsible for Eileen's success to date. Not only are her exhibitions successes but her work features in a wide range of privately held Art Collections including those of AIB, Kerry County Council and Kerry Education Service while she has also been short-listed to design collectors' coins for the Central Bank.

Success aside, you get the feeling that if all sales were to dry up tomorrow Eileen would still paint and print in her little studio. "Sometimes when I feel exhausted that exhaustion is equally evident in the work and results in pieces that are softer and, somehow, more human," she says.And it's that honesty, that willingness to put herself into her work, which makes it so appealing both to Eileen as an artist and to the viewer.

The exhibition opens on Thursday, July 10th, and runs until Friday, August 1st, in the new Samhlaiocht Gallery which is located in the Old Presbytery on Lower Castle Street in the heart of Tralee. The Gallery is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, is free to visit and all are welcome.

For more information on Samhlaiocht please log on to http://www.samhlaiocht.com/

KFF 2008 - Call for Submissions

2008-06-10T05:39:00.000-07:00

KFF ISSUES A CALL FOR ENTRIES TO THE 9th ANNUAL KERRY FILM FESTIVAL

Kerry Film Festival to offer a e5,000 cash prize in Best Director Competition

The Samhlaiocht Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating nine years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, has issued a call for entries for the Kerry Film Festival 2008, which runs from November 1st to November 8th.

"The Kerry Film Festival is committed to playing a leading role in providing a forum for emerging talent in film," said Jason O' Mahony, Artistic Director Kerry Film Festival. "This dedication is evidenced by both the quality of the films screened and the prizes on offer, with a top cash prize of e5,000 for KFF's Best Director, as well as a number of prizes in other categories including Best Irish Short, Best International Short, Best Documentary Short and Best Animated Short."

All prizes including Best Director will be selected by a jury of internationally renowned film professionals. Past adjudicators of the Kerry Film Festival Short Film Competition have included such luminaries as Mike Leigh, Jim Sheridan, Neil Jordan and Gabriel Byrne. John Carney, director of ONCE, has agreed to adjudicate this year with more adjudicators to be announced shortly.

"We're delighted to have such an amazing filmmaker as John onboard to help adjudicate the shorts," said O' Mahony. "Short film is a compelling format with much of the work displaying a freshness and originality that is lacking from more formulaic studio releases, so it'll be interesting to see what John thinks of the films."

When asked what makes KFF special he said, "I think having so many of the filmmakers on hand to speak about their films and their creative journey ensures a rewarding film festival experience for both the filmmaker and the audience. One of the advantages of KFF, I suppose, is that it's such an intimate little festival but the quality of the films and quality of the adjudicators consistently punches above its weight."

While the main focus of the festival will continue to be on shorts, this year sees an extension of the programme. "Last year was our most successful Festival so far," said O' Mahony. "We screened more films to more people in more venues that ever before and this year we're hoping to top that!" The 2008 edition of the Festival will see an expansion of the feature programme which proved so successful in 2007, KFF 2008 will also see more Education screenings, more active retired screenings and a larger workshop programme.

Kerry Film Festival will work in conjunction with the Cork Film Centre to bring a top notch film workshop programme to Kerry, Cork Film Centre will also curate an experimental film programme. "The Cork Film Centre is delighted to be working with the Kerry Film Festival," said Chris Hurley, Cork Film Centre. "We are pleased to be collaborating in presenting an eye-opening programme of contemporary Irish experimental film, curated by Maximilian Le Cain. Additionally, we will sponsor a cash prize of e500 to be awarded to the winner in the Best Animated Short category."

For more information on the Samhlaiocht Kerry Film Festival please log on to http://www.kerryfilmfestival.com/ or to download application forms please log on to http://www.kerryfilmfestival.com/Application_Form_2008.pdf

For more info on Cork Film Centre please log onto http://www.corkfilmcentre.com/

Live @ 8 - Looking for Artists!

2008-06-10T05:09:00.001-07:00

Live @ Number Eight is a monthly event in Bar Number 8, Galway City, Ireland. Each month, the organisers curate an evening of screenings, music, performance, installation and sound.

The event provides an opportunity for artists and audience to come together to engage in new work in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Live @ Number 8 is now calling for submissions for its events in Autumn and Winter 2008. Live @ Number 8 is also interested in receiving submissions by curators wishing to curate a guest slot.

Submissions will be accepted by post and should include CV, statement and a CD Rom of images. Please include a DVD of your work if appropriate. To have your submission returned, please include a SAE.

Closing Date for applications is 30 June 2008. Please Post submissions to:

Live @ Number 8

c/o Galway Arts Centre

47 Dominick St

Galway

For more information please email Maeve, Aine or Vivienne on liveatnumber8@gmail.com

Knitters of the World Unite!!

2008-06-09T02:33:00.000-07:00

World Wide Knit in Public Day is a day for knitters, who generally work alone, to get together and show the general public that this craft is alive and thriving!

It is the largest knitting event in the world and will be open to all the fibre arts. It's not limited to knitters, so bring your knitting, crochet, spindle along and join in the fun!!

Meet other knitters in your area, start a knitting group, even learn how to knit. This event is free and family friendly. For more information check out http://www.wwkipday.com/ or email shebeens@gmail.com

Samhlaiocht Presents Feile na mBlath Workshops

2008-06-06T04:08:00.000-07:00

Samhlaiocht is delighted to present 18 workshops as part of this year's Feile na mBlath. With 9 workshops taking place on Friday, June 20th and an additional 9 workshops taking place on Saturday, June 21st covering everything from flower making to painting there's something for every young budding artist and gardener at this year's festival.

There are only 12 places in each of the Children's workshops and they have been booking out quickly, with all places in Friday's workshops booked by interested local primary schools, but there are still places left in the Saturday workshops. Saturday's workshops take place from 12:00 noon until 3:00 pm, with three workshops starting every hour.

Samhlaiocht has also brought in a magician, stilt walker and face painters to brighten up the proceedings at the Teddy Bear's Picnic which will take place from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon on Friday.

We can't guarantee the weather but we can guarantee fun and with keepsakes from most of the workshops participants are sure to go home with smiles on their faces whether the sun is smiling down or not! And with Tralee Town Council pulling out all the stops providing entertainment, music, guided walks, gardening workshops and recitals for adults there's something for everyone.

Pop down to Tralee Town Park any time from 11:00 am on Friday June 20th to 5:00 pm on Sunday, June June 22nd to flavour the fun of the Feile na mBlath Festival.

Lisa Hannigan back in Killorglin

2008-06-06T02:50:00.000-07:00

Sol y Sombra Live Presents

Lisa Hannigan and Band

Lisa is no stranger to Killorglin, having played in Sol y Sombra for the Donal Dineen Month of Sunday concert as part of the Kerry Film Festival in November 07. As part of her first ever tour, she is playing Sol y Sombra on Thursday 19th June with her full band.
Sol Y Sombra expects the concert to sell quickly so please let them know if you need tickets.

Thursday 19th June

Tickets e15. Tapas Served from 17:00 - 19:15 (last orders)
Places limited. Reservations Essential
For Tickets Call 066 9762348 or email info@solysombra.ie

New Book from Mercier Press

2008-06-06T02:47:00.000-07:00

DARK CORNERS
Gerard Mac Manus

As a young man in 1960's Ireland, Gerard Mac Manus joined the Irish Army. This set in train a sequence of events that resulted in him:

-Guarding Europes borders during the Cold War
-Patrolling the meanest streets in the world as a cop in Atlanta
-Going undercover in high living and low life Florida
-Investigating the infamous Atlanta Child Murders
-Handling security for America’s banking industry

Among other adventures, Gerard Mac Manus nearly killed President Nixon's best friend, almost arrested one of the world's biggest rock groups at the 1969 Palm Beach Rock Festival and reluctantly found himself responsible for the security of Yitzhak Rabin, against his wishes.

Mac Manus has seen more action and witnessed more pivotal events - from the Cold War to responses to 9/11 - than most would ever dream about. His life is an Irishman's record of the violence, organised corruption, and compassion found in America and the west during the last fifty years.

Surrounded since childhood by literary and artistic achievement, but writing for the first time about his life experiences, Mac Manus digs deep into his dark times to reveal a powerful story.

Author Information
Gerard Mac Manus was born and raised in Dundalk. Having traveled widely throughout his life, he and his wife now spend their time between their homes in Asia and Europe.

Dark Corners is published in paperback at €12.99

For more information please log onto http://www.mercierpress.com/

Artist in the Community Scheme

2008-06-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

Are you an artist working in different social contexts or with communities? The deadline for the next Artist in the Community Scheme is 27 June. The scheme covers all art forms - visual arts, dance, film, literature and theatre.

The Artist in the Community Scheme 2008
Twice yearly, the Arts Council offers grants to enable artists and communities of place or interest to work together on projects. The Artist in the Community Scheme is managed by Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts, providing services for arts development and collaborative arts practice in Ireland. The aim of the scheme is to encourage intense collaboration between communities of place and/or interest and artists, culminating in an artwork or a project in which the members of the community group and the artists work together in order to realise an artistic project or an event. It is essential that meaningful consultation take place between the artist and the community group, so that both parties are involved in deciding on the nature of the project. Group ownership of the art should be maintained at every stage.

There are two phases to the scheme:

Phase One: Research & Development, is open to artists and arts practitioners who wish to research and develop a project in a community context. Maximum time frame is 3 months. The maximum amount awarded in this phase is e1,000.

Phase Two: Project Realisation, is open to communities of interest or place (or their representative organisations), planning a project of between 6 weeks and 5 months with a maximum award of e5000, and those who are planning a project of between 6 months and 9 months with a maximum award of e10,000.

The next deadline for this scheme is 5pm, Friday 27 June 2008.

For further information, application forms or to book an advisory session, contact Katherine Atkinson, Project Support and Professional Development, 01-4736600 support@create-ireland.ie

For more on Create Ireland please long onto http://www.create-ireland.ie/

Arts Council May Newsletter

2008-06-03T04:37:00.000-07:00

Mr Martin Cullen TD, the new Minister for Arts Sports and Tourism, made his first official visit to the Arts Council on Tuesday 27 May. The Minister met members of the Council and staff and had a short briefing on the work of the Arts Council. He also met members of the Circus community who were attending a consultation meeting at the Arts Council offices in Merrion Square.

The month of May marks the beginning of a busy arts festival season, and this month the Arts Council offered funding totalling e500,000 to 99 small festivals under round two of the Small Festivals scheme. We were particularly pleased to award 24 first time applicants funding this year. Festivals remain one of the most effective ways in which the arts are made available to large numbers of people. The role of the voluntary boards and committees in bringing these arts festival programmes together merits special mention. A list of the successful recipients of grant aid under the small festivals scheme is available on our website.

The Arts Council has a long standing commitment to the individual artist and this month announced an increase in the Cnuas payment to Aosdána members which will be phased in over three years. This increase is intended to bring the real value of the Cnuas back in line with the cost of living, and is one of a number of measures intended to improve the living and working conditions of artists.

We also have details of 10 new members of Aosdána and the election of Camille Souter as a new Saoi. The newly elected nominees will bring the current Aosdána membership to 235.

Elsewhere in the newsletter, we publish details of a new project intended to support greater public engagement with architecture in Ireland. The Arts Council will consider how it may best support public awareness of, and engagement with, architecture in Ireland with the assistance of this research. We draw your attention to a notice about a forthcoming project to build a public art website, and a temporary vacancy to cover maternity leave in the Arts Council for Head of Opera & Music and we have reminders about upcoming deadlines for the Bursary award, Annual Programming grants and the Artist in the Community scheme.

Finally, closing the newsletter are our regular articles from the Cultural Contact Point and news from the arts community.

1. e500,000 infusion for 99 small festivals across Ireland
The Arts Council has announced details of successful recipients under round two of the Small Festivals Scheme for 2008.Read more

2. Public engagement with architecture
The Arts Council has commissioned a team, led by Mullan Consulting, to carry out a study into the public's engagement with architecture in Ireland.Read more

3. Arts Council increases Cnuas to Aosdana members
The Arts Council has announced a significant increase in the Cnuas, the payment made to some Aosdána members to allow artists to devote themselves full time to creative work.Read more

4. Aosdana elects new Saoi and new members
Aosdana elects 10 new members and announces Camille Souter as Saoi.Read more

5. Public art website notice
A notice about the Arts Council's plans to develop a public art website.Read more

6. Head of Music and Opera (Temporary to cover Maternity Leave)
The Arts Council has a temporary vacancy for an exceptionally talented individual to take up the position of Head of Music and Opera.Read more

7. Closing date: Bursary award
The closing date for receipt of applications for the Bursary award is 5.30pm on Thursday 26 June 2008. Read more

8 Closing date: Artist in the Community scheme
Twice yearly, the Arts Council offers grants to enable artists and communities of place or interest to work together on projects.The next deadline for the scheme is 5pm Friday 27 June 2008.Read more

9. Closing date: Annual Programming Grants
The closing date for receipt of applications for Annual Programming Grants is 5.00 pm, Wednesday 25 June 2008.Read more

10. News from the arts community
Opportunities in the arts community in May include: Dance Research Forum Ireland invites applications for the position of Dance Archive Researcher; details of a professional development course for artists working in healthcare settings and Wexford Arts Centre and Wexford County Council are seeking applications for their annual Emerging Visual Artist Award; Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Public Library Serivce has a call for 'writer in residence at DLR libraries and the Institute of Art, Design and Technology also has a call for writer in residence, at IADT. Read more

11. International news from the Cultural Contact Point
News from the CCP in May includes: news on the upcoming publication of the new EU Culture Programme Guide; a notice about the Grundtvig contact seminars in Graz and Helsinki; call for Proposals to run EU Prize for Literature; and deadlines for the European Commission support for cultural activities in Egypt. Read more

A conversation with Artist Richard Hearns

2008-05-10T02:44:00.000-07:00

"Every Artist has a particular reason that they choose to express themselves. Regardless of the medium they work in, their inspiration has a 'source' or 'ultimate goal' in the realisation of their creative passions.

In my work I am ultimately expressing my love of nature, the mental connection between physical art and the inner need to express oneself, and the glory of human emotion.My work endeavours to express the solitude and meditation of life that surrounds each one of us and connects us to a larger whole – the source of all existence.

What compels and inspires me to translate these inner thoughts and emotions into a tangible form is the idea that 'something can come from nothing'. That fleeting thoughts and emotions can be captured and translated into a physical expression,that colour and light can be transmuted and laid down to express form.

My ultimate intentions in presenting my 'visions' to the world is to enrich peoples lives visually, emotionally, creatively and spiritually.I feel it is so important to endeavour to create and leave behind something of beauty to enrich the world."

To view works by Richard Hearns go to http://www.richardhearns.com/blog/index.php

An exhibition of his works will take place in The Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare. It will open on June 1st and runs until July 1st.

Samhlaiocht Faces the Music

2008-05-08T04:20:00.000-07:00

Bealtaine Music Event in Library - Wednesday, May 21st 2008

As time goes by music is losing some of its traditional communal aspects and becoming much more of an individualised experience with MP3 players replacing the radios and walkmans of old, not to mention record players and ancient old gramophones!

However, quite a few people still have a hankering for the communal experience, and prefer to enjoy music the old fashioned way, and now they have a wonderful opportunity to do just that at a music presentation on Wednesday 21st May, from 3pm to 5pm, in Tralee Library.

The presentation is part of the Bealtaine Festival, a nationwide festival which takes place throughout the month of May and celebrates creativity in older age.

This event will be presented by Sheila Kelly of Samhlaiocht Chiarrai. "Choosing and compiling a musical presentation to celebrate 'Planet Earth' for the Bealtaine Festival is truly a labour of love for me," says Sheila. "It brings together a whole number of things that I am passionate about like my appreciation of creativity in older people, my enjoyment in seeing older people appreciate art in all its various forms and my love of music, planet earth and, of course, people!"

"We're delighted to be working with Samhlaiocht to deliver this music programme as part of our overall programme of events for the Bealtaine Festival," Tommy O' Connor, County Librarian, explained. "We have over 20 events scheduled to take place over the month in seven different locations and with artistic pursuits from poetry to cinema, I think we have something for everyone."

"I read recently that Ireland is the only Country to have a musical instrument, the Harp, as its National Symbol," added Sheila. "That really crystallises for me how precious music has always been, is now and will continue to be in Ireland. As we say as Gaeilge 'Bogann an am, ach fanann an cheol'."

Kerry County Library has lined up a fantastic offering of events in libraries around the county to celebrate Bealtaine. These include art classes, writing classes, cinema screenings, poetry workshops and a myriad of other events and workshops taking place throughout Kerry in Tralee, Listowel, Cahirciveen, Ballybunion, Killorglin, Kenmare and Killarney. For more information please contact Ann Fitzgerald on 066 712 1200 or via email at afitzgerald@kerrrycolib.ie or log onto http://www.kerrycountylibrary.com/

Local libraries may also be contacted for a listing of events.

For information on other Bealtaine events in Kerry please telephone 1890 50 60 60 or email bealtine@mie.ie Interested parties can also visit the official website on http://www.bealtaine.com/

For more information on Samhlaíocht please log on to http://www.samhlaiocht.com/

Lesotho's Finest Exhibits In Siamsa

2008-04-23T07:21:00.001-07:00

Meshu Mokitimi is Lesotho's most prominent artist.

His career as a painter spans over fifty years and his work has earned him international recognition. Meshu spent eleven years of his life incarcerated for his political beliefs, when he and other political activists were fighting against the 'colour bar' in Lesotho.

While in prison he spent his time drawing and turned his cell into a studio and a sanctuary of peace. Meshu has been invited to Ireland by Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, Dingle, County Kerry, as an Artist in Residence. The exhibition in The Gallery, Siamsa Tire is presented as part of this residency.

The exhibition will be opened by Mayor of Tralee, Miriam McGillycuddy, on Saturday, April 26th. For more info on the exhibition please get in touch with Siamsa Tire on 066 712 3055 or on the web at http://www.siamsatire.com/

Tralee Band, PHILTRE, Break the Bank

2008-04-21T05:36:00.000-07:00

Tralee based, four piece, Philtre have been selected to play in The Bank of Ireland National Student Music Awards in The Village, Co. Dublin, on April 24th

And while it is a coup for the band to be selected, Philtre are no strangers to producing cutting edge live shows. With a sound that has been described as "infectious alternative rock," their live appearances are electric and have resulted in their status as one of today's hottest properties on the Irish Rock scene.

Following on from the success of their debut EP, Bullet from Nowhere, the band spent much of 2007 on the live circuit which saw them sharing the stage with international acts such as Reamonn and Republic of Loose.

Philtre were nominated as One's to Watch by the Murphy's Live judging panel which ensured mass exposure and acclaim for the band. 2007 also saw the production of a documentary, Morning Sun, which featured a live interview with band members and some exclusive stunning clips from this year's Irish tour including gigs in Whelan's, Cyprus Avenue and the coveted Murphy's live show.

Bullet from Nowhere was featured on RTE'S, The Sunday Game, and also was used this year in Setanta Sports', Magners League.

In early 2008, the band recommenced work with Tralee native and acclaimed producer Garteh Mannix in Sun Studios, Dublin. Philtre are currently on their upcoming EP which will see a nation wide release in late September and will be supported by a national tour.

Bullet from Nowhere, EP, is available for purchase on download through iTunes, HMV, Napster, and also available through Roxy Records and Lee Records in Tralee.

To Contact Philtre please email, philtremusic@gmail.com, for more information on the band please log onto www.myspace.com/philtremusic

Further Information on The Bank of Ireland National Student Music Awards can be found at the following sites:
http://www.myspace.com/nsmaireland

http://www.nsma.ie/

Book Launch at Reubens

2008-04-21T04:41:00.000-07:00

The Seven Towers agency is launching Quincy R. Lehr's collection of poetry, Across the Grid of Streets, in Reubens on Saturday April 26th at 3.30 pm. The collection will be launched by John W. Sexton.

Interested parties should RSVP to seventowersmail@gmail.com

Quincy R. Lehr was born in Oklahoma City in 1975. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and Columbia University in New York City before relocating to Ireland, where he teaches history. His poetry has been published on both sides of the Atlantic in journals and in a small collection, William Montgomery, by New York based chapbook publisher Modern Metrics which he founded with R. Nemo Hill. He has taken part in many readings and facilitates an on-line poetry workshop.

John W. Sexton is a poet, short story writer, dramatist, children's novelist, radio scriptwriter and sometime rockstar! He has published three collections of poetry, The Prince's Brief Career (Cairn Mountain Press, 1995); Shadows Bloom/Scathanna Faoi Bhlath and Vortex (Doghouse, 2005). He is the creator of RTE's children's radio serial The Ivory Tower. His books include The Prince's Brief Career (Cairn Mountain Publishing) and The Johnny Coffin Diaries (The O'Brien Press). He has also released an album, THE SONS OF SHIVA, with legendary Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell.

An event with Appeal

2008-04-17T03:25:00.000-07:00

Many cyclists got a very pleasant surprise this week when they returned to their trusty bicycles only to find a bright red bell had been attached in their absence. They were not completely left in the dark however. Their mysterious benefactors left a rather large clue. Attached to every red bell was a programme for the forthcoming Kerry Bicycle Festival. The red bells are part of Peal, a community bicycle project initiated by Michael Kelly that is to be undertaken in the week preceding the Kerry Bicycle Festival. The project involves the placing of 100 bells on 100 bikes around Tralee. The distinctive look of the bells will allow cyclists identify each other as fellow unwitting members of this project. When interviewed, Mike Kelly said, 'We hope to bring the sound of bicycle bells back into the streets of Tralee. Not only is it sociable and fun but it's safer too.'

The festival officially kicks off on Thursday night with a bicycle-inspired gig in Clubheadbangbang in the Greyhound Bar on Pembroke street. Friday night sees a public discussion take place in the Samhlaiocht Gallery on Castle Street.

This discussion is open to all and will be chaired by the Mayor of Tralee, Miriam McGillycuddy. Local bike-related issues will be discussed, including the possibility of opening a Fenit to Tralee and a Ballyroe to Tralee cycleway on the land currently occupied by disused railway line. The state of Tralee's cycle lanes will also be discussed. This discussion will be followed by a viewing of bicycled-related short movies.

Saturday sees a family cycle to Blennerville followed by general bicycle festivities in Tralee Town Square including the Fanzini brothers and Paddy Waters, the bicycle clown. There will be bicycle elves at the ready to oil your chain and the opportunity to get a bicycle portrait taken in the mobile bicycle studio. The Irish premier of a composition scored for 12 bicycles by avant garde composer Godfried-Willem Raes called 2nd Symphony for Singing Bicyles will also be performed.

A bicycle powered mobile phone charger will be at the ready if you run dry and a broken tandem found dumped in Tralee town has been carefully brought back to life for the day that's in it.

One of the highlights of the festival will be a 'Family Cycle' on Saturday Afternoon, where the organisers hope to get as many people as possible on to their bikes, the cycle will be fully supervised, and will have a 'Cycle Garda' Escort. All are welcome on this event, the meeting point is 12 noon at the Ashe Memorial Hall, and the cycle pace will be leisurely.

The festival will be brought to a close on Sunday afternoon with a bicycle picnic in Ballyseede Wood.

For more information please log onto http://www.kerrybicyclefestival.org/ or call Mike Kelly on
087 793 7471

Is Connecting Bits to Atoms Sufficient?

2008-04-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

CIDS is a discipline-agnostic platform for research convergence. We advocate a systems approach to problem solving to generate long term sustainable and adaptable solutions. Seamless integration and coordination of diverse sub-systems usually take longer to converge since multi-disciplinary domains need orchestration to address real-world problems.

08.00 Registration and Breakfast

09.00 Welcome: Evolution of RFID4SME in an Information Age
Dr Pat Doody , Executive Director, Centre for Innovation in Distributed Systems, ITT
Mr Ed Sheldon , RFID4SME Project Coordinator, ITT

09:15 Introduction: Connecting Bits to Bits in a Systems Age
Dr Shoumen Datta , School of Engineering, MIT Forum for Supply Chain Innovation, MIT

09.30 Information Arbitrage in Healthcare
Dr Jane Grimson , Professor of Computer Science, Trinity College Dublin and Director of Health Information, HIQA

10.15 Information in EPC: Data from RFID
Mr Henri Barthel , Director, GS1-EPCGlobal

11.00 C O F F E E

11.30 RFID, Sensors, GPS and GSM: Abundance of Data yet Starved for Knowledge? ITT in cooperation with Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School

12.15 Information Identification in Decision Systems
Dr Shoumen Palit Austin Datta , School of Engineering, MIT

13.00 L U N C H

14:30 Delivering Data: Structure of Infrastructure
Drs Robbert Kuppens, CIO and Mr Ian Kennedy , Managing Director, CISCO (Europe)

15:00 Connecting Information: Global Bridge between Distributed Systems
Mr Mike Fitzgerald , CEO, Altobridge

15.30 Making Decisions: Pervasive Systemic Visibilty
Dr Joseph Salvo , Director, Pervasive Decision Lab, GE Global Research Headquarters (NY)

16.00 Data, Information, Decisions: Driving the Knowledge Economy?
Mr Mick Keyes , HP (Ireland)

16.30 C O F F E E

17:00 Opportunities for TransRegional Cooperation: ESTIIC
Mr Ivan Grimes , Assitant Director, Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly

17.15 Concluding Remarks: Convergence, Collaboration and Innovation as Catalysts
Dr Michael Hall , Head of Life Science and Chemistry, ITT

17:30 Refreshments and Networking

95,000 euro Limerick City Council Public Art Commission

2008-04-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

Limerick City Council is offering a public art commission to commemorate in a permanent way the contribution the workers of Limerick Docks made to the cultural life of the city in the 19th and 20th Century. Limerick City Council therefore invites expressions of interest from artists who wish to be considered to undertake the project. A short list will be selected from the information submitted in the expression of interest.

The Budget available for the project is 95,000 euro

Expressions of interest should include an outline sketch of your proposal, a brief statement of the design concept and a general description of the size and the materials to be used. For a full artists' brief contact:

The Arts Office, Limerick City Council, City Hall, Merchant's Quay, Limerick.
E: artsoffice@limerickcity.ie T: (353) 61 407421 http://www.limerickcity.ie/

Deadline: Monday 28th April 2008

Young Ensembles Scheme Established

2008-04-14T04:01:00.000-07:00

Arts Council Invites Applications for New Scheme

The Arts Council is pleased to announce a new pilot funding scheme for young ensembles. The scheme targets groups of young people between the ages of 12 and 23 years who are working collaboratively to create art, across a range of art forms. Organisations supporting or hosting young ensembles are eligible to apply.

The primary purpose of this award is to support young ensembles in the development of their artistic practice in an out of schools context. It prioritises initiatives that demonstrate clear artistic vision in the specific art form(s) represented, coupled with a process that values young people's participation, creativity and critical engagement with the arts.

The Young Ensembles Scheme is a further expression of the Arts Council's commitment to create better opportunities for young people to experience the arts, as outlined in its current strategy Partnership for the Arts.

Closing date:
Applications and supporting material must be received by the Arts Council no later than 5:30 p.m., Friday 23rd May 2008. Emailed or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Full guidelines and application forms are available to download at http://www.artscouncil.ie/ and by following the links below:
Young Ensembles Scheme – Guidelines http://www.artscouncil.ie/en/view_fund.aspx?fid=fab83980-329f-4013-94d7-0a7789841f83&sdid=8a6f9df4-e9a7-4199-881f-e65dd027d588
Young Ensembles Scheme – Application Form http://www.artscouncil.ie/en/view_fund.aspx?fid=fab83980-329f-4013-94d7-0a7789841f83&sdid=d1413b58-b81e-4d26-936c-9e7d507e4c02

For further information:
The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon
Young People, Children, and Education
Tel: +353 1 6180250
Email: mathilde.veldt@artscouncil.ie
Website: http://www.artscouncil.ie/