Killoughternane art group showcases work at old school exhibition
Norah Burgess Hawkins with some of her work at the Killoughternane art exhibition
KILLOUGHTERNANE Art Group held its annual exhibition over the weekend of 27-28 July in Killoughternane old school, showcasing the creative talents of local artists.
The group draws members from within a ten-mile radius of Killoughternane in the foothills of Mount Leinster. Members travel from Borris, Bagenalstown and surrounding areas to gather every Tuesday night for what secretary and long-time member Cornelia McCarthy describes as “a meeting of like-minded people interested in art, painting and drawing”.
Under the guidance of Clonegal-based professional artist and teacher Moira McCaffery, the group operates more as a shared studio than formal classes. Moira provides tailored support to artists of all levels, from complete beginners to more experienced painters.
“She is really experienced as a professional artist and teacher and so, depending on somebody’s level, whether they’ve never touched pastels or oil paints or watercolours or something, she’ll give guidance and a little bit of help,” Ms McCarthy explained. “But also for more experienced people, she’s able to say things like, ‘put the brush down, you’ve finished’ – because we can all sometimes overwork things.”
The group occasionally hosts visiting professionals, including well-known Kilkenny artist Blaise Smith, who has given presentations to the members.
With a diverse membership spanning retired individuals, farmers and business owners, the group emphasises support and encouragement over artistic experience. “It doesn’t really matter whether you’ve just taken it up or whether you’ve been at it for a long time,” Ms McCarthy said. “The main thing is that everyone is gathered together to give each other support.”
The weekly sessions follow a familiar rhythm, with members working on individual pieces before gathering for tea, cake and informal critiques. “We’re all terribly encouraging,” Ms McCarthy noted.
This year’s exhibition provided an opportunity for members to display their strongest works to friends, family and the local community, with pieces also available for purchase. Favourable weather conditions allowed organisers to display some artworks on easels outside the historic school building.
“It’s a very jolly evening,” Ms McCarthy said of the annual showcase. “We were blessed with the weather this time, so we were even able to put a few pieces on easels outside the school.”
