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Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival About.png

Exhibitions

3-9 August / 1pm-6pm

AT THE MASONIC HALL 

Please note:

The Masonic Hall is not wheelchair accessible.

The Flow of Fun

The Masonic Hall will be transformed into a playful multi-sensory installation taking inspiration from the Camcor River.

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Riso Print

Artists Naomi McArdle, Andrea Moore, Bronagh Tully, Shannon Bergin, Maria Mollohan, Emma Barone, Bronagh McCarthy, Aisling Larkin, Verona Stellet, Paul Bokslag.

 

Facilitated by Black Church Print Studio.

River Boxes

Come build together! Brightly coloured patterned boxes created by Paul Bokslag with pupils from Oxmantown National School and Mercy Primary School, to be stacked and rearranged.

Sculptunes

A series of interactive multi-sensory installations designed with and for early years children, by early years artist Helen Barry, In partnership with the National Concert Hall.

 

Please play gently!

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Mother 
- Lauren Culbert

Experience an immersive space with subtle sounds, soft scents, tactile and visually-engaging elements that offer a multi-sensory experience!

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AT BIRR CASTLE

THE CALL OF THE

SHANNON

- Bernie Masterson

Copper Tree Gallery

A collection of four short stories from ordinary people about their relationship with the River Shannon and how it has influenced their lives, and continues to do so. Bernie was the winner of the Open Submission Exhibition 2023.

 

Official Launch / Tuesday 6 August, 6.30pm.

 

This event is kindly sponsored by

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Photo credit / Brian Cox

AT THE OLD CINEMA

UNDERWATER

WORLD

Old Cinema, Brendan Street

Steph & Kevin Hanlon

We are thrilled to be able to bring you once again some of the magic of Longford Lights. Dive into a mesmerising underwater world illuminated by UV lights.

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AT JERRO'S, MAIN STREET

THE PRESS 

PHOTOGRAPHERS

ASSOCIATION OF 

IRELAND (PPAI)

In association with Birr Theatre & Arts Centre.

 

Birr Theatre & Arts Centre is delighted to host the annual PPAI exhibition, sponsored by AIB. This collection of images accurately describes the Ireland of 2023; presenting not only a record of our island’s history, but also is a testament of the incredible skill of our press photographers. The exhibition is on a national tour.

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BIRR ART GROUP

This exhibition focuses on work executed by members during their weekly sessions as well as the plein-air/paint-out sessions taking place across Vintage Week. Members will be out and about painting in three locations across the town from the 5th-7th August.

 

St. Brendan’s Hall will be used for the duration of the paint out as a meeting-up point, refreshment centre and comfort break zone.

 

If you’d like to take part, please

contact Jean Forristal on (086) 023 4690.

AT BIRR THEATRE & ARTS CENTRE

PATHWAYS

Aidan Byrne

Aidan’s creative work as an individual artist

has always had an element of imaginative

exploration, using a process of creating

drawings and paintings that challenge

the need to follow specific rules, patterns,

conditioning or subjects. The absence of

structured rules allows the expression that

emerges to be authentic, original and

playful. The initial drawings and paintings

provide the basis for designs which are then

re-interpreted in mosaic.

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THE MAX, MAIN STREET

OPEN SUBMISSION

EXHIBITION

Curated by Rowena Keaveny

 

‘A Place is only a Place’.

A sense of community is found in the connections people make to each and their environment, consisting of memories, experiences, attachments, cultures and generations making a place more than a physical space. A sense of place is a unique set of qualities and characteristics - visual, cultural, natural and social - that provide a meaning to a location.

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BEAUTIFUL BIRR

3D model streetscape of Oxmantown Mall created by 5th and 6th class children at Oxmantown NS with incredible attention to detail.

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ARTISTS

AT WORK

Visit the Pop-up studio throughout the week, with painters John Gillen, Eamonn Byrne and Katerina Hayden.

BIRR

CRAFTERS

To honour the much -loved Frankie Gallagher, whose legacy artworks can be seen all around town, the Birr Crafters are showing ‘Views of Birr’, using each individual’s unique style and materials.

OTHER LOCATIONS

QUILTS FROM CONNEMARA

The Space Above, Main Street
Fri 9 & Sat 10 August / 10am-6pm

Connemara Quilting Groups: Carna, Indreabhán, Inis Oirr, Leitir Mealláin. Explore the ancient craft of Irish quilt making through this vibrant showcase of four quilting groups from South Connemara.

 

Bigí linn agus muid ag foghlaim faoi cheird ársa na cuilteála Gaelach, le taispeántas galánta ó cheithre ghrúpa cuilteála as Conamara Theas.

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ARCHIVE FILMS OF BIRR

Old Barber's Shop, Main Street

Birr Historical Society will present a selection of old films every evening from 6pm featuring Birr.

 

Also at this venue: James Scully, Martello Tower Bookshop.

SWEET SHOPS OF

BIRR

Grimes Gaelic Bar Window

A photographic exhibition archiving the

locations of where sweetshops were in Birr by Anam Beo archival artist Jackie Lynch through conversations with retired shop owners and with clients of Birr Community Nursing Unit.

THREADS

Tin Jug Studio Brendan Street

A light-hearted, supportive ‘connecting’ between potential buyers and promoting local artists. All the artworks will be for sale at a remarkable bargain price!

 

All viewers to the gallery can bid per artwork. However, just which artwork(s) a buyer might

become the proud owner of to take home, will be the big surprise and joy on the day of the draw!

 

Mini-Museum - peep-hole art/display. Simply lift the studio’s letterbox ‘Nil junkum’ flap, to peer in.

CAROLAN DUFF

Townsend House

Carolan Duff, a young illustrator specialising in children’s art bringing whimsical stories to life with vibrant watercolours and ink. Perfect for all ages, this exhibition celebrates the joy andmagic of stories, scenery and creatures.

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IZABELA STRZALA

The Growery

Experience diverse styles from abstraction to realism, Immerse yourself in the emotive world of art in a unique setting.

 

Opening Friday 2 August at 5pm

THE WALL AT

NEW ORDER DISTRICT

Local artists share their talent at this fantastic

venue.

 

Please note the Artist Appreciation Day planned for: Wed 7 Aug / 11am - 4pm has been postponed due a bereavement.

LEINSTER REGIMENT

MEMORABILIA EXHIBITION

Birr Library

Official Opening on 31 July at 6pm.

 

This exhibition commemorates the colourful history of the Leinster Regiment housed at Crinkill Barracks from 1881 and covers many aspects from this time. Come and view a piece of Birr’s history! Bill Finanne, medal collector, will also exhibit as part of this collection.

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