Uachtarán Connolly to open Oughterard art exhibition celebrating language and heritage
Uachtarán na hÉireann Catherine Connolly will do the honours this Friday evening, June 12, as the Summer visual arts programme kicks off at Oughterard Courthouse.
As always, the first show of the summer from OCAP will be a group exhibition from the UachtarARTS Community Arts Group. The theme for 2026 is 'Ár dTeanga – Ár nDúchas' and the show will run until June 28.
This year's theme was inspired by President’ Connolly's passion for Irish and the way she has embraced Gaeilge in Áras an Uachtaráin, so OCAP and uachtarARTS are delighted that she's launching the show.
'Ár dTeanga – Ár nDúchas', (Our language – Our heritage) will explore how identity and heritage is intertwined with Gaeilge, according to Philippa Maguire, a member of the UachtarARTS group and of OCAP.
"The words we grow up with, our mother tongue, carry memory, culture, place and belonging. They connect us to family, landscape and history. In Ireland, language also shapes the landscape itself," she says.
Some 40 artists from the uachtarArts group, including members from abroad who have made Ireland their home, have explored this topic, each in their own way, working across a variety of mediums, including painting, photography, textile, printmaking and sculpture.
'Ár dTeanga – Ár nDúchas' will also showcase a range of accordion books made by the uachtarARTS members, following skill-sharing workshops during their meetings in the Courthouse.
'Ár dTeanga – Ár nDúchas' is the first of four shows in the OCAP Summer Arts Programme. Other artists exhibiting in Oughterard Courthouse this year will include Aosdána members Margaret Irwin West and Brian Bourke.
Margaret's work will be on display next month in 'Fold', a family show that features her sculptor daughter, Katherine, woodturner son Richard, and Richard's daughter, painter Manon West. That runs from July 3-12.
'Túath', from July 17-26, will feature work by Natalie Folan, Donal Kelly and Madeleine Shinnick, and the series will conclude with 'Work from Two Studios', from Jay Murphy and Brian Bourke, which will run from July 31 to August 9.
The Oughterard Courthouse Gallery is open from Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm and on Sunday 11am-5pm. All are welcome.
This Friday's launch is by invitation only due to limited space.