Celebrating art and community in Furbo

An art exhibition with a difference will open this Friday evening in the Meeting Hall of the Baptist Church in Furbo. It will feature the work of 17 professional artists – a mix of local people and members of the Baptist congregation.

Ealáin na bhForbacha (Furbo Art) is designed to foster relationships between the Baptist Church and the wider community, according to wood sculptor Liam O’Neill, who helped organise the exhibition.

Liam, who is an Elder in the Furbo Baptist congregation, says the show will also serve as a fundraiser for enhancement work on the church building and will assist a charity chosen by the local community.

Art on display will include painting, copper sculpture, wood sculpture, glass and mixed media – all the work will be for sale and a commission of 30 percent on everything sold will be divided equally between the two charities, he explains.

Liam was reared in Carlow but has lived in Spiddal, where his wife Cathy is from, since 1992 when he was approached by Údarás na Gaeltachta to take up residence in a vacant unit at the Ceardlann craft village in Spiddal. He’s been a member of the Baptist church since 1975.

“This is about creating relationships,” he says of the show, adding that while there has been a Baptist congregation in Furbo for more than 15 years, they are still largely regarded as “people on the outside of the village”.

Eleven of the 17 artists are from the Furbo area. The other six are members of the Baptist congregation – several, including Liam, also live locally.

“There are very few communities in Ireland with a richness of artistic talent such as is found in Na Forbacha,” Liam stresses. “The Baptist congregation is also blessed with having artists and designers of ability and skill among its members.

“This event is designed to give the local people and visitors an opportunity to access this art in a beautiful setting.

“There isn’t a Baptist church anywhere with a better view, looking out over Galway Bay to the Burren,” he adds, referring to the building’s location.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.