Creativity and quality at Shorelines
Musicians Donal Lunny, Philip King, Zoe Conway, Máirtín O’Connor, Tommy Hayes and Sonny Condell, writers Thomas McCarthy, Geraldine Mills, Donal Ryan and Geraldine Mitchell, and artists including Mary O’Connor, Lisa Griffin, Ann McKenna, Debbie Chapman and Joe O’Shaughnessy ensured this year’s Shorelines Arts Festival in Portumna was a quality weekend.
The Workhouse Gallery hosted the largest exhibition to date, with work from local and visiting artists. Other exhibitions included a display of writing by Portumna Community School TY students for We Are the Poets, a collaboration with the Laureate na nÓg, Sarah Crossan. That was in the Library.
Portumna Camera Club explored the ever-changing world for their portrait exhibition at the Castle Gallery, Nothing is Ever Still. Portrait photography from Youthreach members was also displayed there. Shorelines celebrated 50 years of Portumna Mart as Kerry Kissane, Brendan Hoary, Jim Hynes, Michael Molamphy and Joshua St John recorded moments there – these are now on permanent display in the mart.
The Goat in the Boat, a community sculpture created by Donnacha Cahill, reflecting the festival’s creativity and fun, was supported by the County Council Arts Office.
Portumna Community School exhibited students’ art and hosted past students and ceramics graduates Jessica Canning and Emma O’Toole.
The Festival opening, held in the school, included a performance of the PCS Chamber Choir, directed by Emma Brogan, while students who participated in Galway 2020’s writing workshops, read their pieces. Singer Ultan Conlon closed the evening, which was sponsored by Athenry Credit Union.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.