Tullamore Artist To Launch ‘Timescape’ Art Exhibition

Maura Fahy at work in her studio

By Justin Kelly

Tullamore artist Maura Fahy will launch her most recent exhibition of paintings this Friday, April 17 at Áras an Chontae in Tullamore. Entitled ‘Timescape’, the exhibition shed slight on Maura’s exploration of her childhood fascination with the dandelion flower. “It was its shape, softness and its magical ability to disappear in a second that fascinated me,” Maura said.

Speaking ahead of the event, Maura revealed, “The dandelion flower created many playful moments for me as a child; using it as a clock to tell the time and watching it drift away in the wind. When blowing the ‘clocks’ and spreading their life for miles around, I felt that I was actively creating nature.”

Maura has recently started to experiment with the application of various techniques to enhance her paintings: “In the recent past, I’ve spent time experimenting and I hope this will enhance the visual impact of my work in order to express a sense of mystery,” the painter explained. “The use of the dandelion has always featured in my paintings as a final layer, but occasionally I have dedicated paintings to the theme of dandelions”, she added.

“A mystery makes the viewer more curious and invites them to look deeper into the painting,” Maura stated. “Colour has always been a major part of my work. In this series, I plan to develop my use of colour further to give more vibrancy to my pieces. This will, in turn, give more energy and movement to the work and hopefully provoke an emotional response from the viewer,” she concluded.

The exhibition will be officially launched at 6:30pm on Friday, April 17 at Áras an Chontae, Tullamore, by renowned author Geraldine O’Neill. All are welcome to attend.

For more information on Maura Fahy visit www.papillonartstudio.com.

Collection Of Choirs Unite For 'Special' Tullamore Concert

By Justin Kelly

A unique collaboration of young choirs will gather for one special concert at The Church of the Assumption in Tullamore on Sunday, April 26 at 7:30pm. The event, organised by the Association of Irish Choirs in conjunction with Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath, will welcome renowned conductor Greg Beardsell and his Irish Youth Chamber Choir, as well as a number of local school choirs. It will be one of just three performances of its kind taking place nationwide.

Beardsell has worked extensively in Ireland and the UK with the BBC Symphony Chorus, the London Bach Choir and the National Youth Orchestras of Ireland and Ulster. The young choral participants from Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath will get the opportunity to learn from the acclaimed conductor at a series of workshops due to take place prior to the event.

Three Offaly schools will be among the participating choirs on April 26, and they are Rath NS from Birr, Ard Scoil Chiarain, Clara, and Scoil Naomh Cormac of Kilcormac. They will be joined by other school choirs on the night from Athlone and Moate.

Joining these secondary schools and the Irish Youth Chamber Choir in their performance will be the award winning Tullamore Academy Chamber Choir led by Ciaran Brady. “This will be a special opportunity to hear some amazing and inspiring young voices raise the roof in the Midlands,” a statement from the Offaly Arts Office at Offaly County Council read. “It is a concert not to be missed,” it claimed.

Tickets for this unique concert are priced at just €10/€7 and can be ordered on www.uch.ie or 061-331549. They will also be available to purchase at the door on the night. For more information, visit www.aoic.ie