The East Galway Art Trail

The East Galway Art Trail is in its third year and this year will see it host artists Emily Rainsford-Ryan, Fiona Moore, Tommy Campbell, Christine Courtney and Ciarán Coghlan. The East Galway Art Trail is an innovative idea, concerned with both art and library awareness. In this European Year of Combating Social Exclusion, its objective is to bring art and the artist into the wider communities by using the facilities available in rural libraries as focal points and points of interaction. These artists are working and living within local communities. Hence, by bringing both the artist and the libraries together, smaller communities can benefit from and be exposed to the enjoyment of art and engage with their library’s facilities, at the same time. The Art Trail aims to expose the wider community to art, in its various forms. That is the intention that the staff at Europe Direct Ballinasloe / Ballinasloe Library and Galway County Library staff, who are based in the East Galway area and Joyce Little, a local Ballinasloe artist had when they worked together to bring this project to fruition.
Emily Rainsford-Ryan: Educated in Crawford College of Art and GMIT. Her art concerns itself with the impact of her immediate surroundings. Her work has a playful engagement with colour and tone she specialises in paint and mixed medium. Her solo exhibition is in Ballinasloe library 24th march 7.30 p.m. and will run for two weeks. Ballinasloe Librarian: Mary Dillon, Colette Hanrahan and Brid Grehan.
Fiona Moore: Educated in GMIT. She works mainly in the medium of paint. Her work deals with the Irish landscape and environment. Fiona’s solo exhibition is in Portumna library 31st March at 7.30 p.m. and will run for two weeks. Portumna Librarian: Mrs. Teresa Tierney, Mrs. Louise Harte.
Tommy Campbell has been working in the medium of bog oak for many years. His work is hand crafted with traditional tools and most of the oak is sourced from local bogs. His solo exhibition is in Killimor library, 7th April 7.30 p.m. and will run for two weeks. Killimor Librarian: Mrs. Marie Mullins.
Christine Courtney Her hand made stoneware is recognised in Ireland and internationally. She is inspired by forests and seashores around the west of Ireland. Her solo exhibition is in Woodford library 14th April 7.30 p.m. and will run for two weeks. Woodford Librarian: Mrs. Eleanor Farrell.
Ciaran Coghlan Educated in GMIT, is a visual artist based in Ballinasloe, working in the medium of paint. His aim is to explore the notion of abandoned and derelict places. His solo exhibition is in Eyrecourt library 21st April 7.30 p.m. and will run for two weeks. Eyrecourt Librarian: Mrs. Laura Flynn.

The Europe Direct Centre / Ballinasloe Library provides free information on all aspects of the European Union. This project has received European Union funding