My Place
I will not tell you where it is.
I may show you, if I feel a tug,
a connection, if I can tell
you are one of us
who find it ours.
You will not find it otherwise.
Words: Elaine McKeough. Image: JesseJames
My Place
I will not tell you where it is.
I may show you, if I feel a tug,
a connection, if I can tell
you are one of us
who find it ours.
You will not find it otherwise.
Words: Elaine McKeough. Image: JesseJames
A man I know once met a man from Baile an Chaisleán in Tigh Ned’s, who told him that whenever he looked out of his kitchen window of an evening after being in the pub he would see a herd of elephants charging at him down the raveen. The man I know saw it with his own eyes.
Image: JesseJames. Words: JesseJames.
Exploring Inis Oírr
Stonewall Building, Carving, Letter Carving Workshops and On Location Sketch Outs
Thursday 15th to Monday 19th September 2022
Inis Oírr, Aran Islands, County Galway
Schedule D – On Location Sketch Outs Exploring Inis Oírr
D – Time Schedule – Sketch Outs
Thursday
If you are arriving early, there will be an extra sketch out at Cnoc Raithníthe bronze age monument in down town Inis Oirr on Thursday afternoon from 3pm – 5pm. Meet at the monument which is along the main road between the harbour and the sports field
5pm – 7.00pm Welcome to the island and discussion of workshops, sketch outs and other activities over the weekend. Talks relating to stonewalling, carving, letter carving and sketching. The event will take place in An Halla which is located in the school behind the sports field.
After the talks, people tend to head for Tigh Ruairi’s hotel for dinner and then down to Tighe Ned’s near the harbour for chats round the cosy pub fire.
Friday
Meet at 9.00am at An Halla to get the mini bus to the location for the morning, the Lighthouse. An Halla is located in the school behind the sports ground.
The day will start with a sketching workshop with tips and inspiration from an experienced sketcher. This will take place at the lighthouse.
At 1.15pm there will be a mini bus pick up from the Lighthouse to the location for the afternoon, the Plassy shipwreck.
A picnic lunch will be delivered to one of the locations.
At 4.15pm there will be a mini bus pick up from the shipwreck back to An Halla.
5-7pm talks on stonewalling, carving, letter carving and sketching that will take place in An Halla.
After the talks, people tend to head for Tigh Ruairi’s hotel for dinner and then down to Tighe Ned’s near the harbour for chats round the cosy pub fire.
Saturday
9am – meet at An Halla at 9am to walk up to O’Brien’s Castle together.
At 10am there will be a sketching workshop with tips and inspiration from an experienced sketcher. This will take place at O’Brien’s Castle.
The sketch out at O’Brien’s castle will run until about 1pm.
Lunch is arranged – please ask for details on the day. It will either be a picnic or in a pub.
From 2pm – 4pm, join a sketch out to capture the creation of a dry stone wall. Capture the camaraderie of the stone masons while they build a wall in this stunning location. Exact location details will be provided on the day.
5 – 7pm talks talks on stonewalling, carving, letter carving and sketching that will take place in An Halla.
After the talks, people tend to head for Tigh Ruairi’s hotel for dinner and then down to Tighe Ned’s near the harbour for chats round the cosy pub fire.
Sunday
On Sunday between 10am and 1pm we will sketch at Teampall Caomhán, a church which is nestled in sand dunes near the beach. We will meet at the church (by Sunday, you’ll know your way around the island!)
At 10am there will be a sketching workshop with tips and inspiration from an experienced sketcher. This will take place at Teampall Caomhán.
Lunch is arranged – please ask for details on the day. It will either be a picnic or in a pub.
What to bring
Definitely sketchbooks, drawing pencils, pens, pencil sharpener, eraser. Perhaps loose leaf pages, watercolours, paint brushes, easel, colour pencils, oil pastels, or which ever medium / mediums you like to draw with.
This is an outdoor event. Irish weather is famous for offering 4 seasons in one day. Make sure to bring warm clothes, sturdy shoes and good rain gear. Inis Oirr has a lovely beach, so pack your bathers if you want to take the plunge.
Registration Fee €75
This includes mini bus to some sketch out locations, picnic lunch on Friday / Saturday / Sunday, talks & lecutres, inspiring tips and advice from an experienced sketcher each day.
On Line Booking Form
https://feilenagcloch.clr.events
Booking Enquiries:
Ms. Marie Mannion,
Heritage Officer,
Forward Planning,
Áras an Chontae,
Galway County Council,
Prospect Hill, Galway
Tel: 00353 91 509198
E-mail: mmannion@galwaycoco.ie
Transport to Inis Oírr
Workshop participants must book their own travel to Inis Oírr.
There are ferry services operating from Rossaveel, Co Galway and Doolin in Co Clare.
Ferries
The following are their contact details:
Aran Island ferries, Rossaveel: Tel: +353(0)91 568903 www.aranislandferries.com
Doolin Ferry : Tel: +353(0) 65 707 5555 +353 (0) 65 707 1710 www.doolinferry.com
After Hours : Liam @ 087 958 1465 Email: info@doolinferry.com
Doolin 2 Aran Ferry: Tel: +353 65 7075949 www.doolin2aranferries.com
Mob: +353 87 2453239 Email: info@doolin2aranferries.ie
Air Travel
Flights are available to the Aer Aran Islands, from Inverin, Connemara, Co. Galway.
Aer Arann islands – Tel : +353(0)91 593034 http://www.aerarannislands.ie
Accommodation
Please note: It is recommended that you book your own accommodation and transport prior to booking this course.
If you want help organising accomodation on the island, please call 083 085 1695
Leaba & Bricfeasta in Inis Oírr/Bed & Breakfast in Inis Oírr
Caitríona Uí Chatháin Phone: +353 (0)99 75090 Fáilte Ireland Approved
Máire Ní Fhlatharta Phone: +353 (0)99 75083
South Aran House Phone: +353 (0)99 75073 Fáilte Ireland Approved
Ostán Inis Oírr Phone: +353 (0)99 75020 Fáilte Ireland Approved
Brú/Hostel Phone: +353 (0)99 75024 Fáilte Ireland Approved
Máire Searraigh Phone: +353 (0)99 75024
Máire Foley Phone: +353 (0)99 75037
Barbara Uí Chonghaile Phone: +353 (0)99 75025
Bríd Póil Phone: +353 (0)99 75019
Áine Uí Ghríofa Phone: +353 (0)99 75983
Bernie Uí Dhonncha Phone: +353 (0)99 75088
Pádraig Ó Donncha Phone: +353 (0)99 75000
Tigh Ruairí Ó Conghaile (Rory’s B&B): Phone: +353 (0)99 75002 www.tighruairi.com
Bríd Brennan Phone: +353 (0)99 75125
For a full listing of self catering can be found on the following link:
http://discoverinisoirr.com/accommodation/selfcatering/
Evening Meals
Evening Meals can be booked at the following:
Tigh Ruairí: Phone: +353 (0) 99 75002 www.tighruairi.com
South Aran House (bookings only) Phone: +353 (0) 99 75073 www.southaran.com
Ostán Inis Oírr: Phone: +353 (0)99 75020 www.hotelinisoirr.com
Information of Inis Oírr and its services
Contact: Comhar Caomhán Teo, Inis Oírr, Árainn, Co. na Gaillimhe.
Phone: Phone: +353 (0)99 75008; Fax: Phone: +353 (0)99 75071
A woman I know told me a man from Galway she knows told her that the cargo of the Plassey, which was shipwrecked on Inis Oírr in the 1960’s, included ceramic toilet bowls. Many of these were spirited away when the Plassey was grounded on Trá Caorach. A woman I know told me a man from Galway she knows told her that some of the ceramic toilet bowls were used in the dwellings on the island, while others were sold in Galway. We imagine Duchampian porcelain installation pieces might still be found unclaimed in the caves and crevices of the limestone.
The rhythm is jumpin, jump session.
Image: JesseJames. Words: Slim Slam.
JesseJames in conversation with Art Historian Aodhán Rilke. Transcript of the Q&A to follow.
I live in an average Irish townland. It just happens to be in the middle of Galway Bay.
Image: Man of Aran 2017. Words: Man of Aran 2017.
Two of them were left out all winter, but the other two seem to be sound.
Words: Overheard on An Trá. Image: Cormac Coyne
Thank you to everyone who took part in the 2021 #DRAWstonewalls international sketch event celebrating dry stone walls. Here are the winners for the #DRAWstonewalls 2021 competition.
These six pieces were created:sketched:stitched:painted by Sinead Lawson @airyfairyletters and were inspired by the Dry Stone Walls of the Dingle Peninsula in the County Kerry. Sinead is the overall winner of the DRAWstonewalls competition and wins an event-only ticket to Féile na gCloch 2022 that will take place on Inis Oírr in the autumn of that year.
The award for best pencil sketch goes to Guadalupe for this fine piece of detail
Vourneen Taylor wins the category for best study of a specific wall with this water colour
John Digney receives a commendation for his triptych bringing awareness to the beauty and significance of dry stone walls.
Peter Black’s evocation of the shipwreck on Inis Oírr wins the prize for capturing the life and culture of the smallest of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay.
The artist JesseJames used to cycle out into the villages of Inis Oírr to practise art.