Community in Offaly area takes part in ambitious project

THE ‘Painting a Village Project’ began with the idea of spreading information on the heritage and landscape of the village of Ballyboy and to facilitate interaction between members of the community, both young and old in an active and enjoyable way.
It also provided a way of encouraging those who have never previously been involved in the arts to begin their art practice.
Ballyboy is a small village situated 2 kilometres off the main Tullamore Birr Road. It lies on the Silver River and is steeped in heritage and history. Its best-known landmark is the thatched pub called Dan and Molly’s where the community has gathered for decades, its Comhaltas groups and the Ballyboy Fire in 1967 when the local hall was burnt.
Together with Offaly County Council, Creative Ireland and the Ballyboy Development Company it was decided to hold intergenerational art classes in the school and to have a Plein Air Day in the village. With the help of Karen Gray, Offaly Co. Council, Rosemarie Langtry, White Feather Studio and Esther Lambe, local artist from Blueball the project was held from August 6th to August 10th and was a fantastic success.
Twenty-six participants, aged from seven years to seventy plus, co-operated in developing their artistic abilities through Nature Art and Painting, where classes were led by the tutors in Scoil Bhríde. Materials were supplied and on Saturday 10th August a Plein Air painting day was held in the village. T
he participants and friends dispersed throughout the village and had the wonderful experience of creating art all over the village. Assisting the group were visiting artists, Joan Kavanagh, Dublin Painting and Sketching Club, Regina Bradley, Artist, Mucklagh, Antonette Pretorius, Artist, Clonmacnoise as well as some other volunteers who helped all week.
Welcome refreshments were enjoyed in Dan and Molly’s and an exhibition was held in the school. Paintings of the churchyard, the river, Dan and Molly’s pub were among some of the many excellent artworks to be viewed. A communal artwork, where each person contributed a small piece of nature, from the village, which they collected and arranged was also on display.
However, according to Esther Lambe, one of the tutors, the enjoyment, and genuine satisfaction felt by those taking part was the highlight of the week. “Can we do it again? Where can I join a class? I will never look at buildings etc. the same way again, I will look with an Artist’s eye. I learned so much in a short time that I’m now hooked”, were a selection of the comments made by those who completed the week. “This resonated so much with me”, said Esther Lambe, “because I came to painting relatively late in life”.
Esther, who is inspired to paint many local scenes has a particular interest in portraiture. Some of her paintings can be viewed in Ard Aoibhinn, Mount Bolus at the moat present. She is also passionate about introducing older people and those who are housebound, to an arts practice that can bring many hours of satisfaction, without costing too much. ‘Painting a Village’, thanks to Offaly Co. Council, Creative Ireland and Ballyboy Development Company, has been a complete success and it is hoped to continue similar projects in the future.