People flock to Birdhill outdoor art exhibition
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Beside her painting on exhibition at the Pollaghs is Didi Delaney, Nenagh.Image 2 of 5
Kate and Joe Stritch from Ballina beside their painting on exhibition at the Pollaghs.Image 3 of 5
Australian-born Chloe Ryan, Birdhill, with her painting at the exhibition.Image 4 of 5
One of the exhibitors of her work, Lucy Creagh, Birdhill, with her painting.Image 5 of 5
Myke O’Leary, Ballina, with her painting, ‘One with Nature’, which features in the exhibition along the walking trail.Hundreds of people have been flocking weekly to the Pollagh Walking Trail throughout July and August to admire and enjoy the third annual exhibition of art, which has been on display along the walk since the beginning of July.
The 80 paintings spaced along the popular Pollagh walking trail beside the village of Birdhill are competing in five categories catering for all ages from kids to adults, which has been adjudicated upon over recent weeks. There is a few more days remaining for members of the public to visit the location and admire the colourful artistic work of a range of artists from Tipperary, Limerick and Clare, before the completion for this year and the awarding of the prizes to the artists for their work.
The theme for this year's entrants was ‘At One with Nature - Stay Wild’, which was outlined to the entrants as “remembering to take the time to connect with nature, exploring your passions and creating artwork you love” and reminding them that “it is far too easy to get caught up in the chaos of life”.
The exhibition, which is organised and co-ordinated by Australian-born local artist Melissa Ryan, is understood to have attracted more interest than ever from the public this year and undoubtedly the quality of the work on display is reckoned to be the best ever.
Melissa explained: “We have categories for adults, both professional and amateur, school groups from St Mary's Secondary School, Newport; Newport College and St Anne's Secondary School, Killaloe, teens, under 12 years, and we will also have a people's choice award open to the public to vote for their favourite overall painting on Facebook and Instagram.”
Each of the paintings are on pine board, measuring 1.3m x 1.3m, which was provided by Birdhill Art Hub. They are all in acrylic water-based paints and sealed with a clear varnish to make them durable for the atrocious wet conditions that they have had to endure since the start of July.
The main sponsors for the exhibition are Creative Ireland, and Tipperary County Council, with additional support from Killaloe Hotel and Spa, Lakeside Hotel, Apple Green, Birdhill, Super Valu, Killaloe; the Old Barracks Coffee Roasters, Birdhill and Matt the Threshers Inn at Birdhill.
Those who have not had the opportunity to see the work should avail of the final days to undertake the pleasant stroll through tranquil countryside with so much to enjoy along the way.