Midleton Gallery celebrates its 10^th anniversary with National exhibition

The Courtyard Craft & Exhibition Centre was established by Maighread Hyde in 2000 to provide a much needed platform in East Cork for art and craft. In the ten years since then, and now under the management of Anne Ahern and Sue van Coppenhagen, local artist, it has been facilitating and showcasing the very best in art, craft and design. It has hosted exhibitions ranging from debuts by emerging artists to group and solo shows by established artists, some of whom have travelled from as far as Italy, Serbia and Lithuania to exhibit here.

This year the gallery celebrates its milestone tenth anniversary by hosting the travelling exhibition of winning entries in the RDS National Crafts Competition. This important competition, organized in association with the Crafts Council of Ireland, has been held annually since 1968, is adjudicated by an international panel of judges, and showcases the best of Irish craftsmanship from both amateur and professional designers. Some of Ireland’s most noted craft makers have been past winners; this year the exhibition is a homecoming for Cork artists, with prize winning entries from Nuala O’Donovan from Cork City (Ceramics), Catherine Clancy from Carrigaline (Lace), Anne Kiely from Ovens (Printed textiles), Christine Byrne from Carrigrohane (Stonecarving) and Mary Palmer (Patchworking and Quilting). Mary, from Innishannon, also wins the overall RDS Award of Excellence.

Speaking before the show, gallery director Anne Ahern said, “We are delighted not only to have such a prestigious show here in the Gallery, but also proud that the show features so many Cork artists. We have been working closely with the RDS for several months to bring this exhibition to the area, so that the public here in Midleton and in the wider Cork area get to see the very best of craft and design.” She went on to say, “It is important in these difficult times that we in the art and craft sector work together to showcase and promote our artists and designers, whose work provides much needed positive inspiration not only to other artists but to the general public”.

The exhibition opens at 7 p.m. on 22^nd October, and will be attended by Midleton’s mayor, the Town Clerk, and members of the Chamber of Commerce, East Cork Tourism and SECAD, and will run until Tues 9^th November. The gallery is open Monday to Saturday 10 to 1.30 and 2 to 5.30.  Admission is free, and the gallery is wheelchair accessible.

The Courtyard Gallery

8 Main Street, Midleton. GPS: N51° 58.586’  W007° 50.196’

Tel (021) 463 4644   Email thecourtyardgallery@eircom.net  Web:  www.thecourtyardmidleton.ie