GOREY ARTISTS GAIN PROMINENT NEW FANS
PRESIDENT AND US AMBASSADOR GIVEN WORKS BY LOCAL ARTISTS
WORKS by two Gorey artists were presented as gifts to distinguished guests at the recent BT Young Scientist and Technology exhibition in the RDS.
A piece by Katie Maeve Williamson was presented to President Michael D Higgins, while a watercolour by Kate Cos was presented to the US Ambassador Kevin O’Malley.
The pieces were sourced through The Gaslamp Gallery in Gorey. Proprietor Claire O’Connell explained that the head of BTYSTE, Mari Cahalane, is from Gorey, and organises this mammoth event each year.
‘Mari is a customer of the Gaslamp Gallery and approached us for a piece to be presented to President Michael D Higgins at the opening ceremony,’ said Claire. ‘Gorey artist Katie Maeve Williamson was commissioned to produce a work entitled “What BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition means to me”.’
‘ The illustration perfectly portrayed what BTYSTE means to the thousands of students who take part in the exhibition,’ she continued. ‘Our President seemed rather delighted with his presentation.’ It was presented to President Higgins by Shay Walsh - managing director of BT in Ireland.
Then, at a gala dinner in the RDS at the end of the event, a watercolour of Glendalough by Gorey artist Kate Kos was presented to the outgoing US Ambassador Kevin F. O’Malley.
‘ The painting was given in recognition of Ambassador O’Malley’s contribution to Ireland in his tenure as Ambassador,’ said Claire. ‘I am immensely proud to represent both these artists and it is certainly a very positive start to 2017 for both Katie Maeve and Kate and for ourselves.’