Artists say good luck and thanks to Eibhlín

MEMBERS of West Kerry’s Arts community gathered on Friday night in An Lab to thank Eibhlín de Paor for her contribution to the development of the arts in the area.

At the event organised by An Lab and supported by Féile na Bealtaine warm praise and gratitude was heaped on Eibhlín who worked for 19 years as Ealaín na Gaeltachta Arts Facilitator for Munster. One by one, festival organisers and artists reiterated how important Eibhlín’s input had been in the development of their work. From the IMMA exhibitions organised by Lisbeth Mulcahy, to the writers in residence in An Diseart, from Féile na Bealtaine to an Fhéile Bheag Filíóchta, people were clear that Eibhlín had been a lynchpin in the development of the arts in West Kerry.

When Eibhlín started her job as arts facilitator the artistic landscape was very different to the rich canvas we see now. “Before Ealaín na Gaeltachta was formed there was very little infrastructure in West Kerry, there were a number of established artists living and working here , a strong literary and musical tradition, but no infrastructure. The development in the visual Arts followed later,” said Eibhlín.

“The only Arts organisation that was operating in a professional manner was Féile na Bealtaine, now there is An Lab, Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne, Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh, Féile Bheag Filíochta and Féile na Bealtaine goes from strength to strength”. she added

Initially working with no budget, Eibhlín met with artists and “through the years we tried to fill the gaps to establish a structure for arts development in West Kerry”.

“West Kerry has always been a hotbed of culture, a very special place with a very special cultural identity. This hasn’t changed but the creative energy has received recognition from the State and it has been recognised on the national stage through the work of the artists and the festivals and organisations that promote the arts”.

Asked if it is hard for an artist to make a living nowadays she replied: “It is absolutely as hard for an artist to make a living as it was 20 years ago”, “The arts are part of the fabric of the area, with any event that takes place people expect to have some showing of culture, but it is probably the last thing they think needs to be paid for.”

Eibhlín, who now take up a position as Oifigeach Oilíuna agus Oideachas for Údarás na Gaeltachta, was presented by Aine Moynihan with a painting by Kate Buckley. Rachel Holstead from Ceann Trá takes up the position as Arts facilitator for Gaeltacht na Mumhan.

Members of the arts community in West Kerry gather to make a presentation Eibhlín de Paor who recently transferred from her job as Ealaíonn na Gaeltachta Arts Facilitator for Munster to a new role in education and training with Údarás na Gaeltachta.