| Address: | Parliament Street, Ennistymon, County Clare |
| Website address: | http://ennistymoncourthousegallery.blogspot.com/ |
| Details: | Ennistymon
Courthouse Studios and Gallery, Parliament Street, Ennistymon, was officially
opened by Sile de Valera, T.D. on Friday 30th March 2007. Five artists studios,
a sound recording studio and an art gallery are based in the newly renovated
building. Development of the facility has been a labour of love for the
Old Ennistymon Society, a totally voluntary organisation, which has been
working since 1992 to ensure that the old Courthouse building in Ennistymon
would be preserved and developed as a true community resource. The society
decided to develop the building as an arts facility, and in 1997 offered
the building to a group of artists in the locality on a five-year lease
at a peppercorn rent. This group subsequently formed itself as the North
Clare Artists Group and sought and received funding from the Arts Council
under the Studios Conversion Scheme to create studio spaces for 5 artists
in the building. As this leasehold period was drawing to a close, the Old
Ennistymon Society sought access funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage,
Gaeltacht and the Islands to further develop the building, backed by Clare
County Council. In August of 2001, the society appointed John O’Reilly
as its architect for the renewal project, and the fine building to be seen
today is a testament to his skills and vision, and to the tenacity and vision
of the founding members of the Old Ennistymon Society, who have laboured
for many years to bring this project to its present stage. Today the Courthouse
is a hive of activity, with a purpose built Art Gallery, artists studious
and recording studio creating an exciting mix of local and national arts
projects in a diverse multi-disciplinary programme. The Old Ennistymon Society committee members: Alex Browne (RIP), Willie Callinan (RIP), Michael Comber, Kathryn Comber, Anthony Edwards, John Garrahy, Lorcan O’Connor (RIP), Frances Madigan, Maureen Rynne (RIP), Vincent Wall. |
| Information Registered: | 21st May 2009 |