DON'T BE LATE . . . Although the Cork Opera House is having a very quiet summer in theatrical terms, there is drama enough in its halls with the exhibition Better Late Than Never, which shows the work of three slow-blooming practitioners of the visual arts: Paddy Campbell, Matt Lamb and Bill Griffin.
At the same time Matt Lamb's work on biblical themes - jointly endorsed by both the Catholic and Church of Ireland bishops - is being shown at the North Cathedral during July and moves to St Fin Barre's Cathedral for August.
CORK'S NEW CITIZENS . . . People have migrated since the beginning of time. Working with the Cork 2005 Credit Union Residencies programme, poet Rosemary Canavan has produced a small anthology of poems, reminiscences and stories from a group of contemporary migrants in Cork under the questioning title A Safe Harbour? From Iran and Ghana, from Detroit and Newfoundland, from Italy, Nigeria and Addis Ababa, the voices speak of their old country and its customs as well as of their fortunes in a strange land. In language both simple and poignant their anger and confusion are condensed to sadness. Dedicated to those who have had to leave Ireland through deportation or otherwise against their will, the collection was launched last Wednesday at the Triskel Arts Centre and was also assisted by the Arts Council and by Cork city and county councils. It is available for €10 from Triskel and from NASC.
BORDERING ON INVISIBLE . . . The three-week run of Boundaries - Europe Between the Lines has just ended, but it is hoped that some plans will be made for the return of this interesting photographic display. A visual documentary by Dara McGrath, it consisted of 10 separate pictures presented as small eye-level posters. Three years in the making and depicting borders and checkpoints throughout Europe, these were intended to catch the eye, and the attention, of passers-by. The decision to place them at mostly suburban traffic junctions defeated their purpose, although of course such locations might be called borderlands and checkpoints of another kind.
