It is referred to by many as "Lady Gregory's house", but in fact the building which now houses the Galway Arts Centre was never hers. It belonged to a relation of hers, alright, Lady Arabella ("like something you'd call a dog," comments Paul Fahy of the arts centre), and she did spend summers there. Two of her grandnieces visited recently, and shared their memories of seeing her in the house. The Percy family, who owned the house, were famous whiskey makers in Galway.
The house, one of Galway's small Georgian stock, fell on hard times, however, and it has taken ERDF and Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands funds, with a lot of will-power on the part of the Galway Arts Centre, to refurbish it. Fireplaces and ceilings have been restored and floorboards have been replaced. A 1930s extension was demolished and a new extension has been built, given the centre two new gallery spaces, and three times its former workshop space.
Three exhibitions will be opened by Michael D. Higgins tomorrow. The Charles Lamb exhibition features some work never seen before, six of the artist's sketchbooks and an informative video. Mike Fitzpatick, who has just returned to live in Ireland after five years in the US, shows work under the title Selling America, while Sidney Nolan's 1989 Wild Geese series is on tour from IMMA.
The centre runs the Nun's Island Theatre venue, where Michelle Read's Fringe First-winning Romantic Friction will play on Friday and Saturday at 8.30 p.m. An enormous programme of classes and workshops is available at the centre this autumn, including life-drawing, printmaking, animation, mask-making, object drawing, drawing and painting, acting, creative writing, singing (including Gregorian chant), mosaics, fibre art, batik, painting on silk and performance art. There is also a strong programme of workshops for young people and children.
Bookings and information on 091-565886
