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| Southwest Ireland County Kerry |
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| Cill Rialaig Cottages |
Yes, I’m back from Cill Rialaig, pronounced “Kill Reeleeg” in case any one is wondering, after three invigorating weeks at the famous artist’s residency in County Kerry in Southwest Ireland. The original village pre-dates the potato famine of the late 1840’s in Ireland. Noelle Campbell Sharpe, a Dublin publisher is responsible for building the thriving artist’s retreat that exists today, on the foundations of this settlement. Eight cottages have been restored to date and each house has been faithfully resurrected according to the original method of dry building with stone, without mortar. The only exterior change is the addition of a sky lit studio in the main room of each dwelling. It was a priceless experience for me to live and work at Cill Rialaig.
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| Cottage interior |
I fell in love with the place, and within the confines of this monastic setting and slower pace, I had a chance to get reacquainted with my work. I relished the opportunity to explore some new ideas, at ease in my simple surroundings that were uncomplicated by the stress and responsibility of every day life.
For me Cill Rialaig was about the people. I met some amazing, artists and poets who enriched my experience with their presence, and with their generosity of knowledge and experience. Thanks to Angie Grimes, painter (Dublin) and Daphne poet/painter (Israel) for sharing evening meals with me where Daphne’s cooking skills clearly outshone everyone elses and Angie introduced us to the slow and lovely burn of Bushmills Irish Whiskey. Ok so we didn’t just work!
The images I’ve posted show Cill Rialaig from a distance, where the village can be seen perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Another image shows two of the artists that took me in when I arrived; Angie Grimes and Daphne. We became close friends and learned a lot from each other either directly or indirectly through a subtler form spiritual osmosis.
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| Angie (left) and Daphne ( right) my two new friends ( Mori in centre) |
The fellow gazing longingly at the water is Barrie Cooke who came to Cill Rialaig to do some work, and then to get down to the main event …..GO FISHING GOD DAMMIT! Unfortunately, the weather didn’t co operate with the great artist, so he got up early one soggy morning, and left in a huff. I’m ashamed to say it took me longer than it should have to absorb the fact that Barrie is one of Ireland’s most famous artists and his retrospective is currently showing at the IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art) in Dublin.
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| Artist Barrie Cooke |
The images below are two of the works I completed at Cill Rialaig. They represent a theme I will continue to explore here in my “home and native land”. The theme is currency and the image is an artist interpretation of a 5 and 10 Euro note, a new direction?, we'll see. I enjoy telling people that I’m making money.
Glad to be back in Canada and at the gallery and with my partners.
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| Mori McCrae's 10 Euro note |
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| 5 Euro note |
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