Local exhibitors on display in Doonbeg Lodge

WEST Clare-based artists and crafts people will display their wares at Sunday’s fair in the marquee at Doonbeg Golf Club.

 

Some of the exhibitors currently show their work at The Doonbeg Gallery in the village, where Alan Soutar specialises in photography and framing.

Originally from Antrim, Alan lives close to Doonbeg village with his wife Deirdre. The gallery is open primarily at weekends.

“I thought that it would be nice to have a place where local craftspeople could display their wares. By word of mouth, the ladies came on board with their material,” he said, with reference to the work of Ursula O’Mahoney Hehir, Gene Clohessy and Audrey McCormack-Koschlick, all of whom exhibit in the gallery.

“The idea was to try and run it on a co-operative basis. I’m semi-retired so I can give a lot of time to it. The idea is that people with material here donate some time to it over the weekends. It’s up and down. I’m glad I’m not trying to either pay the mortgage or put the kids through university with it. It’s very much a hobby and a past-time for me, which I enjoy doing,” Alan, who worked in the television production industry, added.

Amongst the exhibitors is Gene Clohessy from Limerick, who now lives in Doonbeg village. Gene makes cards with an individual hue.

“Making cards is something I was doing for a number of years when I lived in England. I stopped for a while but the creative side came back again and I started doing them. I rarely make two of the same cards. People like the fact that it’s a card that you are probably not going to throw out,” Gene explained. Each card takes about an hour to make.

Audrey McCormack-Koschlick from Limerick now lives in Knockalough and has lived in Clare for about a decade.

“I make wildflower cards. I pick them, press them and then I laminate them. I also put a little bit of poetry in there like Oscar Wilde. They’re all wild flowers. All of the flowers you see are the flowers on the road,” Audrey explained.

“I do some drawings and I dabble in a bit of painting as well,” she added.

Another exhibitor on Sunday will be Ursula O’Mahoney Hehir who makes jewellery as a hobby. The Doonbeg woman attended jewellery-making classes locally and in England. She started off making jewellery for family and friends and was encouraged to display her work at The Doonbeg Gallery.

“I only source beads and materials from quality suppliers. I have travelled to specialists in the UK, who also give training in jewellery making techniques,” she said.

“I also specialise in repairing custom jewellery and make bespoke designs for people,” Ursula added.
Sunday’s arts and crafts fair at The Lodge in Doonbeg will run from 11am to 5pm.