Kaleidos- Emer Whelan art launches new collectionTransforming wooden canvases into dynamic works of art
Emer Whelan, the creative force behind Emer Whelan Art is launching her summer collection ‘Kaleidos’ which marries a lakeside tranquillity with urban vibrancy. At the heart of Emer’s artistic expression lies her innovative use of lasers, transforming wooden canvases into dynamic works of art. The collection of 15 pieces will be launched at The West End Art Collective in Galways westend on 13th July at 6pm.
Originally from Cahir Pier on Lough Mask but now calling Galway City home, Emer infuses her surroundings into her art, capturing the essence of the lake and the energy of the urban.
Each piece exudes energy and vitality, reflecting Emer’s vision and passion for exploring the boundaries of traditional mediums. With Emer Whelan designs, you embark on a journey where colours dance on wood, breathing life into spaces and lighting the imagination. From her studio in Galway, Emer continues to push the boundaries inviting us to experience the beauty and vibrancy of her creations.
Embracing sustainability and culinary innovation, Dela launches their take on Summer
Dela, the award-winning restaurant located in the heart of Galway’s Westend on Dominick Street, has announced the appointment of Shannon Di Cola Schiano as their new Head Chef.
Shannon brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to Dela, with a culinary style that masterfully blends Modern Irish, Nordic, and Asian influences. Describing herself as a “Classically Trained Modernist,” Shannon has honed her skills in both Ireland and Australia, with notable tenures at Turtle and Hare Dining, Currevagh House, and Craobh. Her innovative approach and passion for sustainable practices align perfectly with Dela’s commitment to zero-waste and farm-to-table dining.
“We have been admirers of Shannon’s work for quite some time, and we are excited to finally collaborate with her,” said the team at Dela. “Her ‘root to fruit’ philosophy and dedication to sustainability resonate deeply with our own values, and we are eager to see the impact she will make on our evening menu.”
Dela regulars will have already noticed that there are new specials that have become firm favourites already at brunch. Now, her attention turns to Dela’s evening menu, promising an elevated dining experience that champions locally sourced produce from their own farm.
The evening Dela starter highlights include a Mushroom & Nori Doughnut, Radish Kkakduga Pickles Roast Garlic, Barr Rua, or there is seared Asparagus, Smoked White Bean Puree, Pistachio & Leek Oil, Flatbread and for those who love to embrace the sea, the House Cured Sea Trout Tartare Confit Yolk, Local Seaweed and Crackling. Then it’s onto Pork Belly Wellington, Spring Onion Mash, Greens, Cider & Mustard Cream or an Aubergine Schnitzel, House Kraut, Chard, Greens, Rosti, Mushroom Jus and or course there is the classic fish of the day, flank steaks or this Clam & Prawn Linguine Sea Vegetables with Local Seaweed.
To finish you will be torn between a Farm Matcha Pannacotta & Sponge, Clooniffe Blackcurrants, Puffed Grains or the Strawberry & Rhubarb Whipped Mascarpone, Strawberry & Rhubarb Cheong, Elderflower and then there is the Celeriac & White Chocolate Cremeaux, Blackberry Chocolate. All of this is caveated with the fact that all sides and veg supporting these dishes are season and energy levels permitting the vast majority of veg and salads used on this menu are grown on their Farm and Coffee Roastery just out the road in Clooniffe, Moycullen (Just 8km from Galway city)
Shannon’s ethos is to “champion all that nature supplies and to ensure that it has been used sustainably and to its full capacity.” Her focus on fermentation and preserving, along with our investment in commercial composting equipment, will help us take significant strides towards our goal of eliminating kitchen food waste and completing the farm-restaurant-farm cycle.
“Her expertise in sustainable cooking and zero-waste practices will undoubtedly enhance our offerings and solidify Dela’s position as a pioneer in Galway’s dining scene.”
Get to Dela to experience their new summer menu and taste firsthand the dishes they have been sharing through their social channels.
Folk/Americana trio,The Raines will play an intimate lunchtime show in the pocket-sized venue on the top floor of The Kings Head on Saturday June 29th.
The Raines use their collective experience and influences to create a unique and pure sound, writing strong and melodic songs, in which they weave in and out of vocal harmony and counter-melody, interlaced with tender and rhythmic strings.
The Kings Head hosts free live music sessions everyday at 5pm. These summer drop in sessions celebrate the best of Irish Trad music, rock and a little bit of everything in between.
The gig starts at 1pm. Tickets, €15 are limited and are available from www.theraines.ie.
Creation of 20 jobs through national strategic growth planning
OMC Group, a leading multidisciplinary consulting engineering company, has completed the successful acquisition of prominent consulting engineers business, James Roche Consulting Engineers, a venerable institution in Galway since the late 1970s.
The acquisition of James Roche Consulting Engineers, represents a significant addition to OMC’s portfolio. With four talented professionals joining the OMC Group, this strategic integration leverages synergies to enhance service offerings and solidify OMC’s position as a leader in the consulting engineering sector.
Looking ahead, OMC remains dedicated to its growth trajectory, with plans to complete two additional acquisitions in 2024. Additionally, the company’s expansion efforts are expected to create 20 new jobs nationally.
Founded in 2012 as Enda O’Malley and Associates, the company rebranded to OMC in 2023, signifying its evolution and dedication to excellence and innovation in professional consulting engineers services. OMC completed its first acquisition in late 2022 with the incorporation of O’Halloran Engineering, a pivotal milestone that laid the groundwork for future growth initiatives.
With a in house team of 18 dedicated professionals, OMC’s core business encompasses a diverse range of residential and commercial projects, delivering services in planning consultancy, environmental consultancy, structural design, building surveying, land mapping, assigned certification, fire and disability consultancy, mechanical and electrical consultancy, energy consultancy, and health and safety consultancy.
“We are delighted to welcome James Roche BE and his staff to the OMC Group. James Roche Consulting Engineers has been a well-respected and long established consulting engineers practise within Galway since the late 1970s and his reputation and network will enhance OMC’s service offering throughout Galway, ” said Enda O’Malley, Founder and CEO of OMC.
“This acquisition exemplifies our strategic approach to expansion, focusing on leveraging synergies and fostering growth opportunities. We are committed to retaining talent, fostering innovation, and creating new employment opportunities as we continue to strengthen our presence as a leading multidisciplinary consulting engineers company in the West of Ireland.”
OMC have offices in Clifden, Galway City and Dublin and oversee projects throughout Ireland. For more information about OMC and its services, visit www.omcgroup.ie.
As The Tweed Project celebrates its 10th anniversary, the 2024 collection stands as a testament to a decade of commitment to simplicity and the artistry of natural fabrics. From the west of Ireland, the brand unveils a collection resonating with the ethos of gentleness and mindful consumption.
The Tweed Project presents ‘A Gentle Life,’ a collection that pays homage to the brand’s origins of simplicity and the thoughtful use of indigenous materials such as tweed, linen, and Aran knits. Showcasing a harmonious blend of tradition and contemporary design, the collection features blush pink linen from Emblem Weavers in Wexford and cream Tweed from Molly & Sons.
Each piece in the collection tells a story of craftsmanship and intentionality, reflecting the brand’s unwavering commitment to a slow and gentle approach to fashion. Drawing inspiration from the past while embracing the present, ‘A Gentle Life’ invites wearers to indulge in pieces that seamlessly blend individuality while echoing the spirit of times past.
Set against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean in Co. Clare, the collection not only captivates with its aesthetic but also seeks to forge a connection between today’s wearer and the bohemian souls who once inhabited the rugged landscapes of Clare a century ago. Through a tapestry of Donegal woven Prairie blankets, the collection channels the essence of a simpler time, where the pursuit of aestheticism and freedom reigned supreme.
This milestone collection is a testament to the enduring partnership between The Tweed Project’s founders, Triona Lillis and Aoibheann MacNamara. Reflecting on the journey, “Our principles remain unchanged; our love for what we do continues to drive us forward. We are grateful for every piece we have had the privilege to create—and every client we have.”
Celebrating a decade of creativity and collaboration, ‘A Gentle Life’ also marks a poignant collaboration with Rachel Poirer from Teac Damsa and Filmmaker Tadhg O’Sullivan, underscoring the brand’s commitment to simplicity in all its forms—emotionally, environmentally, and spiritually.
Prices for pieces start at €120. For more information and to explore the collection, visit www.thetweedproject.com.
A climate change, hopepunk comedy show, created by scientists, comedians and… you!
We Built This City on Rock and Coal brings scientists and theatre makers together for a co-created comedy show driven by hopepunk, climate research, music, and what matters most to the local community. It is a show that is fun for audiences, and good for the planet, based on the idea that every individual and their community can be part of a solution to climate change.
The show will preview with Arts in Action at University of Galway on 30 May at 1pm.
Research shows that caring for our local environment helps us care for the planet, so the events also include sustainability workshops and citizen science activities. Each live show holds space for audience members to speak up and/or be interviewed. These source materials are used by international improvisation experts to inspire scenes, songs and sketches that are unique to each show and community.
The venues range from arts centres to ringforts, and the project will also visit three islands off the coast of Ireland: Inishbofin, Arranmore, and Rathlin Island. By bringing shows to rural centres like Ionad Cois Locha, Interface Inagh, Wild Nephin National Park, and the Centre of Excellence for Climate Action and Sustainability in west Cork, the project aims to prompt discussion and change around environmental topics while finding local positive steps towards solving climate change.
We Built This City on Rock and Coal is co-created by Dr. Jessamyn Fairfield (award winning science communicator and performer) and Katy Schutte (global improvisation practitioner and author). They will partner with Dr. Gesche Kindermann, sustainability and conservation expert from the University of Galway, and storyteller Órla Mc Govern, among others. Audience stories about climate change and climate action will also be collected and shared online as part of the Caomhnú citizen science initiative.
Galway’s westend sought to improve accessibility to ensure inclusivity and equal access for everyone. With the support of grant funding from Galway City Council, the community embarked on a project aimed at enhancing accessibility through various initiatives, including the procurement of accessibility ramps, installation of a public defibrillator unit, provision of handrails for additional support, and the creation of inclusive signage. This case study delves into the success and impact of these endeavours.
Objective:
The primary objective of the project was to create a more accessible environment within Galway’s westend, thereby fostering inclusivity and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities or mobility challenges. The project aimed to achieve this by addressing key barriers to accessibility and promoting awareness of available amenities and facilities.
Initiatives implemented:
Procurement of accessibility ramps:
The grant money facilitated the purchase of additional accessibility ramps to be strategically placed in key locations throughout Galway’s westend. These ramps were designed to provide wheelchair users, individuals with mobility aids, and those with strollers or heavy luggage easier access to buildings and public spaces. By increasing the availability of ramps, the project aimed to remove physical barriers and promote independent mobility.
Installation of a public defibrillator unit:
Recognising the importance of emergency preparedness, a public defibrillator unit was installed in a central location on the canal.
Provision of handrails for additional support:
In collaboration with local businesses, handrails were installed to provide additional support for individuals with mobility impairments. These handrails were strategically positioned in areas where steps or uneven surfaces posed challenges to accessibility. By enhancing stability and support, these handrails promote confidence and independence among individuals with varying mobility needs.
Creation of inclusive signage:
To raise awareness and improve navigation for individuals seeking accessible facilities, inclusive signage was designed and implemented across the westend. These creatively crafted stickers designed by local artist Paul James Kearney , in harmony with the area’s aesthetic, indicate the presence of accessibility ramps within buildings. By incorporating visually appealing design elements, the signage not only serves a functional purpose but also adds a touch of creativity to the urban landscape.
Through strategic planning and collaboration, the grant-funded initiatives have significantly enhanced accessibility within Galway’s westend, making it a more inclusive and welcoming community for all. By addressing physical barriers, promoting awareness, and creatively integrating accessibility features, the project exemplifies the positive impact of community-driven initiatives supported by local authorities.
Galway’s westend serves as a model for other communities striving to create environments that are accessible, safe, and inclusive for everyone.
Appreciation of light and all its textures focus of photography showcase
This June, Ard Bia will host Aoibheann MacNamara’s second photographic exhibition titled Dunganese- which is a coastal desert region in the south of England. This exhibition has a fixation on features in the natural landscape that gives context of time and location.
As an artist of photography, she works in automatic and lets the light largely dictate the work. This is by design and by its nature largely more bleached out like the barren landscape depicted throughout the pieces.
Long since mentioned in murmurs of elusiveness, Dungenese has often been the preserve of artists and writers – most notably the great Derek Jarmon.
His tar-washed yellow windowed hut of iconic standing is the big draw but from there, a bigger aesthetic story evolves. Nuclear power stations, fish huts, lighthouses, colourful fishing debris, signal stations and much more presents a set design for escapist theatre in the shape of time spent there and of time removed.
This body of work, created over several early morning windswept walks while staying at the fog signal house in March 2024, pays homage to the beauty of a place that is like a moonscape with the most evocative structures within that scape.
“The muted colours of the images are untouched and left in their bleached-out state in a nod to analogue film we could not change once shot,” explained Aoibheann.
For more information call into Ard Bia on the Spanish Arch. The summer exhibition series will continue in July with painter Jose M. Yagüe Manzanares who through his painting of photography displays a love letter through his craft to Ireland.
