“During the ‘Athy, Spirit of Kildare Festival 2025’ artists Anthony Haughey and Cathy Callan will host a legacy exhibition by local communities and a series of talks to celebrate Brigid’s weekend on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of February 2025, at Anthony’s new Athy Art House on Leinster Street, Athy. Carmel Day, singer performer and youth arts mentor will launch the exhibition. Drawing on her own familial history, Cathaoirleach Aoife Breslin will speak on the inspirational women in her life. Dr. Sharon Greene will talk about the renowned local portrait artist Kathleen Shackleton and artist Josephine Hardiman will show us images and tell us about creating the Book of Kildare.

Looking at “iconic” imagery, including the St. Brigid’s cross, our “Beauty of Brigid” exhibition will display earlier creative community collage and painting projects by Kildare Traveller Action Women’s Group, and Athy Men and Women’s Sheds in collaboration with local artist Cathy Callan. Championing themes of Brigid and the significant women in our lives, Anthony has dedicated his time and expertise to creating a print on demand artbook featuring artwork from the exhibition which will be displayed publicly at the gallery. Supporting Climate Change, many of the artworks highlight biodiversity and also the reuse and recycling of materials through the medium of collage. Focusing on our natural world we hope to inspire visitors to the exhibition, workshops and talks to reflect on their own responsibility to care for the environment through everyday conversation and themes of reduce, reuse and recycle.

There will be two creative workshops with artist Cathy Callan  where participants will be encouraged to explore their own creativity and complete a large original painting of Brigid, inspired by an old and original stained glass window after the William Earley stained glass studios.

Kildare Traveller Action Group. Athy Community Women & Men’s Sheds, Artists Anthony Haughey and Cathy Callan

Venue :  Art House Athy 42a Leinster Street 

Exhibition Dates 30/1/25 – 20/2/25

Festival dates  1st,2nd & 3rd February 2025