Youghal Visual Arts Festival
Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)
Back Row Left To Right: Ann Marie Kenneally, Joan Pakeman, Colin Pakeman, James Deane, David Savage Mayor of Youghal, Lynda Ramsay, Karen Gallogley, Breeda Phillips.
Front Row Left to Right: Margaret Griffin, Sheila Loughnan, Ruth Flanagen, County Librarian, Bridge Flavin, Amanda Hogan, Visual Arts Youghal and Marion O’Halloran, Youghal Library.
At 4pm on a warm Friday in May a small but intimate group of family and friends gathered in the Youghal Town Library to witness the presentation of an oil painting by local artist the late Billy Flavin.
In the first year of the Youghal Visual Arts Festival the festival’s Central Gallery was opened for the week to the public in what is now the Youghal Town Library. The space lent itself well as a visual arts space and a huge array of local, national and international artists displayed work for the week. Among these exhibitors was a local artist by the name of Billy Flavin. Word had got to the festival committee that he had some paintings that would fit well in the exhibition and after further investigation this proved to be very true. Billy was invited to exhibit a selection of his work in the Central Gallery as part of the ‘Moments’ exhibition and in a local shop window as part of the ‘Walking Gallery’.
As part of the ‘not for profit’ ethos of the festival it was decided that a painting would be purchased by the festival committee to be donated to a local public space as thanks to the towns people for the support that they gave to the first Visual Arts Festival. An oil painting entitled ‘Winter’ by Billy Flavin was selected.
At this point in time the Youghal Library was in process of relocating to the site of the Central Gallery and it was decided that the presentation would be delayed until they were settled in to their new premises. This took a little longer than expected and the final opening date was nearly a year later on the 6th June 2007.
Presentation of the painting was delayed as sadly on the very the day of the opening of the new library Billy Flavin passed away. As tribute to such a talented local artist it is fitting that the painting is now exhibited in such an accessible space. “Billy was also a great lover of books,” said his wife, Bridget at the ceremony. “He would have been so happy to know that his painting was hung in the library where so many people can enjoy it.”
Ruth Flanagan, County Librarian, Bridget Flavin, Amanda Hogan, Visual Arts Youghal
Youghal Visual Arts Festival would like to thank the Cork County Librarian, Ruth Flanagan for her support and for allowing them to use the space for the first ever festival. They would also like to thank her for making the journey to Youghal amidst her busy schedule to receive the painting on behalf of the Youghal Town Library.
Youghal Visual Arts Festival would like to give a very special thanks to the family of the late Billy Flavin, our thoughts are with you at this time.
For further details phone 0874126213 or
email youghalvisualartsfestival {at} yahoo.co(.)uk
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