The Jack O’ Patsy Pottery is currently hosting the FETAC level 5 class of 2008 -2010 end of course art exhibition. The launch night was well attended with a large crowd of art lovers, friends, and invited guests all there to see the launch of the exhibition.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com | Email: news@youghalonline.com

Shane Supple one of the students and acting MC on the night, opened proceedings by thanking everyone for attending, he welcomed the newly elected Mayor of Youghal, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley, Deputy Mayor Eoin Coyne, John O Connor and Patricia Walters from Cork County VEC,  the students and course coordinator for Youghal Patricia Burns.

He then invited local artist Marcella Riordan to officially launch the exhibition. Marcella spoke about the course and the work the students had done. She congratulated Patricia Burns and the tutors for keeping this course going and the importance of the course to the town and people. She went on to say how she was struck with the different contrast of all the pieces on display, the textures colours and mediums showing the different aspects of Youghal and the surrounding areas. She advised the students to keep bouncing around new ideas, enter headlong into new experiences wished all the students the best of good fortune in everything they would do. She then officially opened the exhibition. A bouquet of flowers from Absolute Flowers was presented to Marcella by another student Amanda Hogan in thanks for launching the exhibition.

In Closing Shane mentioned how some of the students have already applied to third level courses in colleges in our area, others have found a new way to spend their leisure time. He spoke of the fantastic work and help the teaching staff provided throughout the two years and gave a special mention and thanks to the course coordinator Patricia Burns who was presented with a token of thanks on behalf of the students from Mary Walsh. He then listed the former students, now artists who had works hanging on the walls, Gretta Kellerher, Mary Walsh, Shivaun Phillips, Amanda Hogan, Liz Stack, Ber Motherway, Gwyllim Dewick, Martina Cassidy, Deirdre Ni She, Breda Power, Julia Gracey Cox, Paul Barenskie, Shane Supple and Marina O Loughlin.

A special thanks and recognition goes to the following people and business for their support on helping launch and hold the exhibition. Jack O’ Patsy for the use of their fantastic premises, Brookes Super Valu for helping out with refreshments, Youghal Pharmacy,  Cashmans Bookmakers and Old Imperial Hotel for supplying prizes for the raffle held on the night, in which all monies raised went to  Sister Bridie and all the fantastic work she is doing in Pakistan.

This was a special night for the students and is the culmination of two years work, this was a long journey that started on Tuesday the 30th September 2008 and finished with the launch of the exhibition.

Click on image to see the artists and some of their work – All photos copyright to www.youghalonline.com please contact news@youghalonline.com if  required for further publication and acknowledgement.