Raphael’s World

Posted on 02. Jul, 2020 in Art, Book Reviews

This year marks the 500th anniversary of Raphael, one of the great Italian Renaissance painters, who died on 6 April 1520. Michael Collins, a Catholic priest and author living in Dublin wrote Raphael’s World to give some insight into the era he lived in – one of major political and social change. Born thirty years […]

Unveiling St Oliver Plunkett

Posted on 25. Jul, 2019 in Achievement, Art, Christian Values, Community, Saints

Dony MacManus, well-known Irish sculptor was commissioned to create a dramatic bronze statue of St Oliver Plunkett in the final moments of his earthly life. It was unveiled on July 9th, the 350th anniversary of St Oliver’s appointment as Archbishop of Armagh. In this interview with Conor Deane, Dony talks about the process of commissioning […]

Film Faith and Music 2

Posted on 24. Jan, 2019 in Art, Christian Values, Music

Michael Aherne, who plays The Commitments’ pianist Steven Clifford, was an employee for the Dublin Corporation and took a three-month leave of absence to make the film. He is currently head of the transport development at the National Transport Authority as well as working for Spirit Radio and doing gigs with The Commitments. In this […]

Mystical prayer

Posted on 23. Aug, 2018 in Art, Christian Values, Ecology

Pat Coyle was down in the RDS today catching up with some of the exciting ventures that were taking place there. In this piece she catches up with well known artist Imogen Stuart and Brian Grogan SJ to talk about Imogen’s Bee Hive Cell – a sacred place for mystical prayer that she sculpted in […]

Exploring Books and Biographies

Posted on 07. Jun, 2018 in Art

Eve Parnell photographed beside Giorgio Vasari National gallery books showcasing books from the Library in the National Gallery. It highlights some of the most important contributions to the written world about artists. Technically advances rapidly transformed printing from a cottage industry to the cornerstone of western civilisation. And prosperity meant that there was a growing number of […]

By Time is everything Revealed

Posted on 31. May, 2018 in Art, Cancer, Community, Ecology, Health, Medicine, Meditation, Mental Health

As plants everywhere are blooming we remember this interview with author, gardener and broadcaster, Fiann Ó Nualláin. In his book,”By Time is everything Revealed” he looks at mindfulness and spiritual awareness.  Fiann brings old Irish proverbs to life for the current generation. Proverbs stand the test of time because, as they contain timeless wisdom that can […]

National Drawing Day

Posted on 17. May, 2018 in Art, Community

  May 19th, is Drawing Day and the National Gallery of Ireland will be encouraging artists of all ages and abilities to take up a pen or pencil and start drawing. The Gallery will host a celebration of drawing and creativity, with events and activities for all ages.  Artists, designers and illustrators will be responding to […]

Bealtaine

Posted on 12. Apr, 2018 in Art, Community

Bealtaine, the Irish for May, is a time for celebration. And every year it is marked by the Bealtaine festival – a national celebration of creativity in older age. The ancient festival of Bealtiane or Beltane – held on May 1 – marked the midway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice and […]

Remembering Martin McGuinness

Posted on 25. Jun, 2017 in Achievement, Art, Community, Conflict

It is just over three years since Martin McGuiness passed away. He was a complex and remarkable man who went from being a former IRA leader to deputy first minister of Northern Ireland. Eve Parnell, the artist, remembers him as the man who opened her “Souls of the Slain” exhibition in The Long Gallery in […]

Bealtaine Festival

Posted on 27. Apr, 2017 in Art, Community

Bealtaine a national Irish festival, run by Age and Opportunity, celebrating arts and creativity as we age. The festival aims to inspire older people to be creative and to engage meaningfully with their wider community. This year’s Festival has over 3,000 events taking place around the country, from dance to poetry receitals. Some of them are organised […]