Shorelines Arts Festival

19/06/2026

Kilbarron Terryglass
Historical Society and Ballinderry Development Association,
invite you to join in celebrating the building of
*Ballinderry's* Historic Toll Bridge**

The Historical Society are holding a TALK on Friday 26th June at 8pm in Terryglass Hall - on -

The Mouse House TOLL BRIDGE* - to mark the 250th Anniversary of the building of the Toll Bridge at Drominagh in 1776*

Venue - *TERRYGLASS HALL* - 8pm PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE

Admission €5

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And on *Sunday 28th at 2pm* , in conjunction with Ballinderry Development Association's Ballinderry Beo, we will visit and honour *The Mouse House*

As parking is limited the Society are providing a free shuttle bus from the Tavern in Ballinderry Village to The Mouse House.
We encourage people to avail of this service.

Pick up will start at 1.30pm and return to the village after 3.15pm for the annual
*Ballinderry Beo, 'Community Get-Together'*

Please join us over the weekend in celebrating this 'Historic Bridge

Ballinderry, Co. Tipperary Stonepark Lodge Caravan Camping and Accomodation Sean O'Meara Kilbarron Terryglass 1815 Kilbarron Tidy Towns Terryglass Tidy Towns Lorrha Dorrha Archaeological & Historical Society Séamus Pádraig Ó hÉanáin Lorrha Dorrha The Tipperary Antiquarian Tipperary Heritage Office Discover Lough Derg Tipperary Tourism Tipperary Studies Ormond Historical Society Kilbarron Castle & Church Conservation Group South East Galway Archaeological & Historical Society Killaloe-Ballina Local History Society Shinrone Heritage Group Birr Historical Society Ballynakill & Surroundings Historical Group Lough Derg Boat Tours Green Door Tours Ballinderry Community Sportsfield Portumna Castle

18/06/2026

✨📣 CALLING ALL ARTISTS 📣✨

Submit a piece of work for Shorelines Arts Festival 2026!

* The festival runs from Thurs 10th - Sun 13th September, with the art exhibition launch on Sunday 6th September. The art exhibition will run for 2 weeks in the Irish Workhouse Centre, Portumna, closing on Sun 20th Sept.
* This advanced notice is to give you time to have your NEW work ready by the end of the summer.
* ONE PIECE PER ARTIST to go on the walls - painting, drawing or photograph - but 3D work by arrangement with the committee. Large pieces to be agreed in advance with the committee. Over 16's work only.
* WORK HAS TO BE FRAMED OR READY TO HANG, ANY WORK NOT FRAMED OR READY TO HANG WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
* We'll be taking in work at the Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna from 6-7.30pm on both Monday August 24th and Tuesday August 25th.
* FEE TO EXHIBIT YOUR WORK IS €5.
* Our registration form will be on our website, so you can fill it out, in advance.
* We shall be selling work on the opening night. Our commission will be 20%. Selling work after opening night will be directly between artist and buyer or by arrangement with committee member or supervisor.
* Artwork will be released for collection on Mon 21st and Tues 22nd September between 6 - 7.30pm. Please come on those evenings in that time slot. Committee will not be responsible for uncollected artwork.

Visit Portumna Discover Lough Derg Mountshannon Arts Woodford Parish Development Page Visit Lorrha & Dorrha

19/05/2026

Coming Home to Portumna Forest Park - Poetry Lines at Shorelines.

Portumna Arts Group, as part of the Art Trail in Portumna, approached Coillte with the idea of installing lines of poetry on the Special Needs walk in the beautiful Portumna Forest Park. Peter Martin of Portumna Arts Group, David Harris and Brian Fogarty, Coillte met and decided on location of the project. Noelle Lynskey, Portumna Arts Group, worked with ten poets who were previous guests at Shorelines Arts Festival. Two lines from each poet are now in place for walkers to bathe in as they enjoy the forest trail.

Thanks to for graphics, Coillte for collaboration, Mary & Declan Duffy for sponsorship and to the poets for their permission.

Poets: Pat Boran, Jane Clarke, Paul Durcan, Louis de Paor, Rita Ann Higgins, Noelle Lynskey, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Bernard O’Donoghue, Thomas McCarthy, Geraldine Mills.

15/05/2026

Curlew Theatre presents HUNGER / An Gorta Mór in the Workhouse Centre - Portumna on Monday, 18 May 7.30pm.

A dramatic play for two voices, performed by Tegolin Knowland and Seán Coyne, and devised and directed by Eamon Grennan.

FREE EVENT - NO BOOKING REQUIRED.

Please support as part of the 2026 held in Visit Portumna on Sunday, 17 May.

Curlew Theatre presents HUNGER / An Gorta Mór
Date/Time: Monday, 18 May 7.30pm
Venue: Workhouse, Portumna

A dramatic play for two voices, performed by Tegolin Knowland and Seán Coyne, and devised and directed by Eamon Grennan.

This powerful work responds to the Great Famine as a long unspeakable subject in Irish life. The piece is structured as an ‘audio quilt’ of voices drawn from those who lived through, witnessed or were connected to the catastrophe. A historical prologue traces voices from the 16th to the late

18th century, including excerpts from writers such as Spenser, Swift and Goldsmith, leading into the events of the Great Famine itself.

Through text and voice, the performance seeks to give immediate, human expression to the Famine experience and to bring these ‘living dead’ voices into close contact with the audience. Curlew Theatre Company, based in Connemara, Co. Galway, specialises in Plays for Voices, focusing on Irish history, literature and culture. Their work relies almost entirely on text and voice, with minimal props, creating an intimate and direct relationship between performers and audience. HUNGER / An Gorta Mór has been performed at Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University, Connecticut.

“In Hunger, Knowland and Coyne briefly and evocatively made that catastrophic time live for our audience … it was one of the highlights of our year.”

— Joseph Lennon, Director, Irish Studies Programme, Villanova International Summer School, University of Galway

Portumna Players Drama Group Shorelines Arts Festival Galway County Arts Office The Arts in Galway Visit Portumna Galway County Heritage Office Portumna Courthouse Portumna, Co. Galway

13/05/2026

Time to dust off the dancing shoes!

🕺 1950s Parish Hall Dance
📍 Portumna Town Hall
🗓 23rd May
⏰ 8pm - 10pm

Get your tickets at https://portumna.ie/

06/05/2026

Join the Omna singers and Scrum Notes for an evening of song, featuring guest soloist Pascal Kennedy:

🗓 Tuesday May 19th
📍 Irish Workhouse Centre - Portumna
⏰ 8pm - 9pm (doors open 7.45pm)

Free admission. All welcome.

06/05/2026

As part of the *National Famine Commemoration* there is a series of Community Events happening --
TUESDAY 12th May 7.30pm – 8.30pm
LAUNCH & READING: SILENCE OF STONE
New writing for the National Famine Commemoration

Local writer Noelle Lynskey was engaged to facilitate a series of writing workshops. A diverse group of participants from Clare, Tipperary, Galway City, Portumna and the surrounding parishes focused on the ambience and contents of the centre’s museum. Some of the project’s writings are published in this new publication, Silence of Stone.

The workshops were funded under CreativeIrl and supported by the Irish Workhouse Centre - Portumna and Portumna Arts Group. The publication, designed by Little Bird Design and edited by Noelle Lynskey, is funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and County Council.

Galway Literary Events CreativeIrl Irish Workhouse Centre - Portumna Discover Lough Derg Visit Portumna Portumna, Co. Galway fans Department of Culture, Communications and Sport Anne Rabbitte TD Noelle Lynskey Galway County Arts Office Galway County Public Participation Network

*National Famine Commemoration* Community Events
TUESDAY 12th May 7.30pm – 8.30pm
LAUNCH & READING: SILENCE OF STONE
New writing for the National Famine Commemoration
Venue: Irish Workhouse Centre, Portumna (Admission free)

As part of the community outreach programme of the 2026 National Famine Commemoration in Portumna, the Irish Workhouse Centre engaged local writer Noelle Lynskey to facilitate a series of writing workshops. A diverse group of participants from Clare, Tipperary, Galway City, Portumna and the surrounding parishes focused on the ambience and contents of the centre’s museum. Some of the project’s writings are published in this new publication, Silence of Stone.

The workshops were funded under CreativeIrl and supported by the Irish Workhouse Centre - Portumna and Portumna Arts Group. The publication, designed by Little Bird Design and edited by Noelle Lynskey, is funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and Galway County Council.

Creative Ireland Galway County

05/05/2026

As part of the community events leading up to the NATIONAL FAMINE COMMEMORATION in Portumna, don't miss this staged reading in one act:
"BISHOP MAGINN - The Famine and the Fugitive"
Written by Turlough McConnell
Directed by Marian Frawley with Portumna Players Drama Group

📌 IRISH WORKHOUSE CENTRE
🗓️ WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026
⌚ 8PM
🎫 ADMISSION FREE

*NATIONAL FAMINE COMMEMORATION* COMMUNITY EVENTS
Continuing the announcement of events surrounding the NATIONAL FAMINE COMMEMORATION, you are invited to a staged reading in one act:
"BISHOP MAGINN - The Famine and the Fugitive"
Written by Turlough McConnell
Directed by Marian Frawley
With Portumna Players Drama Group

“In the darkest year of Ireland’s Famine, a defiant bishop and a hunted revolutionary meet in secret, and must decide how much a nation is worth saving.”

📌 IRISH WORKHOUSE CENTRE
🗓️ WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026
⌚ 8PM
🎫 ADMISSION FREE

Following the performance, historic reflections will be offered by Professor Christine Kinealy, Quinnipiac University, and Dr. Gerard Moran, Emeritus Professor, University of Galway.

fans Emma Ryan Galway Rural Development Hayes & Hayes Pharmacy Portumna Podumna Village, Portumna, Co. Galway Galway County Heritage Office Galway Bay FM Galway County Council Galway County Culture Night Great Irish Famine Commemoration Memorial Oughterard Heritage Visit Portumna Portumna, Co. Galway Department of Culture, Communications and Sport Galway Public Libraries Connacht Tribune - Galway City Tribune Clifden and Connemara Heritage Society

30/04/2026

Our Shorelines Art Sale Fundraiser was a great success and we wish to thank everyone who came along and supported it. In particular we wish to thank all the artists for their generosity in donating their amazing work. 😊

A full list of all the artists involved can be viewed on the last slide or on our website at
www.shorelinesartsfestival.com/ big-art-sale-fundraiser.htm

Special thanks also to the committee members and volunteers who made it all happen and to the for the use of their beautiful space once again! 🙏🏻

📷 Photos by Peter Martin.