Waterford gallery celebrates 25th anniversary with special exhibition

Joan Clancy Gallery in County Waterford is celebrating a major milestone this summer as it marks 25 years since first opening its doors in 2001. 

To commemorate the occasion, the gallery will host 'Ceiliúradh 25', a special 25th Anniversary Exhibition, opening on Wednesday, July 8, at 7.30 pm.

The exhibition will feature an exceptional collection of work by 25 renowned artists, highlighting the depth and diversity of the gallery’s artistic community over the past quarter-century.

In addition to the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to take part in guided tours that extend beyond the gallery space. 

These include a personal experience with Joan Clancy, who shares a curated collection of personal photographs and memorabilia from her time in Hollywood with her late husband, Tom Clancy, a founding member of The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem.

His career spanned Broadway, Hollywood, television and the international folk music stage, offering visitors a rare insight into a significant chapter of Irish cultural history.

The experience will also provide insights into the exhibition, the artists, and the cultural heritage connected to the Clancy family story, along with the opportunity to enjoy a cúpla focail of the Irish language in an intimate setting.

Since 2001, the gallery has become a unique cultural destination at the intersection of Irish contemporary art, Gaeltacht heritage, and Irish folk music.

Located in the upstairs gallery space in An Rinn, a scenic Irish-speaking Gaeltacht area overlooking Dungarvan Bay, the exhibition offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience contemporary Irish art in one of the most distinctive gallery settings in the country.

The exhibition will feature work by artists including: Catherine Barron, Blawnin Clancy, Beatrice O’Connell, Rayleen Clancy, Bernadette Kiely, Ivan Daly, Ciara Gormley, Gillian Wright, Andrea Jameson, Gooee O’Brien, Eilis O’Toole, Katarzyna Gajewska, Damaris Lysaght, Ann Dunphy, Sinead Ní Chionaola, Sheila Wood, Catherine Foley, Annie Shaw, Leah Murphy, John Cullinan, Sinead Hehir and Miriam Foley MacLeod, among others.

The exhibition will reflect the gallery’s long-standing commitment to supporting both established and emerging artistic voices.

Speaking ahead of the anniversary celebrations, Joan Clancy said: “When I first opened the gallery, I could never have imagined the journey it would take or the wonderful artists and visitors it would bring into my life."

"'Ceiliúradh 25', is not just a celebration of the gallery, but of the friendships, creativity and shared love of art that have grown here over the years," she said.

"My three daughters, Blawnin, Rayleen, and Rosie, who are carrying the cultural legacy of their father, Tom Clancy, in different forms, have played an integral role in the success of the gallery," she added.

"It has always been a place where art, songs and stories come together in a very personal way, and I know my late husband Tom would be very proud of us all."

The gallery, which sits on a clifftop between Coláiste na Rinne and Cunnigar Beach, continues to attract art lovers drawn not only to its exhibitions but also to its sweeping 280-degree views across Dungarvan Bay and the surrounding Comeragh and Knockmealdown Mountains.

Discover a new view of art and a new view of Ireland at this extraordinary gallery overlooking the sea. 

For further information or to book a tour go to http://www.joanclancygallery.com/ 

'Ceiliúradh 25' opens on July 8th and will run until July 22nd, between 11am and 5pm, including weekends.