Aine Art,Killashee

Dun na nGall translates to fort of the strangers, or home of the strangers, a place where the locals hearts are as big as the mountains and strangers are welcomed warmly. No matter where you go, be it Malin Head right down to Sliabh Liag you will always be met with a welcome smile and friendly chat.Good nature abounds everywhere you go.Do visit the islands of Tory and Aranmore where people live proudly and extend a warm welcome to visitors to their special homeplace.Sitting proudly in the Atlantic Ocean these islands are the jewels in Donegals tourism crown where visitors can experience a vibrancy to a culture that is inspiring and engaging.It is no surprise that artists and musicians have been captured by their beauty for hundreds of years.Donegal is well known for its Blue Flag beaches that offer a chance to chill out,take a leisurely walk or run, or for the adventurous a good gallop on a friendy horse stabled nearby.The oppertunities are endless deep sea diving, sailing,water sk...

Every June as children we walked down the old bog road.Roads that in years gone by echoed to the soft clippety clop of horses hooves,and the trundle of cart wheels,or the soft whirr of bicycles as the turf cutters came and went all Summer long.This work is older than the nation older than any of us know.The Celts made sacrifices to the bogs,to the gods, and bodies have been found preserved like leather in the peat.Men and women mummified in the black thick mass. We searched the hedges on our way for wild duck eggs much to the annoyance of the adult ducks. We had a connection with this place, for it was where our Father and our neighbour cut the sods. They were expert in the use of the slean, and heaped the sods up on the bank for us children to foot. It was hard work but on a sunny day we enjoyed the fresh air, and calling across the bog to our childhood friends who were given the same task. To foot the turf about a dozen sods were stacked up to form a peak, and the wind dried it out...

Ah sure you cant beat it a day in the bog was my fathers refrain, all that fresh air and hard work sure its mighty altogether, we children did not think so and had mixed feelings about going to the bog.Although May was the preferred month for turf cutting,there was plenty of work to be done in June.The turf was cut manually . It took longer to dry for two reasons,firstly it wasnt pressed so held more moisture.Secondly the sods were bigger than machine cut so took longer to dry.After being cut they were drawn out in barrows. They were then left drying on the ground. Our family spent many hours back bending to spread out the sods.After a time the turf was footed.The traditional method was to balance sods against one another until each grogeen contained around a dozen pieces.The other method was box footing,this involved laying two sods flat and then putting pairs on top of them at right angles until there were twelve or fourteen sods in the grogeen. Opinions differed as to which was...

Hi All I was born in Dublin and reared in Co.Meath beside the beautifull Boyne Valley.I am mostly self taught . I was educated in Kilcock,Co.Kildare where I had an excellent Art Teacher who encouraged me to persue my artistic talents.I entered several competitions and had considerable success.The bug had bitten. After the Leaving Cert. I entered the Civil Service and attended the National College of Art at night.My work is known nationally and have sold numerous works abroad. My subject matter includes landscapes, seascapes,nature and still life. In 2015 with my partner Pat and 3 beloved dogs moved to Killashee,Co.Longford where I have my own studio.Like other artists I have been held spellbound by the beauty of Longford.The lakelands, waterways,boglands and farmlands provide plenty of scenes for the artist to capture.My paintings are inspired by the West of Ireland artist Paul Henry whose strong and vibrant colours create exciting skylines,rolling fields and pasture,majestic moun...

Hi all, Aine Art will be at the Longford Country Show and Fair on Sunday 1st July. Hope the lovely weather will continue and hugh crowds will attend. I am looking forward to meeting the other artists and crafters and having fun. Art and Animals my idea of heaven, see you there.