Ahead of the busy Christmas shopping period, the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, has paid a visit to the new premises of the Owenabue Arts Collective at Bridge House, Carrigaline.
Supported by Cork County Council, this new collective of artists, who came together for the first time earlier this year, have curated a festive display showcasing a range of local fine art, craft and design while providing an opportunity to purchase locally produced gifts for Christmas.
On her recent visit, Mayor Linehan Foley had the opportunity to view the range of arts and crafts on offer at the gallery and congratulate the Owenabue Arts Collective on the opening of their new premises.
“We are very proud to support local artists; particularly given the very challenging year they have had. The generosity of the owners of the premises in Carrigaline has been overwhelming, and this new space presents an opportunity for people to purchase locally produced goods for Christmas, while adding a new attraction to the Main Street. The vast array of talent and creativity is just wonderful.”
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, also congratulated the collective on their venture, and highlighted the importance of shopping local to support local business,
“As part of our A Real Cork Christmas campaign, Cork County Council is encouraging everyone to discover what is on offer in your local area for Christmas shopping this year. Initiatives such as the Owenabue Arts Collective provide an important platform for local producers and combined with the range of hospitality and retail on offer in Carrigaline, this makes shopping locally for Christmas easier than ever.”
Speaking at the opening of the new premises, local artist and founding member of the Owenabue Arts Collective, Mary Murphy, expressed her pride at the success of the initiative to date,
“Never before have artists within our community had this opportunity to be visible as a group or had a platform to showcase their diverse talents and meet the public in a dedicated space like this. We have been humbled by the interest and support given by the community and by Cork County Council and hope that our inaugural Christmas exhibition will add another ray of light, fun and colour to our town. We are so excited to continue to promote and build the collective in 2021 and beyond”.
More information on the Owenabue Arts Collective can be found at www.owenabuearts.ie