Sketching Weekend on Inis Oirr, Aran Islands, 14 - 17 Sept

Through connections with Pat, a regular with Dublin Sketchers, there will be a weekend of sketching on Inis Oírr, the smallest of the Aran Islands, in September. This will be part of Feile na gCloch 2017, or Festival of Stone, that incorporates stone wall building, stone carving and letter carving workshops.

Here are the essentials of the sketching element of the festival, in case you want to start making plans.

If you would like a pdf version of the brochure, please email dublinsketchers at gmail dot com and we can send one out to you.

As with our previous trip to the island, you’ll be responsible for getting yourself onto the island, and making sure you have accommodation arranged.

Details of accommodation are below. The island is very small, so all B&B's are pretty accessible. South Aran House and Tigh Ruairi's have good reviews on Trip Advisor. Maybe ask around at Sketchers to see who else is going and who might like to share a room / book into the same place as you.

We'll be spending most of our time out sketching, so where you rest your head in the evening is more about comfort! If you are planning on making the trip, do book accommodation now, as it's a popular weekend.

Around the festival schedule below, there is plenty of time to explore the island, as well as social time. Lunch is part of the festival cost, and most people eat together in the hotel of an evening.

Booking details are below.

Dates: Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th September 2017

Inis Oírr, Aran Islands, County Galway

On Location Sketch Outs Exploring Inish Oírr

Spend three days exploring Inis Oírr through sketching. Capture the magic scenery and culture of the smallest of the Aran Islands in your artists's notebook. Experience this intimate island through drawing her castles, shipwrecks, churches, lighthouse, seascapes and iconic drystone walls.
- Through on location sketch outs you will discover the rugged beauty of this jewel in the Atlantic.  Enjoy the creative camaraderie and be part of the exhibition of work done over the weekend.
- This long weekend is for the self-motivated sketcher who wants to enjoy a fun and sociable time drawing on location in an ancient landscape. All levels of experience welcome.
- Join a sketch out to capture the creation of a dry stone wall with prizes for the most evocative sketches.
-  Each sketch out starts with a fifteen minute warm up talk with tips and inspiration from experienced sketchers.
- Leave the island with a sketchbook full of memories.
Thursday afternoon 14th September 2017

4.30pm – 5.00pm Welcome to the island and discussion of workshops, sketch outs and other activities over the weekend
5.00pm – 6.00pm 'An Irish Group of Stonemasons Working at Guédelon Castle in France 2016: The building of a castle using medieval tools and techniques ' by Tom Pollard
 6.00pm – 7.00pm Tracy Mahaffey & Alexandra Morosco tell their mutual Stories in Stone, working as artisans of the stone trade in the US.

Friday 15th September 2017

9am - 4pm On location sketch outs with your allocated group at locations including the Wreck of the Plassey, O'Brien's  Castle,  the lighthouse, half buried and ruined churches, the harbour, lakes and beaches, limestone fieldscapes, stonewalls, stunning skies and dramatic seascapes.
Talks
5pm – 6pm  'Holy Smoke: My life as a smoke jumper, blacksmith and stonemason and the building of an Irish round tower in California' by David Claman
6pm – 7pm ‘Tales of the Inis Oírr Zibaldone: Exploring worlds through an artist’s notebook.’ by Jessica Peel-Yates and James Moore

Saturday 16th September 2017

9am – 1pm  On location sketch outs with your allocated group at locations including the Wreck of the Plassey, O'Brien's  Castle,  the lighthouse, half buried and ruined churches, the harbour, lakes and beaches.
 2pm - 4pm Join a sketch out to capture the creation of a dry stone wall with prizes for the most evocative sketches.
Talks
5pm – 6pm ‘Drystone Construction on Walking Tracks’ - a presentation on the use of stairways, retaining walls, bridges and other structures in Australian national parks" by Gavin Rose.
6pm – 7pm 'The Corbelled Dry Stone Structures of Europe’ by Renate Löbbecke

Sunday 17th September 2017

10am – 1.00PM On location sketch outs with your allocated group at locations including the Wreck of the Plassey, O'Brien's  Castle,  the lighthouse, half buried and ruined churches, the harbour, lakes and beaches, limestone fieldscapes, stonewalls, stunning skies and dramatic seascapes.

Speakers

Tom Pollard, Tipperary, Ireland
Tracy Mahaffey, Rhode Island, USA
Alexandra Morosco, Seattle, Washington, USA
David Claman, Montana, USA
Jessica Peel-Yates and James Moore, Dublin, Ireland
Gavin Rose, Australia
Renate Löbbecke, Germany
John Shaw-Rimmington, Canada

What to bring

Definitely sketchbooks, drawing pencils, pens, pencil sharpener, eraser. Perhaps loose leaf pages, watercolours, paint brushes, easel, colour pencils, oil pastels, or which ever medium you like to sketch with.
This is an outdoor event. Irish weather is famous for offering 4 seasons in one day. Make sure to bring warm clothes, sturdy shoes and good rain gear.
Payment
Payment must be received in Euro.
Cheques should be made payable to:
‘Galway County Council –Stone Wall Workshop’’

Cancellation
A refund of fees (less €20 administration charge) will be
given, provided that notice of cancellation is received
in writing on or before 8th September 2017
No refunds given after this date.

Enquiries

Ms. Marie Mannion,
Heritage Officer,
Forward Planning,
Áras an Chontae,
Galway County Council,
Prospect Hill, Galway
Tel: 00353 91 509198
Or
Gráinne Smyth/ Martina Creavan
Forward Planning,
Áras an Chontae,
Galway County Council,
Prospect Hill, Galway.
Tel: 00353 91 509121/509017
Website: www.galway.ie
An action of Galway County Heritage Plan

Transport to InisOírr

Workshop participants must book their own travel to Inis Oírr.
There is one ferry company between Rossaveal, Co. Galway and Inis Oírr and there are other ferry companies operating between Doolin, Co. Clare and Inis Oírr.

Ferries

The following are their contact details:
Aran Island ferries: Tel: +353(0)91 568903                                        www.aranislandferries.com
Doolin Ferry :   Tel: +353(0) 65 707 5555 +353 (0) 65 707 1710    www.doolinferry.com
Doolin 2 Aran Ferry:  Tel: +353 65 7075949                                       www.doolin2aranferries.com                                             
Mob: +353 87 2453239   Email: info@doolin2aranferries.ie

Air Travel

Flights are available from Aer Arann islands, Inverin , Connemara, Co. Galway.
Aer Arann islands - Tel :  +353(0)91 593034                                    http://www.aerarannislands.ie

Accommodation

Please note: It is recommended that you book your own accommodation and transport prior to booking this course. Please see list of accommodation and transport providers.
Please also make your own arrangements for evening meals.

Leaba & Bricfeasta in Inis Oírr/Bed & Breakfast in Inis Oírr

Baile an Fhormna / Formna Village
Caitríona Uí Chatháin              Phone: +353 (0)99 75090  Fáilte Ireland Approved
Máire Ní Fhlatharta                 Phone: +353 (0)99 75083

Baile Thiar / West Village
South Aran House                  Phone: +353 (0)99 75073  Fáilte Ireland Approved
Ostán Inis Oírr                         Phone: +353 (0)99 75020  Fáilte Ireland Approved
Brú/Hostel                               Phone: +353 (0)99 75024  Fáilte Ireland Approved
Máire Searraigh                      Phone: +353 (0)99 75024 
Máire Foley                             Phone: +353 (0)99 75037
Barbara Uí Chonghaile           Phone: +353 (0)99 75025

Bríd Póil                                   Phone: +353 (0)99 75019
Áine Uí Ghríofa                       Phone: +353 (0)99 75983

Bernie Uí Dhonncha               Phone: +353 (0)99 75088 
Pádraig Ó Donncha                Phone: +353 (0)99 75000

Tigh Ruairí Ó Conghaile (Rory’s B&B):      Phone: +353 (0)99 75002      www.tighruairi.com   
Bríd Brennan   Phone: +353 (0)99 75125


Self Catering
For a full listing of self catering can be found on the following link:

Evening Meals
Evening Meals can be booked at the following:
Tigh Ruairí:        Phone: +353 (0) 99 75002                                     www.tighruairi.com
South Aran House (bookings only) Phone: +353 (0) 99 75073   www.southaran.com
Ostán Inis Oírr:  Phone: +353 (0)99 75020                                     www.hotelinisoirr.com

Information of Inis Oírr and its services

Contact: Comhar Caomhán Teo, Inis Oírr, Árainn, Co. na Gaillimhe.
Phone: Phone: +353 (0)99 75008; Fax: Phone: +353 (0)99 75071

                                                Registration Form

Please complete in BLOCK CAPITALS and return with your payment to:
Stone Workshop 2017, c/o Ms. Gráinne Smyth, Forward Planning, Áras an Chontae,
Galway County Council, Prospect Hill, Galway, Ireland. Tel: +353(0) 91 509121

We suggest that you photocopy this form for your records.

Title:___     Surname:________________________ First Name:__________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________________

Tel:____________________ Email:________________________________________________

Registration Fee:_______________________________________________________________

Please tick appropriate box:

Workshop A – Stone Wall building

Full Workshop Fee
All lectures, demonstrations, tea/coffee,
and lunches included Friday to Sunday                      €75  
Partial Workshop Fee
Friday Lectures/workshop, tea/coffee & lunch          €25
Saturday workshop, tea/coffee & lunch                      €25
Sunday workshop, tea/coffee & lunch                        €25

                                                                                  Total:  


All lectures, demonstrations, tea/coffee,
and lunches included Friday to Sunday
NB: Limited number of places for this workshop
       No partial Workshop Fee available

                                                              Full Workshop Fee€100

Workshop C - Letter Carving

All lectures, demonstrations, tea/coffee,
and lunches included Friday to Sunday
NB: Limited number of places for this workshop
       No partial Workshop Fee available
                                          
                     Full Workshop Fee€100

           D - On Location Sketch Outs -  Exploring Inis Oírr

All lectures, organised sketch outs, tea/coffee,
and lunches included Friday to Sunday
NB: Limited number of places for this workshop
       No partial Workshop Fee available
                               
                     Full Workshop Fee€75


Payment

I enclose a cheque/bank draft for €------ (Euros) payable to ‘Galway County Council –Stone
Workshop 2017 and send to Stone Workshop, C/o Ms. Gráinne Smyth, Forward Planning,
Áras an Chontae, Galway County Council, Prospect Hill, Galway, Ireland.

Signed:___________________________________             Date:_______/_________/_________



How did you hear about this conference? Mailing /Advert /Internet Other
Your particular interest in attending:


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