Writer Noelle Lynskey and artists Vicky Smith and Alison Conneely have received artist residencies at the Inagh Valley’s Interface studio for 2025.  Noelle and Alison’s residencies at the Connemara space are supported by Galway County Council, while Vicky’s is supported by the City Council.

Noelle, a poet and pharmacist, is originally from Strokestown, County Roscommon, and lives in Portumna. She has an MA in Creative Writing from  UL.

Her work has featured in many anthologies and broadcasts and her first poetry collection is due to be published in May.

She facilitates Portumna Pen Pushers and is artistic adviser to Shorelines Arts Festival, having directed Shorelines for 15 years.

Artist and educator Vicky Smith from Galway City has a practice that’s rooted in painting. A graduate in Fine Art and Printmaking, she has an an MA from Goldsmiths in London and one from Dublin’s National College of Art & Design. The Cold Bark Against My Back, her 2022 exhibition, was a collection of paintings and sculptures that emerged from her fascination with stories of women in the news and how these resonate.

She is Education Co-ordinator at Galway’s Engage Art Studios and Tutor in Fine Art Drawing at GTI.

Alison, who lives between Dublin and Connemara, has more than two decades of experience in curation, design, and education. Her work emphasises community engagement, advocacy, and activism, as it explores the intersection of art, ecology, folklore, costume and community. She has collaborated with institutions including the United Nations.

Pictured: Noelle Lynskey.