Blas, the second exhibition in the Summer Art Season at Oughterard Courthouse will open this Friday,  June 27.

This exhibition from Galway-based artists, mother and daughter Pat Byrne and Niamh Daniels, will be “a vibrant showcase of colour, pattern and passion”  which is being presented as part of the Oughterard Courthouse Arts Programme.

Blas – the Irish word for taste or flavour – promises to be a visual delight, as the two women draw from nature and the landscapes of the West of Ireland.

Pat, who is based in Galway city, is inspired by the sea, wildlife and the colours found in Irish towns and villages. She creates bold, textured oil paintings that celebrate life’s small details, offering “a little taste of the many things I find uplifting and joyous”, she says.

Her previous solo shows include Colourscapes (2001) and Blue (2005) at Galway City Library, Cathú (2006) at Judy Greene’s Gallery, Ladybirds (2010), and a print exhibition at the Baboró  Arts Festival for Children. Pat will share the Oughterard space with Niamh, an award-winning textile print designer, renowned for her beautiful scarves and other accessories.

Niamh’s designs are inspired by Connemara and the Atlantic coast. She uses traditional printing techniques, alongside drawing, painting and photography, while experimentation is a key part of her process, from ice-dyeing to acrylic pouring and alcohol inks. Niamh translates her designs into limited-edition silk accessories and fine art prints, and her work has been featured in Vogue, Irish Country Magazine, and Ireland AM.

Blas will be officially opened by poet Anne Donnellan this Friday, from 7-9pm at the Courthouse.

Anne’s debut poetry collection Witness was published by Revival Press in 2022 and she won the 2023 Allingham Poetry Competition.

Blas runs from June 27 to July 6 at the Oughterard Courthouse Gallery. It’s open 10am-5pm Monday to Saturday, and 12-5pm on Sunday. Admission is free and all are welcome.

For more information visit: www.OCAP.ie

Pictured: Red Poppies and Buttercups by Pat Byrne.