'A great success': Longford lady's art exhibition raised money for charity
Laura Doherty, alongside her uncle Matt, held an exhibition in Granard Library on Friday, June 5th.
A Longford lady who recently held an art exhibition to raise money for charity has said it was a “great success.”
Laura Doherty, alongside her uncle Matt, held an exhibition in Granard Library on Friday, June 5th.
It featured a number of portraits that she drew, as well as some of her uncle Matt’s photos.
“It was a very enjoyable night... A great success, and lots of people turned up,” Laura said.
One of those people was local legend, Rogie Martin, whom Laura had happened to have drawn a portrait of.
Other familiar faces that she drew included Terry McGovern, Brendan O’Reilly, and General Seán Mac Eoin.
The pieces sold were to raise money for Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders, a charity close to Laura’s heart.
“They need it so badly. It's also very important just to hear witness to the horrors of the war and the violence and famine that are affecting our fellow humans,” she said.
Laura qualified as a doctor in 2004 and went on to work in emergency departments in Dublin and Brisbane, but had to stop after being in a car accident in 2009.
“I just can't imagine the courage and dedication it takes for medical personnel to enter the most war-torn, deprived and dangerous places in the world to treat and help people,” she said.
Laura says she has loved art and drawing since she was a child, and says her primary school principal was always “very encouraging.”
She won prizes in the Texaco Art competitions a couple of times, and even had her photos featured in a calendar one year.
Laura is extremely grateful to be able to continue drawing and doing art, as after the accident, she had to stop doing many things that she used to love.
“It's just so rewarding to be able to sell my pictures, and for Matt as well, to sell his photographs, to raise money for very worthy causes,” she said.
A number of her drawings are still available for purchase.