Banter and brushstrokes as Ballymahon art club hosts exhibition

Ballymahon Art Club rolled out the red carpet (figuratively speaking—it was more of a well-worn doormat, but no less welcoming) for its annual exhibition bash at Skelly’s Bar and Restaurant recently. This joyous creative jamboree not only celebrated another year of impressive artistic endeavour, but also served as a warm-up act for the much-anticipated visit of the Landevant Twinning crew. International diplomacy, Ballymahon-style.

The evening was a lively cocktail of colour, chatter, and canapés. The restaurant walls were festooned with vibrant works—each lovingly coaxed into being by local painters who spent their winter wielding brushes with the determination of Van Gogh, minus the ear incidents. All under the watchful eye and ever-encouraging voice of Frances Kelleher: founder, tutor, motivational force, and general fairy godmother of all things artistic in Ballymahon.

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As locals rubbed shoulders with their French counterparts, they nibbled delicately on pâté-laden treats while emitting appreciative “oohs” and “aahs” at the visual feast before them. A few may have been due to the strength of the blue cheese, but the sentiment was sincere.

Eventually, someone had to bring a touch of order to the merry mayhem. Enter An Cathaoirleach, Ciarán Nally, who—finding the exhibition space completely packed—took up an impromptu MC position in the doorway like a poetic bouncer. He delivered a heartfelt “thanks for coming” to the gathered crowd, which included local art lovers, dignitaries, and an impressive collection of people who clearly knew their way around a wine reception.

Then, with theatrical flair, he introduced the evening’s leading light—Frances Kelleher herself. Frances, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ciarán in the doorway like co-captains of a very cultured ship, shared her amazement at seeing lifelong locals—many of whom had previously only wielded six-inch paintbrushes from Lovell’s Hardware for back gate touch-ups—evolve into artists of genuine talent and vision.

Cue the crowd welling up a little. Following Frances was the inimitable Breege Murray, President of the Ballymahon-Landevant Twinning Group, who was on hand to officially declare the exhibition open. This wasn’t your standard ribbon-cutting photo op, though. Oh no—Breege took the floor with purpose.

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In her own charming way, she declared herself no expert in highfalutin art theory, but a firm believer in the transformative power of community creativity. She reminded the room that in rural places like Ballymahon, where posh galleries are scarcer than buses at Corleagh bog, groups like the Ballymahon Art Club are cultural lifelines—providing not just artistic outlets, but friendship, fun, and the occasional excuse for a midweek glass of red.

With the formalities wrapped up and the art officially “open,” the crowd lingered long into the night—chatting, laughing, sipping wine, and attacking the stuffed cherry tomatoes with as much enthusiasm as they had for the art.
And thus ended another spectacular Ballymahon Art Club exhibition: a night of inspiration, international friendship, and a reminder that great art—and great craic—can flourish anywhere. Even next to the pub.