Moygownagh Art Exhibition

Moygownagh was a hive of activity when the Women of the North West officially unveiled the art exhibition entitled ‘Rural Expression’ on the 20th June 2008. Former EU Commissioner – turned artist – Padraig Flynn was among the many locals and visitors taking a sneak preview of the 53 works included in the exhibition.

Pat Staunton, Mayo VEC Adult Education Officer, opened the event and paid tribute to the huge work put in by everyone associated with the Community based Adult Education at Moygownagh.

Part of his comment of affirmation included “This is a thriving community and a very active group so this was a very beneficial exercise for both Moygownagh and Mayo VEC in granting what funding we were able to provide from the Community Education Fund, Spidas project or Special Initiative Funding. This fund provides for areas which are slightly outside the mainstream areas in which our approach to education is changing. Moygownagh has, in a very significant way, contributed to this”, he said.

Former Commissioner Padraig Flynn said he was delighted to see his own personal love of art in a community like Moygownagh. “Life long learning is epitomised by this project. There is no such thing as knowing everything and the people here are constantly learning while enjoying themselves at the same time The work is truly superb and what is left behind in art is a treasure that will last longer than any one of us”.

Moygownagh Community Development C0-ordinator and MC for the event, Marian Flannery, explained that the theme of rural expression draws on the experiences of slow-paced rural development and the isolation of the countryside featured in the second exhibition in the history of the group.

She went on to say “We had the last expo in 2006 and have put a lot of work into getting this all ready today. The women here are fantastic. It is not about one person. I could not do this on my own without the great support of everyone who comes here week after week to work and learn together”, she said.

As part of the launch, paintings by Bernie Garvey were presented to both Pat Staunton and Padraig Flynn.