I live in Killarney one of the biggest tourist towns in Ireland.  Killarney is the largest town in County Kerry (known locally as ‘The Kingdom’). With a population of around 14,000 Killarney is nestled is in a deep valley in the MacGillicuddy Reeks, besides the Lakes of Killarney and part of the National Park.  Killarney has over a million visitors a year, this should be a great place for an artist to live work and sell their art.   So what could possibly be wrong?  

There are only two galleries in Killarney and one individual artist has his own gallery. There is no community art center no theater,  no cooperative galleries, no art associations or groups.  (If there are some they are quietly plugging away and I don't know about them and I appologize)  I find it very difficult to understand how a place of such beauty can seem so devoid of artistic spirit.  Ironically we are the home of the Irish Arts and tourism office.  

Oh! and  I almost forgot to mention that Killarney does have at least 14 book makers (betting offices for my non Irish readers) and over 30 pubs. Now that is something to be proud of. 

I often think about starting a cooperative Gallery myself, but the rents and the council tax and rates are out of most struggling artist price range ans is not an option.  There is so little opportunity for emerging  artist to show their work it is discouraging.   Killarney is missing out in an opportunity to high light the one of their greatest assets the local artists! 

So I keep plugging along and posting my work on Facebook and on my blog.  Getting wonderful feed back from my online friend that keep my spirits up and me motivated.  

I will do my little part and show the world that Killarney does have artistic spirit in the only way I know how,  through my  paintings

Killarney 14" x 20" soft pastel on sanded paper