Westmeath Community Development

The next public meeting of the Westmeath Rural Arts Initiative takes place in Emper National School on Tuesday, March 9^th at 7.30p.m. The group is currently hosting two very successful sets of visual art classes in Ballynacargy with Westmeath based artist, Celine Sheridan.

The last meeting in Streete was attended by County Council Arts Officer, Catherine Kelly who encouraged the group to continue to host and promote arts events in their local communities. The group thanked the County Council for an award of €1,500 which was made under the 2009 County Council Arts awards and will enable the newly formed group to host a wide range of arts and cultural events in the coming months.

Further events which it is hoped to host in the local communities include youth drama workshops, a night of film, a set-dancing weekend and a touring concert featuring a top class traditional singer and musicians in May. All of the ideas for these events have come from local people at the community meetings.

The aim for the group is to host events which otherwise might not take place through linking with local communities and groups. This includes linking with groups like the MEM Players in Milltown to encourage drama and hopefully the international Streete Vintage Motorcycle event in May.

The project is funded and supported by Westmeath Community Development Limited through the Rural Development (LEADER) Programme 2007-2013 and this has enabled a part-time facilitator, Conor O’Leary from Rural Arts Network to co-ordinate and mentor the new group for the first year of the project. It is intended that a sustainable committee will be established that continues to promote events in the communities between Streete and Rathowen and Moyvore and Multyfarnham.

For more information or to be added to the networks mailing list you can contact the project co-ordinator, Conor O'Leary at (087) 9048095 or by e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Text and e-mail will be the main means of communication in the coming months so if you want to stay informed be sure to contact Conor with your details.

Supported by Westmeath Community Development under the Rural Development (LEADER) Programme 2007-2013.