I checked some of the visual arts delights at the Galway Arts Festival last week-end on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Despite the location (in a large shopping centre on the edge of town) the Hughie O’Donoghue exhibition entitled ‘The Road’ was impressive and included some of his monumental pieces. The show is also the premiere of his new work ‘Road’ a painting in 60 parts. The eye is drawn along what seems like a vast line of canvases, all of which evoke merged memories from snapshots of family portraits, half forgotten book illustrations and historical documents.

What also, surprisinlgy, grabbed my attention in the same location was a collection of contemporary Irish crafts including jewellery, furniture and ceramics. My favourite was a beautiful lunula made from delicate white crepe paper and gold leaf (not sure how this would have survived in the downpour outside).

After a nice cup of tea in my favourite tea shop in Galway (Cupan Tae), I popped into the Galway City Museum and saw a little gem of an exhibition, of the works of Charles Lamb (1893-1964). Lamb actually began his career as a humble house painter in his native Armagh before becoming a fully fledged Royal Hibernian Academician. His landscapes, especially his skies are sublime and his depiction of the toil and labour of the West of Ireland peasants is moving. I really loved his little black chickens in his cottage series – painted as mere suggestions in black and red.