Picia Harvey-Kelly

Who died on 30th July this year.

Picia was on the Festival Committee for several years, and we will really miss her warmth, knowledge, positivity, and sense of humour.

She was a remarkable woman, who brought her level-headed practicality to our work, right up to the day before she died when she reminded the group by email that those involved in the creation of a piece of public art to be erected in the Aistear, be acknowledged on a plaque. Picia always took the time to encourage and commend the work of others, and her support of us as a group and as individuals was vital to our success. Picia got stuck in no matter what the task but her ‘baby’ was of course the Dog Show. She did a fantastic job of organising every last detail to make the event a huge success and very enjoyable. More than a fellow member of the Mountshannon Arts Festival Committee, Picia was a friend. She connected with people no matter their age and of course her own age never held her back.

‘When the map of our life is complete, and we die in the richness of our own history, some among the living will miss us for a while, but the earth will go on without us. Its day is longer than ours, though we now know that it too will die. Our brief finitude is but a beautiful spark in the vast darkness of space. So we should live the fleeting day with passion and, when the dark night comes, depart from it with grace.” - Richard Holloway

Well Picia was certainly a beautiful spark, who was interested in, and passionate about, many things as well as art.She loved the natural world, and plants and animals in particular, and was always rescuing beasts of all types, that needed her special love and care.Not only did she depart this life with grace, but she lived gracefully her whole life.Humility, determination, courage, a twinkle in her eye, and a love of people, are amongst other things that come to mind when we think of Picia. Although, a light has gone out with Picias passing, she left behind so much light, that will continue to shine, whether it be through art works such as The Stag on hostel hill, which would not be there without her support and commitment, or the lights that she lit in those of us blessed to have known her.

Thank you Picia for being a part of our lives.