Workshops
All is asked is to enjoy!
Booking is strongly recommended as limited space available!
Bafolk Workshop
Thursday 29 May
5.30 to 7.30pm
Hall, Mountshannon
€10, €8 with wristband
East Clare Balfolk Collective presents a Balfolk workshop teaching circle dances and couple dances from the European tradition, such as Circle circassien, Chapelloise, Scottish, An Dro and Gavotte.
Come join us for a fun, community orientated workshop where Ilaria Bertuola and Marion Carey will facilitate the dances accompanied by live music from Jonathan Spazzi (flute), Martin Tully (accordion), Eoin O'Briain (pipes).
This is a beginner friendly workshop open to all aged 12+
The Land: A Creative Writing Workshop
Saturday 31 May
10am to 12pm
An Cupán Café, Mountshannon
(accessibility - manual wheelchair)
€22, €20 with wristband
Belfast-based poet, Niamh McNally will lead this workshop in nature poetry. Using poems from Seamus Heaney, Mary Oliver, and Paula Meehan as prompts, the workshop will explore the theme of land within your writing – both the physical: the soil, rocks, trees and the seasons and metaphysical: our spiritual connections to landscape, ancestors, mythology, memory – and how to use place as a starting point for your work.
There will be mindful discussions and visual prompts in a comfortable environment, to inspire you and get those wonderful words flowing.
We are the land, and it is us. Let's explore it together and tell our stories!
Discover the Art of Slate Mosaic with Brenda Kennelly
Saturday 31 May
11am to 12pm
Market House Gallery, Mountshannon
uneven floor
Free with wristband
Book early, only 8 places available
Inspired by Nature, Rooted in Place:
A Hands-On Journey into Mosaic Art
Join renowned mosaic artist Brenda Kennelly for a captivating introduction to slate mosaic making at the Mountshannon Arts Festival on Saturday, 31 May at 11:00am in the Market Hall. Based in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, Brenda draws deep inspiration from the raw beauty of the Burren, the Atlantic coast, and the rich textures of stone, woodland, and shifting light. Her work, shaped by nature and rooted in place, uses slate, stone, and glass to create striking mosaics that speak to our connection with the land. This hands-on introduction offers a rare opportunity to explore mosaic as a tactile, grounding art form and to engage with natural materials in a meaningful way. Whether you're curious, creative, or just looking for something different - come and be inspired.
Smartphone Photography Workshop with CE Kraemer
Saturday 31 May
3 to 5pm
Photo CE Kraemer
An Cupán Café, Mountshannon
(accessibility - manual wheelchair)
Free with wristband
Book early, only 10 places available
Want to take a truly special picture?
Unlock your smartphone’s full creative potential!
In this 2-hour hands-on workshop, Visual Artist CE Kraemer will guide you through the essentials of photography with your smartphone - from framing and lighting to simple yet powerful editing techniques. Whether you're a beginner or a keen enthusiast, you’ll leave with the skills and confidence to transform everyday snapshots into striking visual impressions.
Bring your phone. Bring your curiosity. Walk away with the beginnings of a new skill.
Fun with Screen Print
Sunday 1 June
11am to 2pm
Hall, Mountshannon
€40, €38 with wristband
Introduction to simple silk screen printing on fabric with local textile artist Nicola Henley.
Using colour and natural forms we will try out print using the ancient Chinese art of screen print. No experience needed, just come along and enjoy creating something special to bring away with you.
3h workshop
12+
Historical Fiction Workshop
with writer Juliana Adelman
Sunday 1 June
3 to 5pm
In this two-hour workshop we will explore world-building, character and narrative voice in historical fiction using examples from novels and short stories. We will also generate story and character ideas through a series of prompts from historical sources. We’ll consider how to ground the reader in specifics without over burdening your text with research, how to create authentic characters and how to decide which point of view to use. Bring questions, your sense of fun and a willingness to experiment.
An Cupán Café, Mountshannon
(accessibility - manual wheelchair)
€22, €20 with wristband