Lismore Castle Arts

For art lovers looking for a cultural holiday abroad then Lismore Castle Arts in Co Waterford is the place to visit. Known as ‘contemporary art in a historic setting’ Lismore Castle Arts is a series of exhibitions held in amazing and historic venue. The castle itself was built by Prince John in 1185 with a round tower being added in the 13th century that still stands today. Ever since it was built the castle has attracted many a famous visitor and was the birth place of Robert Boyle the scientist who determined ‘Boyle’s Law’. Throughout the years the castle has changed hands and at one point was owned by Sir Walter Raleigh.

The critically acclaimed gardens have also drawn people in from afar with poets such as Spencer, Thackeray and Betjeman having walked down its beautiful paths. Now part of the castle is devoted to the Lismore Castle Arts who host contemporary exhibitions of visual art with the aim of promoting these works to a wider audience.

The art gallery is located in the West wing of the castle which was left to ruin before being restored. One major exhibition is held every year and runs alongside a program of tours, workshops and other arts related events. Visitors to the gallery are encouraged to spend time admiring the works inside before venturing out into the gardens and enjoying the landscape space that has been created there. The garden is also home to a permanent collection of modern sculpture that visitors will find as they walk around. Visitors to the castle gardens are able to visit the gallery and its exhibition at no additional charge.

The exhibition for this year is titled ‘United Technologies’ and showcases work from five renowned artists. These artists; Stefan Brüggemann, Rita McBride, Corey McCorkle, Jason Rhoades and Ai Weiwei; have all taken everyday objects out of their usual environment and exposed them in a different context. All pieces explore the relationship between nature, technology, art, design and architecture. The exhibition has been carefully put together to encourage visitors to think about what the pieces say and reflect on their thoughts on the subject. For any art lover this is a great exhibition to visit, housed in an amazing venue.

Getting to Lismore Castle could not be easier and is great for both a day trip and for longer visits. Lismore town can be reached by car and is around forty-five minutes away from both the major cities of Cork and Waterford. For visitors wanting to come and visit from overseas then the nearest international airport is Cork. If you are entering Ireland by a different city Waterford has its own regional airport. Driving to Lismore is easy and an excellent stop if you are considering a driving holiday though the South of Ireland. There are plenty of options for car hire in Ireland, which makes a driving holiday through Ireland an excellent choice if you want to get a real taste of the country and its culture.



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For more information on Lismore Castle Arts contact Exploring Ireland