Sculpture at Westport Quay 2021

Custom House Studios in cooperation with Mayo County Council were pleased to host an outdoor exhibition of contemporary sculpture at Westport Quay, Co Mayo, in Summer 2021.

Exhibiting Artists: Donnacha Cahill, Eileen Mac Donagh, Lelia Ni Chathmhaoil / Aoife Casby, Maeve Curley, John Gibbons, Conleth Gent, Kathlyn O’Brien, Paul Mosse, Vivian Hansbury, Andrew Folan, Emma Bourke.

Text by Catherine Marshall
Text by Noelle Angley

Westport is situated at the entrance to Clew Bay dominated by Croagh Patrick. It has the distinction of being one of Ireland’s few planned towns. One of the chief architectural landmarks of Westport is Westport House. Westport’s location led to the development of the Quay harbour area and was Mayo’s main port until the coming of the railways in the 1870s. No longer used for commercial shipping, now a suburb notable for its many warehouse conversions, restaurants and public amenities.

There is a positive history of large sculpture projects in Co Mayo – such as the ‘Achill Island Sculpture Symposium’ and the Tír Sáile Project in North Mayo, and the public art programme from Mayo County Council.

The exhibition was organised by Custom House Studios with support from Mayo County Council, South West Mayo Development Company and Mayo Local Action Group for the Transitional LEADER Programme Funding, Mayo Creative Ireland Community Grant Scheme and the Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Funding Scheme 2021 from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.

The exhibition was supported by the elected representatives from the Westport area, Cllr. Peter Flynn, Cllr. Christy Hyland, Cllr. Brendan Mulroy and Cllr. John O Malley, and we wish to thank officials and members of staff at Westport Belmullet Municipal District of Mayo County Council.

Custom House Studios is an artist led studios and gallery at Westport Quay funded by Mayo County Council, Pobal and The Arts Council of Ireland.