Our pupils recently took part in the BLAST Arts in Education Programme, which provides children with the opportunity to work with a professional creative practitioner on imaginative and engaging projects.
This year, we were delighted to welcome our Artist-in-Residence, Kathryn McGuire, who worked with the children over several sessions on a visual arts project inspired by the legend of Diarmuid and Gráinne. During the residency, pupils explored a variety of materials and techniques while learning about landscape, legend, and natural forms.
As part of the project, the children created detailed plasticine models of Gráinne and Diarmuid’s cave, produced fern leaf drawings using oak gall ink, and completed observational sketches of rocks inspired by the cave environment. The project also included a whole-school collaborative backdrop collage representing the cave as it stands on Benwiskin Mountain.
The residency was a rich and rewarding experience, encouraging creativity, teamwork, and artistic confidence. We are extremely proud of the children’s imagination, effort, and the wonderful body of work they produced.
