June 2019: A Contemporary Artist Residency in Wild Ireland: My Time at Cill Rialaig

Last year, I was thrilled to be selected for a contemporary artist residency at Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, nestled in County Kerry, Ireland. Since getting that long-awaited acceptance email, I’ve been jotting down notes, making plans, and — true to form — writing list after list to prepare.

This is my first-ever residency, and I’m determined to make the most of it. Not just because it’s a rare opportunity but because I know this could shift something fundamental in my practice.

My First Contemporary Artist Residency

For emerging artists, a contemporary artist residency can be a game-changer. It’s about more than just a temporary studio space — it’s time, headspace, and a chance to reconnect with the work away from daily life.

It’s also daunting! This is my first residency, and while the freedom is exciting, the blank space ahead also feels a little intimidating. But I know that’s part of the point of a residency— to allow space for experimentation, play, and give myself a jolt of the unknown and see what happens.

Cill Rialaig: An International Art Residency in Ireland’s Wild West

The Cill Rialaig Arts Centre is located in a restored famine village on the Atlantic coast, in one of Ireland’s Gaeltacht regions — where Irish is still spoken as the first language. It’s a unique location, both culturally and geographically. The surrounding landscape is raw, windswept, and alive.

This international art residency in Ireland has welcomed artists from across the globe. I feel privileged to be a part of that legacy as it is very well respected in the art world

Going Off-Grid: No Wi-Fi, No Distractions

One of the most unique aspects of this residency is its complete lack of connectivity — no Wi-Fi, no mobile signal, no digital distractions. In a world that’s constantly online, the thought of being completely “off-grid” is a little nerve-wracking. I think it will be healthy and comforting to know I can operate without being connected.

It’s been years since I’ve operated without the internet. I’m guessing this is the same for you, reader?

I’m hoping this silence — this space — will shift something in the work. Without the constant hum of outside input, I expect the process will become more meditative, more grounded. 

Materials, Packing, and the Art of Letting Go

At the moment, I’m in my studio making tough decisions about what materials to take. Oil paint is my usual medium, but it’s not the most travel-friendly. Will I be allowed to fly with it? Should I pivot and work with gouache or charcoal instead?

Something is appealing about stripping everything back — choosing materials that respond to the landscape or even collecting earth pigments while I’m there. The residency is just as much about being responsive as it is about producing.

What the Irish Landscape Could Do to My Practice

I’ve always been interested in how place affects painting — how light, weather, and geography shape what appears on canvas. The wild beauty of Kerry will no doubt seep into the work, whether I’m making sketches, paintings, or just letting ideas breathe.

Ultimately, I’m looking forward to seeing how this contemporary Irish landscape art experience influences my practice. Whether it’s directly through imagery or more subtly in tone and rhythm, I know something will shift.

After the Residency

Once I return from the residency, I’ll be taking time to reflect on the experience and begin translating those ideas into new work. I’m hoping that I will have sparked some ideas that will peak my interest for a full body of work.

Either way, my studio will be busy with new visual directions- book a studio visit if that sounds interesting.

Thanks for reading,

Aisling