Weavings, Words and Prints

An Exhibition of Weavings, Words and Prints by Sally Mulcahy and Emer Fallon, in association with Féile na Bealtaine 2026.

Opening Reception / Fáiltiú Oscailte - Thursday April 30th, 5.30pm / Dé Déardaoin 30ú Aibreán, 5.30 i.n

Exhibition runs until May 4th / Beidh an taispeántas oscailte go dtí an 4ú Bealtaine.

Participating Artists / Ealaíontóirí - Emer Fallon and Sally Mucahy

Emer Fallon brings her lino prints and words together in a handmade book, This is the Field, using charcoal ink made from a West Kerry tree. Tugann Emer Fallon a priontaí líonóile agus a focail le chéile i leabhar lámhdhéanta, This is the Field, ag baint úsáide as dúch gualaigh. 

Sally Mulcahy’s weavings reflect her mother Lisbeth’s influence but bring us to new and unexpected places, while her prints embrace a variety of techniques. Léiríonn fíodóireacht Sally Mulcahy tionchar a máthar Lisbeth ach tugann sí sinn chuig áiteanna nua gan choinne.

Artists Statements and Biography

Sally Mulcahy is a Tapestry Weaver and Printmaker who grew up in the heart of the West Kerry Gaeltacht and now lives with her family in Manor Kilbride, West Wicklow.

Sally studied Tapestry Weaving under the tutelage of her mother, the renowned Tapestry Weaver, Designer and Printmaker Lisbeth Mulcahy. Over the years Sally assisted Lisbeth in weaving large multi panel commissioned tapestries for government departments such as The Department of Foreign Affairs, The Department of Housing and for Private Collections worldwide. While Sally still weaves in the same method and yarns as Lisbeth did she is developing her own distinct personality and style incorporating her interests in the natural and built environments.

Sally took over the designing and weaving of Tapestry Commissions for Siopa na BhFíodóirí when Lisbeth passed in 2023.

During the Covid lockdowns Sally began to explore her interest in printmaking by teaching herself basic skills and techniques of reduction lino and dry-point printmaking.  When restrictions lifted Sally began attending courses held by the Graphic Studio Dublin primarily under the tutelage of Clare Henderson. There Sally studied intaglio printmaking including soft and hard ground etching, aquatint, spitbite and Chine coillé.

Sally loves bold strong colour and has a keen interest in the outdoors loosing herself in nature or built environments. The contrast between the strength and beauty found in industrial plants and buildings versus the destructive nature of the same on the natural world has always fascinated Sally as does the contrast between neuro-typical and neuro-diverse personalities and their interaction with the surrounding world. She tries to find beauty in the chaos of everyday life and living.

Emer Fallon uses west Kerry rock and charcoal pigments to create lino prints that complement her written work. She is interested in exploring the interplay between words and images using natural materials rooted in place.

She has exhibited her lino prints and poetry in a joint show with ceramic artist Caroline Barry as part of Féile na Bealtaine 2019, and in a collaboration with Nasc Productions at Grilse Gallery, Killorglin for Culture Night 2024, and at Féile na Bealtaine 2024.

She received an Agility Award in 2021 to fund her work writing and illustrating a children’s book featuring her prints, accompanied by a short playful text in Irish and English. This project is almost complete.

This is the field brings together poetry and simple lino-cut images to tell the story of a west Kerry tree that died one winter after the loss of a parent. Alongside text and images, short clips record the tree’s metamorphosis over a three year period. The black and white images featured in the exhibition and in a simple handmade book are printed with birch charcoal ink made from the dead tree.

For additional information visit: www.feilenabealtaine.ie

If you would like further information on Emer’s work email emerfallon42@gmail.com

If you would like further information on Sally's work email sallymulcahy1@gmail.com