Athlone artist Emer Gaffey with a previous example of her work.

Athlone artist to present 'After the Peat' exhibition

Kieran Galvin

Published: Fri 22 Aug 2025, 4:25 PM

Last updated: Fri 22 Aug 2025, 7:43 PM

Athlone-based artist Emer Gaffey returns with a powerful new exhibition entitled 'After the Peat' which opens on Thursday, August 28, in the atrium of Athlone Civic Centre.

Rooted in the familiar yet transforming landscape of the midlands, the exhibition invites viewers to consider the evolving story of our local boglands — from once heavily worked extraction sites to fragile, biodiverse ecosystems in recovery. Indeed, the exhibition carries the subtitle 'A reflection on the changing face of Ireland’s bogs'.

Gaffey’s work, known for its meticulous detail and emotional resonance, captures the quiet transitions taking place in these rewilding environments. Through a series of vivid landscapes and observational studies, 'After the Peat' documents the return of plant life and the subtle ecological shifts occurring as bogs are allowed to heal.

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‘The last autumn with you’ - an example of Emer Gaffey’s work.

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A piece called ‘Petrichor’ which refes to a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.

Speaking about this exhibition, Emer said: “Bogs are places of deep memory. They carry our past, but now they also offer hope for the future as carbon sinks, habitats, and sites of regeneration. This work explores that transformation.”

A native of Bonavalley, Athlone, Emer lives in Moydrum with her husband John and family, and she is a teacher in Moate Community School.

The exhibition opens with a public reception on Thursday, August 28 at 5.30pm (running until 7pm), where visitors can meet the artist and explore the works in person. Refreshments will be served.