Free children's drawing workshop with Teresa Doyle in Athlone

Young artists are being invited to immerse themselves in an art afternoon in Athlone on Saturday, July 18.

Entitled Threads of Place, the event will see artist Teresa Doyle lead a sensory-led tour and drawing workshop for children aged between 8 years and 12 years.

The free workshop will begin with a drawing tour at the Luan Gallery, giving the children an opportunity to experiment with different drawing styles and techniques inspired by Amanda Ralph and Samir Mahmood's works, which are being exhibited at the gallery as its current showcase.

Teresa will then lead the group to Abbey Road Artists’ Studios for a still-life drawing session using artefacts from Athlone Castle’s handling collection, with a special focus on life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The project is aimed at connecting key moments in Athlone’s history from the Siege of Athlone through to the early twentieth century, while also engaging with layered histories of sites such as the former Athlone Workhouse and the neighbouring Franciscan Abbey ruins.

Dubbed as the dollmaker of Ireland’s hidden heartlands, Teresa lives outside a small village in rural Ireland. She has spent the last decade developing her craft business, creating handcrafted dolls using much-loved materials that evoke precious memories and recall celebration, people, places, and events.

The event is organised by Athlone Arts & Tourism, which also operates Luan Gallery, Athlone Castle Visitor Centre, and Abbey Road Studios and Community Space in Athlone.

It is supported by Westmeath Arts Office and Creative Ireland 2026 Community Grant.This collaborative visual arts project connects contemporary creative practice with Athlone's rich cultural and historical heritage.

This free event is open to children of all abilities, aged between 8 and 12 years. It will begin at 11am at the Luan Gallery, from where the children will be led to Abbey Road Artists' Studios for the drawing workshop.

Spaces are limited, and booking in advance is essential. To book your place, visit luangallery.ie or www.athlonecastle.ie.