The Irish Workhouse Museum

From left to right: Aileen O'Dowd, Mary Healy-Walshe, David Broderick, Clare Lowery, Frances Robinson, Donal Burke Last night saw the packed launch of the first ever book dedicated to a chapter of Portumna Workhouse history. Finding Ogle: The mystery of the Disappearing Master solves a century old mystery and is the debut book of Local Historian David Broderick. "In 1865 the Master of Portumna Workhouse, Henry Ogle, absconded under a shroud of mystery. It took over 150 years to finally find Ogle. Follow this fascinating story between Ogle and his nemesis, a determined missionary priest, Fr. Patrick Donnellan. The story begins in famine ravaged Ireland, explores the cruelty of the workhouse and crosses the Atlantic into the American Civil War." Original Illustration by Jenny Wood-Sullivan David became fascinated with the mystery of Henry Ogle while he was a researcher at the Irish Workhouse Centre but it has been a long road to the book lau

Behind the Scenes at the Shorelines Gallery set up The upper storeys of the workhouse are slowly being transformed in a wonderland of artistic expression. There is something very cathartic about seeing the walls change from bare, white-washed reminders of a cruel regime to a multi-coloured kaleidoscope of free expression. In case you haven't guessed what I am talking about, it's the return  of the annual art exhibition in The Gallery at the Workhouse. This will run from the 9th September-22nd September. Themes of beauty, mystery, colour and myth are all expressed in a variety of mediums. Let's dive in and see what is on offer! Fine-tuning the painting layout Ann McKenna is a painter and print-maker whose work conjures fairy-tales and Shakespeare in equal measure.  https://www.annmckenna.ie/ Lisa Griffin is an Irish photographer with an amazing eye for fashion photography and a dream-like quality to her work.  https://www.flickr.com/photos/lisagriffinp