PRESS RELEASE, 8/07

Waterford Art Student, Anthony Mackey, is the recipient of the 2007 Ted & Mary O’ Regan Arts Bursary. Mr. Mackey was presented with the bursary on Thursday last at a reception which took place at the Waterford City Enterprise Centre.

Winner Anthony Mackey among the O'regan Family and grandchildren who were at the presentation in the Enterprise Centre, August 2007. – Photos: John Power

The bursary is the brainchild of a group of friends and colleagues of the late Ted and Mary O’Regan and was created to honour the couple’s invaluable contribution to the artistic and cultural life of Waterford. Launched in 2005, the bursary is financed by local arts organisations and statutory bodies as well as by the O’ Regan family and by friends and admirers of the much loved couple. Among the organisations who have contributed to the bursary are Waterford Youth Committee, Waterford City Council, Waterford County Council, Waterford City Enterprise Board and Centre, Red Kettle, Garter Lane Arts Centre, Spraoi, WDS and Waterford Youth Arts. Designed to assist local artists to pursue and advance their career in the arts, the Bursary is administered by a group of trustees from the local arts community and is distinguished by the patronage of Waterford playwright, James Cheasty and actress, Anna Manahan.

This year’s winner, Anthony Mackey is a third year Fine Art student at the Limerick School of Art and Design. From Lisduggan, Anthony is a mature student, who, following some years as a factory worker in Waterford, decided to pursue his ambition to become an artist by returning to full time education. The award Committee was extremely impressed by Anthony’s undoubted talent but also by his clear commitment to his vocation as an artist. The Bursary of €4,000 will assist Anthony with the purchase of art material and equipment – in particular with the purchase of a computer, a digital camera and a printer.

 

Artist Niall Murphy receives a cheque for €1,000 from Ciaran Cullen, City Enterprise Board. Included are Mayor Mary O'Halloran, Philip and Margaret Murphy, Anne Queally, Bursary Comm., and Jackie Gaule, City Enterprise Board.

The Award was presented by Her Worship the Mayor, Cllr. Mary O’Halloran who commended the local statutory bodies and arts organisations for their support for the Bursary. Congratulating Anthony Mackey on his success, she felt sure that Ted & Mary would delight in the opportunity it presented for the artist to take the next step in what she hoped would be a long and fruitful career.

The Bursary Committee also made a subsidiary award of €1,500 to local music student, Eadaoin Walsh. Eadaoin is a final year Music student at WIT and the Award will enable her to purchase computer equipment necessary for her final year compositional work.

In addition to these Awards, the imaginative sponsorship of the Waterford City Enterprise Board and the Waterford City Enterprise Centre, have enabled the Committee to make three subsidiary awards to applicants this year. Margaret Bond, Chairperson of the Waterford City Enterprise Centre presented a cheque of €800 to artist April Curtin and a cheque of €700 to Eilis O’Toole, with artist Niall Murphy receiving his award of €1,000 from Ciaran Cullen, Waterford City Enterprise Board.

On the left is playwright and Bursary patron James Cheasty

Chairman of the Bursary working committee, Mr. Bertie Rogers thanked the various groups and statutory bodies for their support for the Award and expressed the thanks of his committee to both the Enterprise Board and Centre for their additional sponsorship. “These awards will be of real practical support to the artists who received them”, Mr. Rogers stated. “But of equal importance must be the injection of confidence they will give to individuals who have the courage to pursue their artistic vision”.

Photo shows Eadaoin receiving the award from Sue Larkin representing Waterford Youth Committee

Margaret Bond, Chairperson of the Waterford City Enterprise Centre presented a cheque for €800 to artist April Curtin and a cheque for €700 to Eilis O’Toole. Photo also includes Bursary patron Anna Manahan, second from left, with Mayor Mary O'Halloran.