Burren College of Art

Burren College of Art Our mission is to be a hothouse of artists- reflective and challenging; remote and connected; at the confluence of cultures.

Registered Irish Charity (RCN: 20040697) Burren College of Art is an internationally recognised not-for-profit independent college specialising in undergraduate and graduate fine art education. We offer artists and art students from around the world time, space and inspiration within the unique environment of the Burren. The Master of Fine Art programme is accredited by the National University of

Ireland, Galway and is operated in association with the Royal College of Art, London and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Our undergraduate Study Abroad programmes, Summer School and Artist Residency Scheme also recruit internationally.

Burren College of Art is delighted to announce that Alvy Carragher has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 David ...
02/06/2026

Burren College of Art is delighted to announce that Alvy Carragher has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 David Whyte Poet in Residence Award.

Based in Dublin, Alvy Carragher is the author of three poetry collections, most recently What Remains the Same (The Gallery Press, 2024), which was shortlisted for the Farmgate National Poetry Award. She is currently a recipient of Poetry Ireland’s Eavan Boland Award (2025–2026) and is at work on her fourth poetry collection and a book of short stories.

Made possible through the generosity of poet David Whyte, the residency supports a poet living in Ireland with time and space to develop their work within the creative community of Burren College of Art.

Congratulations, Alvy. We look forward to welcoming you to Ballyvaughan later this year.

Now showing: New Research at The Gallery, University of Galway.Presented by Burren College of Art in partnership with Un...
26/05/2026

Now showing: New Research at The Gallery, University of Galway.

Presented by Burren College of Art in partnership with University of Galway, the exhibition features work by PhD researchers Lea Farrell, Nicole Monahan and JD Whitman.

Bringing together investigations into landscape, marine conservation and artificial intelligence, New Research offers an introduction to different approaches to artistic research.

The exhibition forms part of Project RARE and runs alongside the Society for Artistic Research (SAR) International Forum on Artistic Research.

📍 The Gallery, The Quadrangle, University of Galway
📅 May 26 – June 26
🕙 Tuesday–Saturday | 10am–6pm

Learn more via the link in our bio under “Exhibitions”

Looking back at (UN)EARTHED: through air, tied to each other, the 2026 MFA Graduate Exhibition at Burren College of Art....
22/05/2026

Looking back at (UN)EARTHED: through air, tied to each other, the 2026 MFA Graduate Exhibition at Burren College of Art.

Across installation, print, sculpture, and moving image, Karen St Pierre, Sarah Vandermeer, and Elana (Oak) Morchowereach brought distinct approaches and perspectives to the gallery, creating an exhibition that stayed with us long after it closed.

Thank you to everyone who came through and spent time with the work.

Congratulations again to our graduating MFA artists. It has been a privilege to witness your individual practices develop over your time at BCA, and we look forward to following where they lead next.

Exhibition dates: April 11–24, 2026

It’s always meaningful to see familiar faces return to the college.Over the past few weeks, we’ve had the pleasure of we...
18/05/2026

It’s always meaningful to see familiar faces return to the college.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming back former Burren College of Art students visiting Ballyvaughan and reconnecting with the studios, exhibitions, and landscape that shaped their time here.

Pictured here are Kristin Benoit, who studied abroad at BCA in 2013 and recently returned with her family, Brad Kalin, who studied abroad at Burren College of Art in 1997, and Morgan Whitehead, Post-Baccalaureate alumna from 2016.

Now showing in the Gallery at Burren College of Art: This Crazy World, an exhibition of new work by Ukrainian artist Yev...
13/05/2026

Now showing in the Gallery at Burren College of Art: This Crazy World, an exhibition of new work by Ukrainian artist Yevhen Svitlychnyi.

This exhibition is the final part of Svitlychnyi’s Gray Art Cycle, a series of projects developed over the past four years in response to the war in Ukraine and the ongoing uncertainty of the contemporary world.

Originally from Kharkiv, Svitlychnyi has been an artist-in-residence at Burren College of Art since 2022.

On view from May 11 – June 5
The Gallery | Burren College of Art
Gallery hours: Mon–Fri, 9:30am–5pm

🔗To learn more about this and upcoming exhibitions, follow the link in our bio.

Celebrating the Burren College of Art graduates of 2025.On April 23rd, students, staff, family and friends gathered at N...
07/05/2026

Celebrating the Burren College of Art graduates of 2025.

On April 23rd, students, staff, family and friends gathered at Newtown Castle in Ballyvaughan to celebrate this year’s graduating PhD, MFA, MA and Post-Baccalaureate students.

Held on campus inside Newtown Castle, the day marked the culmination of months and years spent researching, making, questioning, and shaping individual practices.

Congratulations to all of this year’s graduates. We look forward to seeing where your practices take you.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat!

MINDFULNESS AND CREATIVITYwith Yvonne FannonA four-day workshop combining mindfulness practice with creative work, based...
30/04/2026

MINDFULNESS AND CREATIVITY
with Yvonne Fannon

A four-day workshop combining mindfulness practice with creative work, based in both the Burren landscape and the studio.

Each day moves between time outdoors and time making — using drawing, painting, collage, or mixed media to respond to what you see and experience.

No prior experience is necessary.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own materials and any ongoing creative work.

2–5 June 2026
€320

Limited places available.
Book via the link in our bio.

From Earth to Form: Sculpting with Burren ClayA four-day, studio-based workshop working directly with locally gathered c...
29/04/2026

From Earth to Form: Sculpting with Burren Clay

A four-day, studio-based workshop working directly with locally gathered clay.

Working with clay sourced from the Burren landscape, you’ll move from raw material to a finished, fired piece, developing your own approach through pinch, coil, and slab.

The focus is on process, material, and building confidence through making, with individual support throughout.

No prior experience required.

June 2–5
€320
Small group — places limited.

Sign up via the link in bio.

Walking, painting and the Burren.This four-day workshop with Conor McGrady immerses participants in the limestone landsc...
28/04/2026

Walking, painting and the Burren.

This four-day workshop with Conor McGrady immerses participants in the limestone landscape of the Burren and the studios at Burren College of Art.

A series of guided walks will provide the opportunity to respond to this unique environment through on-site drawing and gathering visual source material. Studio time will then focus on transforming these experiences through painting.

Working in oils or acrylics, participants will be introduced to a range of technical approaches, with teaching centred on individual tutorials and discussion.

Previous painting experience is helpful, but not essential.

June 2–5
€320
Small group — a few places remaining.

Book via the link in bio.

Last weekend’s opening of (UN)EARTHED: through air, tied to each other.Across installation, print, sculpture, and moving...
21/04/2026

Last weekend’s opening of (UN)EARTHED: through air, tied to each other.

Across installation, print, sculpture, and moving image, the exhibition traces entanglement in a world that refuses stillness.

Part of Burren College of Art’s end-of-year exhibitions, with work unfolding across the gallery, studios, and Barn.

Thank you to everyone who came through, stayed, listened, and looked closely.

On view in the Main Gallery through April 24.

Photographs by

Address

Newtown Castle
Ballyvaughan
COUNTYCLARE

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+353657077200

Website

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