Arts centre gets celebrity backing

Tullamore's Community Arts Centre is being championed by not only locals, but those further afield as well. Offaly natives Marina Carr, Neil Delamere, Eugene O'Brien and Declan Recks are all behind the project and are featured on the centre's website www.tullamorecommunityartscentre.ie. Comedian Neil Delamere said he's very much looking forward to the opening of the arts centre, which he said will provide an outlet for the undoubted creativity in Offaly as well as offering a chance for the wider community to experience the arts in new and innovative ways. "I'm assuming Obama will be back to open it," he joked. Playwrights Marina Carr and Eugene O'Brien are also both looking forward to the day an arts centre in Tullamore opens its doors. "There is such natural talent in that part of the country," Ms Carr said. "Now finally it will have an outlet." "It is so important to have a place where new local work can be promoted and supported," Mr O'Brien added. "Also it is great to see the emphasis being put on involving the whole community as the energy, confidence and opportunity that the arts can provide is needed more than ever." Filmmaker Declan Recks said the centre promises to be an exciting focal point for both artists and the arts, and he looks forward to visiting. He added that it was "a credit to all involved" that despite the current economic climate the vision and commitment exists to bring the project to fruition. Offaly Arts Officer Sinead O'Reilly said the backing is welcomed. "Marina, Neil, Eugene and Declan are true ambassadors for Offaly; particularly in the case of Marina and Eugene," she said. "They are creating the future histories of Ireland's cultural legacy. This intrinsic human ability to create new ideas and new cultural forms is exactly what Offaly and Ireland needs to invest in more than ever, as these are the creative ideas that inspire prosperity."