Artist with Offaly connections gets “emotional” after receiving card from former school

Dublin-based artist Shane Gillen has said he got a "little emotional" after receiving a card recently from teachers at his former secondary school in Offaly.

Shane is originally from Sligo but moved to Tullamore when he was twelve and spent his teenage years in Offaly before moving to Dublin.

He shared a photo of the card he received from teachers and students at his former school, Coláiste Choilm on Twitter.

Shane said: "Teachers from my former secondary school in Tullamore sent me up a card and also had their current Leaving Cert art students come up today to see (my) exhibition. After Junior Cert, I was the only student who chose art for the Leaving Cert.

"Rather than be lumped into another subject, the school chose instead to recognise my love of art, saw early talent and so opted for the first time to make it so that I could be the only student to do art for Leaving Cert. For three years they made it so that I would be taught art.

The talented artist continued: "They nurtured creativity in every way across a range of subjects and now almost 20 years later, they’ve not forgotten."

Athlone Arts & Tourism replied to Shane's post on Twitter saying: “What a great story, an inspiration for any young person wishing to study art. Congratulations on your exhibition, and the very best of luck in your creative career, Shane. Well done and fair play to your teachers for supporting you through your studying for the Leaving Cert.”

Shane recently launched his own exhibition, The Architects of Agreement, in The Dean Arts Studio in Dublin city centre which will run until Sunday, May 21.

The Architects of Agreement encompasses a collection of hand-drawn portraits commemorating the signatories of the Good Friday Agreement in honour of 25 years of peace in Ireland.