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Ormston House

@ormstonhouse

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Ormston House is a meeting place for the arts in the heart of Limerick city.
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It was a pleasure to host artist Gary Farrelly (O.J.A.I.), architects Gary A. Boyd and John McLaughlin last Saturday.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this event as part of ‘Alt-West / Alt-Thiar’ by the Office for Joint Administrative Intelligence (O.J.A.I.).

Gary Farrelly (O.J.A.I.), Gary A. Boyd and John McLaughlin discussed how infrastructure, technology, and architecture evolved in Ireland from 1916 to 2016. Boyd and McLaughlin curated the project that preceded the book of the same name, ‘Infra Éireann – Making Ireland Modern’ for Ireland’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale Architettura in 2014.

‘Alt-West / Alt-Thiar’ will run until 14 November and is also supported by the Goethe-Institut.

Images by Shane Vaughan.

Image descriptions:
1. Three people stand in front of a grey and red map. From left to right: Gary Farrelly, Gary A. Boyd and John McLaughlin. Farrelly points to a page in a book while the other two men look on.
2. Gary A. Boyd and John McLaughlin present to an audience. In the centre of the image is a grey podium, in the background a large map is hung on an off-white wall. A TV screen is to the left showing the painting ‘Night’s Candles are Burnt Out’ by Seán Keating.
3. Gary Farrelly, Gary A. Boyd and John McLaughlin sit in black chairs talking to an audience. by @ormstonhouse

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a day ago

We want to thank everyone who joined us on Saturday, 3 October for the closing event of the Wexford iteration of ‘Memory of a Free Festival’.

This event reflected on the Carnsore Point anti-nuclear festivals that took place in Wexford between 1978 and 1981. The panel was made up of artist and shepherd Orla Barry, former Minister Brendan Howlin, and musician Freddie White, chaired by curator Caimin Walsh. The conversation explored the connections between art, music, activism and community.

The panel concluded by inviting audience members, who had attended or were involved in organising the festivals, to share their memories and reflections on the historic events.

Images by Jim Campbell.

Image descriptions:
1. Four people sit on a stage in conversation. From left to right: Freddie White, Orla Barry and Brendan Howlin, and Caimin Walsh. In the background there is a white projection screen.
2. An audience sits on tiered seating, there are steps in the centre and the seats are red and black. Four people sit on a stage in conversation. From left to right: Freddie White, Orla Barry and Brendan Howlin, and Caimin Walsh. In the background there is a white projection screen. by @ormstonhouse

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3 days ago

Reminder!

Tomorrow, 10 October at 3pm we will host an event as part of ‘Alt-West / Alt-Thiar’ by the Office for Joint Administrative Intelligence (O.J.A.I.).

Join us for a discussion between Gary Farrelly (O.J.A.I.), Gary A. Boyd and John McLaughlin. The discussion will explore how infrastructure, technology, and architecture evolved in Ireland from 1916 to 2016.

Boyd and McLaughlin curated the project that preceded the book of the same name, ‘Infra Éireann – Making Ireland Modern’. ‘Making Ireland Modern’ was a mobile pavilion originally constructed as the Irish Pavilion for Venice 2014.

The project was then expanded and reconfigured as a touring exhibition in Ireland for ART: 2016. Between July and November 2016 ‘Making Ireland Modern’ toured to three venues across Ireland in Galway, Cork and Dublin.

Admission is free and no ticket is required.

‘Alt-West / Alt-Thiar’ will run until 14 November and is also supported by the Goethe-Institut.

Image by Alice Clancy.

Image description:
A grid structure forms walls and bisects the space, drawings and photographs sit in some of the negative spaces. In the foreground of the image a model of a building is made of transparent material. In the centre two people stand with their backs to the camera. A grid structure forms walls and bisects the space, drawings and photographs sit in some of the negative spaces. In the foreground of the image a model of a building is made of transparent material. In the centre two people stand with their backs to the camera. by @ormstonhouse

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9 days ago

Thanks to Declan Long for his insightful review of ‘Memory of a Free Festival’ in the September 2026 issue of ArtReview.

Long writes “These anti-nuclear protest gatherings in the late 1970s – and their atmosphere of optimism born of convivial en masse comradeship – have a lot to teach us today.”

You can read the review via the link in our bio.

‘Memory of a Free Festival’ will tour to Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre in January 2027.

Image by Taring Padi, courtesy of ArtReview.

Image descriptions:
1. Several people hold up a cardboard cut-out showing the earth being held up by hands at the bottom. A chain is shown breaking from the hands. Around the earth a red banner reads "HUMANITY, PEACE & FREEDOM". At the top of the image black texts reads "ArtReview"
2. Black text on a white background shows an excerpt from a review. At the top of the image black texts reads "ArtReview"
3. Black text on a white background shows an excerpt from a review. At the top of the image black texts reads "ArtReview" Several people hold up a cardboard cut-out showing the earth being held up by hands at the bottom. A chain is shown breaking from the hands. Around the earth a red banner reads "HUMANITY, PEACE & FREEDOM". At the top of the image in black texts reads "ArtReview" by @ormstonhouse

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11 days ago

Alt-West / Alt-Thiar: Infra Éireann talk

Saturday 10 October, 3pm at @ormstonhouse
@gary__farrelly (O.J.A.I.) will present the current exhibition Alt-West / Alt-Thiar, alongside architects Gary A. Boyd and John McLaughlin presenting their "Infra Éireann: Making Ireland Modern" research. The presentations will be followed by a conversation on infrastructure, architecture and the building of the Irish state.

Free admission, no booking required.

Image: Concorde at Shannon Airport, 14 August 1984. Courtesy of Shannon Development. Reproduced from Infra Éireann, p. 122, published by Ashgate. taken in Ormston House by @ormstonhouse

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13 days ago

Join us on Saturday, 10 October at 3pm for a discussion between Gary Farrelly (O.J.A.I.), Gary A. Boyd and John McLaughlin. Admission is free and no ticket is required.

Boyd and McLaughlin curated the project that preceded the book of the same name, ‘Infra Éireann – Making Ireland Modern’ for Ireland’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale Architettura in 2014. The discussion will explore the relationship between Irish infrastructure, technology, and architectural production between 1916 to 2016.

This event is part of ‘Alt-West / Alt-Thiar’ programme of events, by the Office for Joint Administrative Intelligence (O.J.A.I.). The O.J.A.I. was founded in 2015 by Chris Dreier and Gary Farrelly. This exhibition results from an invitation by Ormston House for the O.J.A.I. to direct their focus on Limerick and the Mid-West of Ireland.

'Alt-West / Alt-Thiar' will run until 14 November and is also supported by the Goethe-Institut.

Image by Alice Clancy.

Image description:
Grey steps lead up to a platform, a grid structure forming walls bisects the space. Transparent material sits within some of the grid's negative space, with drawings and photographs on the material. Grey steps lead up to a platform, a grid structure forming walls bisects the space. Transparent material sits within some of the grid's negative space, with drawings and photographs on the material. by @ormstonhouse

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16 days ago

Thank you to everyone who submitted to our open call for 'The Limerick Show'. The selection process is underway.

We will be in touch with all applicants as soon as possible. Due to the high volume of applications, we ask for your patience during this time.

'The Limerick Show' is kindly supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Limerick Arts Office.

Image by Jed Niezgoda.

Image description:
An installation view of the 2024 edition of ‘The Limerick Show’. Two TV screens are in the centre of the image. In the background multiple artworks are hung on grey walls. An installation view of the 2024 edition of ‘The Limerick Show’. Two TV screens are in the centre of the image. In the background multiple artworks are hung on grey walls. by @ormstonhouse

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22 days ago

Thank you to everyone who joined us last Friday for Culture Night. The exhibition ‘Alt-West / Alt-Thiar’ opened with a new performance by the Office for Joint Administrative Intelligence (O.J.A.I.).

This exhibition results from an invitation by Ormston House for the O.J.A.I. to direct their focus on Limerick and the Mid-West of Ireland. The resulting body of work is the culmination of a two-year investigation involving site visits and fieldwork.

For this exhibition the O.J.A.I. have created a suite of new artworks addressing infrastructures of energy and transport, built heritage and social geography. The artists also collaborated with @julia.zinn.bauer, @spassberger, and @stephanie.becquet in the process.

The exhibition will run until 14 November and is supported by the Goethe-Institut. Ormston House is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Limerick Arts Office.

Images by Shane Vaughan.

Image descriptions:
1. The O.J.A.I. perform to an audience, in front of a large vinyl map. In the centre of the image Gary Farrelly speaks at a grey podium, to the right Chris Dreier sits at a table.
2. Gary Farrelly and Chris Dreier (left to right) stand behind a grey podium with a microphone between them. Gary Farrelly has short hair and is wearing a black shirt. Chris Dreier has long dark brown hair and is wearing a black blazer and neck-tie.
3. Chris Dreier performs on various synthesisers on a white table. On the left of the table there are several tapes.
4. Gary Farrelly draws a diagram on a large sheet of white paper in red marker, while speaking into a microphone.
5. Gary Farrelly and Chris Dreier put on yellow and grey ‘Ceremonial Sashes’ made in collaboration with Stephanie Becquet. The O.J.A.I. perform to an audience, in front of a large vinyl map. In the centre of the image Gary Farrelly speaks at a grey podium, to the right Chris Dreier sits at a table. by @ormstonhouse

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24 days ago

Join us on Saturday, 3 October at Wexford Arts Centre from 2–4pm for the closing event of the Wexford iteration of ‘Memory of a Free Festival’. The event is free, but booking is required. Tickets are available via the link in our bio.

As part of ‘Memory of a Free Festival’, Wexford Arts Centre in association with Ormston House, presents a conversation between artist and shepherd Orla Barry, former Minister Brendan Howlin, and musician Freddie White, chaired by curator Caimin Walsh.

Reflecting on the Carnsore Point anti-nuclear festivals, which brought thousands of people to Wexford between 1978 and 1981, the panel will explore the connections between art, music, activism and community, and consider the continuing cultural and political legacy of these remarkable gatherings.

The exhibition will tour to Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre in January 2027.

Organised by Ormston House with funding from the Arts Council of Ireland through the Touring of Work Scheme.

Image caption: Detail of ‘Streaming From The Source, Rhythms of Resistance’, by Alanna O’Kellly, 2026.

Image by Claudio Nego.

Image description:
A black and white image shows dark silhouettes of figures holding hands in a circle on top of a wall. Debris litters the ground and a car is to the bottom right of the image. by @ormstonhouse

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a month ago

Reminder!

Join us on Culture Night, this Friday, from 6-9pm for the exhibition preview of ‘Alt-West / Alt-Thiar’ by the Office for Joint Administrative Intelligence (O.J.A.I.). The exhibition opens with a performance from 6.30–7.30pm, and remains open until 9pm. Admission is free and booking is not required.

The O.J.A.I. was founded in 2015 by Chris Dreier and Gary Farrelly. This exhibition results from an invitation by Ormston House for the O.J.A.I. to direct their focus on Limerick and the Mid-West of Ireland. The resulting body of work is the culmination of a two-year investigation involving site visits and fieldwork. The artists also collaborated with @julia.zinn.bauer, @spassberger and @stephanie.becquet in the process.

‘Alt-West / Alt-Thiar’ reflects upon Irish modernity and the ways in which the nation has, over the past half-century, become an integral constituent within global networks.

The exhibition will run from 19 September until 14 November and is supported by the Goethe-Institut. Ormston House is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Limerick Arts Office.

Image courtesy of the O.J.A.I.

Image description:
The image depicts a map of Ireland and the UK. An orange arrow points to a spot in the republic of Ireland which is a dark blue colour, white text reads ‘Ireland’. The surrounding area of water is covered in orange stripes. At the bottom of the image in a grey box, dark grey text reads ‘Culmination Compression Phase’ and ‘Alt-West / Alt-Thiar -68 days’. The image depicts a map of Ireland and the UK. An orange arrow points to a spot in the republic of Ireland which is a dark blue colour, white text reads ‘Ireland’. The surrounding area of water is covered in orange stripes. At the bottom of the image in a grey box, dark grey text reads ‘Culmination Compression Phase’ and ‘Alt-West / Alt-Thiar -68 days’. by @ormstonhouse

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a month ago

Thank you to everyone who joined us last Saturday for the closing event for 'Energy Made Visible'.

This afternoon of electronic music by Jürgen Simpson and Neil O’Connor was a response to the paintings of the late Michael Ashur. The centrepiece of the performance was a Buchla 200e analog modular synthesizer, designed by electronic music pioneer Don Buchla. This event highlighted aesthetic and technical parallels between Ashur’s paintings and developments that occurred in electronic music in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

‘Energy Made Visible’ is supported by the University of Limerick, Kildare County Council, and the Estate of Michael Ashur. Ormston House is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Limerick Arts Office.

Images by Shane Vaughan.

Image descriptions:
1. Simpson and O’Connor perform in front of a crowd. A large angular canvas is in the background.
2. Jürgen Simpson and Neil O’Connor perform on various instruments and modular synthesis machines on tables. A large angular canvas is in the background and a small circular iron sculpture is to the right hung on an off-white wall.
3. Neil O’Connor performs on a modular synthesis keyboard on a table. He is wearing a blue jacket and navy trousers.
4. Jürgen Simpson performs on various modular synthesis machines on a table. He is wearing a white t-shirt and black jeans.
5. Jürgen Simpson and Neil O’Connor (left to right) stand beside a Buchla synthesis machine that is on a blue platform. A large angular painting is in the background, hung on an off-white wall. Simpson and O’Connor perform in front of a crowd. A large angular canvas is in the background. by @ormstonhouse

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a month ago

Save the date!

Ormston House warmly invites you to the exhibition preview of ‘Alt-West / Alt-Thiar’ on Culture Night, Friday, 18 September from 6-9pm. The exhibition opens with a performance from 6.30–7.30pm, and remains open until 9pm. Admission is free and booking is not required.

‘Alt-West / Alt-Thiar’, is an exhibition by the Office for Joint Administrative Intelligence (O.J.A.I.). The O.J.A.I. was founded in 2015 by Chris Dreier and Gary Farrelly. Since then, the duo have created a body of work encompassing performance, installation, postal correspondence, publishing, radio broadcasts and sound works.

This exhibition results from an invitation by Ormston House for the O.J.A.I. to direct their focus on Limerick and the Mid-West of Ireland. The resulting body of work is the culmination of a two-year investigation involving site visits and fieldwork. For this exhibition the O.J.A.I. have created a suite of new artworks focusing on infrastructures of energy and transport, built heritage and social geography. In these new works factual data fuses with material of a more emotive and frequently absurd nature.

The exhibition will run from 19 September until 14 November and is supported by the Goethe-Institut. Ormston House is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Limerick Arts Office.

Design by Oisin Ralph. Images courtesy of O.J.A.I.

Image descriptions:
1. White text reads 'Alt. West//Alt, Thiar' at the top of the image on a background of a black and white image of several airplanes in an airport. Black text reads 'Office for Joint Administrative Intelligence (O.J.A.I.).' on a white background.
2. Black text reads 'Office for Joint Administrative Intelligence (O.J.A.I.).' on a white background at the top of the image. Black text reads '/ ALT. WEST / ALT. THIAR' at the bottom of the image. In the centre a black and white image depicts an office building, on the right corner black text reads 'Collector General Sarsfield House Limerick City'.
3. At the bottom of the image black text reads '18.09 – 14.11.2026 Ormston House' on an orange background. To the right a black and white image of a high-rise building, with many small glass windows. White text reads 'Alt. West//Alt, Thiar' at the top of the image on a background of a black and white image of several airplanes in an airport. Black text reads 'Office for Joint Administrative Intelligence (O.J.A.I.).’ on a white background. by @ormstonhouse

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a month ago