Fran Curry discusses a wide range of topics with Robert Ballagh, including inspirations for his work and the reason for his activism in Irish society. Claire Bentley introduces the segment as it was recorded in The Main Guard of Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland during the Clonmel Junction Arts Festival on July 2, 2019.

You can see more details at http://junctionfestival.com

01:27 Unemployed before Clonmel commission.

02:00 Phil Lynott played Robert's guitar.

03:49 Work inside Ardmore Studios.

06:37 How were you commissioned for the Clonmel mural?


The story involves his wife going into labour when the Clonmel project manager for Five Star rang about creating an 84 foot mural to be of local interest.

10: 27 Lawrence Sterne

12:24 Matte Formica and textured formica

13: 27 What was it like to see the mural installed?

14:56 Ballagh's number of commissions?

17:24 Alchemist trick of capturing a soul

18:24 Why Ballagh likes the Noel Brown work.

19:10 Commission myself to paint Noel Brown

20:23 Ignored by the arts establishment

20:49 I live by these hands

21:04 Why Ballagh does not apply for grants (no computer)

24:02 Ballagh the activist

25:42 Ireland lags in artistic GDP spend

26:54 Every town has an arts remit

29:06 What bands were you in?

29:06 How do you make your art?

31:30 Did you keep in touch with Michael

33:07 How influenced were you by Frank Stella?

34:57 Barcelona suite of furniture

37:07 No art ever came out of that bog

37:52 Professional advice: “Work on that".

38:47 Will Ballagh return to Clonmel?

If you’re interested in images and links about Robert Ballagh’s work, look at the show notes for this episode. They should be visible in the podcatcher you’re using. You can also check out The Nationalist at any newsagent in Clonmel or search Tipperary Live for the Clonmel Junction Arts Podcast.

You can see images for each of the major points related to Robert Ballagh’s Artist Talk if you use the Spreaker app and download the Clonmel Junction Arts Podcast. You can stream from the Spreaker app. Plus you get the images and also get to tap on hyperlinks directly from the Spreaker player.

You can also stream the Clonmel Junction Arts Podcast on Spotify and hear it however you like to hear your audio. Try it with Google Voice Search or with Siri.

Listen on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/spotifyjunction

If you want to reach us, use the hashtag #clonmelarts on Twitter or Instagram. You can also drop a note into the Clonmel Junction Arts Booking Office in the Showgrounds.

40:23 Book your tickets by searching “Clonmel Junction Arts Eventbrite”.

Thanks to the Tipperary County Museum, TippCoCo, Camida, Clonmel Showgrounds.

Music by http://twitter.com/freakyfwoof