After the Peat | Emer Gaffey at The Atrium, Athlone Civic Centre

Event Details

Athlone native Emer Gaffey presents “After the Peat” – A Reflection on the Changing Face of Ireland’s Bogs
Exhibition runs 28th August – 12th September at The Atrium, Athlone Civic Centre
Opening Reception: Thursday 28th August at 5.30pm to 7pm.

“Dermot Browne is an artist, curator, and mentor based in Cork, Ireland. With a practice rooted in visual culture, he brings over two decades of experience in curating, exhibiting, and mentoring artists across Ireland. Dermot is the founder of Crane Visual and One Space Culture CLG, initiatives focused on accessible, regenerative arts engagement.

Athlone-based artist Emer Gaffey returns with a powerful new exhibition entitled After the Peat, opening this August in the Atrium of Athlone Civic Centre. Rooted in the familiar yet transforming landscape of the midlands, the exhibition invites viewers to consider the evolving story of our local boglands—from once heavily worked extraction sites to fragile, biodiverse ecosystems in recovery.

Gaffey’s work, known for its meticulous detail and emotional resonance, captures the quiet transitions taking place in these rewilding environments. Through a series of vivid landscapes and observational studies. After the Peat documents the return of plant life and the subtle ecological shifts occurring as bogs are allowed to heal.

“Bogs are places of deep memory,” Gaffey says. “They carry our past, but now they also offer hope for the future—as carbon sinks, habitats, and sites of regeneration. This work explores that transformation.”

The exhibition opens with a public reception on Thursday 28th August at 5.30pm, where visitors can meet the artist and explore the works in person. Refreshments will be served.

After the Peat runs until Friday 12th September and is open to the public during Athlone Civic Centre opening hours. Admission is free.