Latest news with #KieranO'Toole
Irish Independent
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Brazilian ambassador joins Wicklow artist to bring global water crisis into focus
Drawing audiences from across Ireland to experience a vibrant fusion of fine art photography, environmental consciousness, and cross-cultural dialogue, the insightful exhibition was introduced by Courthouse artistic director Kieran O'Toole, followed by a captivating solo performance by Mestre Sansão on the berimbau, a traditional Brazilian instrument central to capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art that blends music, rhythm, and movement. Guests were welcomed with the Brazilian flag on display and served traditional caipirinhas, adding a festive and immersive cultural touch to the event. Mr Macieira addressed the audience with a poignant message about the urgent need for global climate action, emphasising the importance of COP30, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference to be hosted by Brazil in 2025, while praising Taves' work for 'elevating water as both a natural and symbolic resource.' Started in 2009, Taves' Water Colour series invites viewers to reflect on the state of water around the world, with the project a visually arresting archive of water imagery captured in diverse global settings. 'What if water, in its fragility, no longer flowed freely—or disappeared altogether?' Taves asked. 'Through these images, I hope to awaken a deeper reflection on water's fragility and its vital importance in our lives.' The enchanting evening concluded with a poetry reading by Wexford-based writer, Sylvia Cullen. Water Colour will remain on view at the Courthouse Arts Centre until Sunday, June 8. The exhibition will close with a special event from 3 to 5 pm, featuring guest speaker William Fagan, chairperson of the Photography Museum of Ireland. A bus can be booked via the Courthouse website for €10 per person. It will depart from the Signal Arts Centre in Bray at 1.45 pm and return from Tinahely at 5 pm. Limited edition postcards featuring a QR code with a preview of the next show are available for purchase.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Coventry community praised as addiction support hub rehomed
An addiction support hub which had to close due to a city development plan has relaunched following help from the community. The Dynamo Project, which was based near Coventry city centre, has supported people recovering from drug and alcohol issues since 2022 but proposals for the City Centre South development led to its project's founder, Kieran O'Toole, a former drug addict himself, said the prospect of finding a new home had sparked a lot of "anxiety, fear and dread", but local support they received was "hard to believe". The service has since reopened in Spon End after the community came and provided help and equipment during months of renovations. Mr O'Toole's father, the project's benefactor, helped to secure the service's new building which can support up to 26 residents - 10 more than the previous facility also has a room dedicated to cognitive behavioural therapy, spaces for private one-to-one sessions and two day rooms where workshops are held. Mr O'Toole said he was "amazed" by the generosity. "I'm a drug addict and all the guys we help have addiction issues and it's most likely that we've done a lot of wrong in our life as it goes hand in hand with addiction," he said."It really shows that there are a lot of people out there who enjoy seeing people ." Andy Brookes reached out to the project last year after he relapsed following the death of his mum. Mr Brookes is now in recovery and said the service had helped him feel part of a community."They got me to do stuff I never thought I'd be able to do like walking Snowdon and playing a charity rugby game, it meant the world to me," he now works at the centre as a support worker and said it "meant everything to him" to give back to a service that had "given so much to him". Mr O'Toole said he was "delighted" that residents had "such a beautiful place to try and recover"."It's an unbelievable, amazing place and we are really pleased we now have some stability and can drive forward over the years to come," he added. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
