Muna inniú é, b’fhéidir amárach é - If not today, maybe tomorrow
Muna inniú é, b’fhéidir amárach é
Rugadh agus tógadh Patrick Sweeney i Leitir Ceanainn agus is geall le dia beag é i gcruthaitheacht na meán méarach. Bronnadh céim agus iarchéim i nDearadh na Meán Méarach air chomh maith le cáilíochtaí i dteicneolaíocht an cheoil agus i saoirseacht adhmaid – thiocfaí a mhaíomh faoi seo gurb é an chruthaitheacht ina chraiceann é. Léiríodh ag Ionad Cultúrtha Réigiún Leitir Ceanainn an taispeántas 'Jucks' Samhain 2018 a bhí deartha, tionscanta agus a bhí curtha i gcionn ag Patrick.
“Tionscnamh grianghrafadóireachta a mhair iomlán bliana a bhí i dTaispeántas Jucks de chuid an ealaíontóra agus an dearthóra áitiúil Patrick Sweeney. Tá Patrick i ndiaidh a bheith ag tarraingt portráidí fear mar dhúil is go dtabharfar aird ar shláinte meabhrach agus colainne fear.
Is focal áitiúil é ‘Jucks’ a chluintear i Leitir Ceanainn le trácht ar mheitheal fear, agus trí roinnt grianghraf a tharraingt de charachtair na háite, ba mhian leis an fheachtas an aird a bhí de dhíobháil a dhíriú ar Shláinte na bhFear anseo sa chontae; ní ar an tsláinte colainne amháin ach ar shláinte na meabhrach agus na meanman fosta.”
D'fhreastail slua as barr ar an oíche oscailte agus ar an taispeántas a reáchtáladh 2018, rud a bhí ina chionsiocair féin lena leathnú amach tuilleadh. Táimid ag reáchtáil an tionscadail inmholta seo thiar ag an Ghailearaí trí inchur luachmhar Chró na bhFear de chuid na Rosann, Ghaoth Dobhair, Dhún Fionnachaidh, agus an Fháil Charraigh chomh maith le foirne sinsir agus cúl taca CLG Ghaoth Dobhair.
Reáchtálfaidh An Gailearaí oíche oscailte chomh maith leis an taispeántas 4 Nollaig ag 7 i.n. mar a mbeidh deis againn gnéithe de shláinte na bhfear i gcoitinne a chíoradh ar ár sócúlacht le haíonna as Teach Pieta, Solas, Tionscadal Comhléiriú na Sláinte Coitinne / DLDC). Ársóidh John Muldowney a scéal neachúil féin dúinn. Táimid faoi chomaoin ag Patrick as a dhúthracht i leith an tionscadail inmholta seo – go raibh maith agat.
An Gailearaí - Samhain 2019
If not today, maybe tomorrow
Digital creative media guru, Patrick Sweeney, is Letterkenny born and bred. He has a degree and post-grad degree awards in Digital Media Design as well as qualifications in music technology and carpentry – so, he’s an all-round creative so to speak. In November 2018 the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny hosted the “Jucks” exhibition initiated, designed and executed by Patrick.
“The Jucks Collection has been a yearlong photography project undertaken by local artist and designer Patrick Sweeney. Patrick has been taking the portraits of male characters to help raise awareness to Men’s Health both physical and mental.
The word ‘Jucks’ is a colloquial term used in Letterkenny to describe a group of men and by simply taking pictures of some local characters, the campaign has aimed to raise some much needed awareness for Men’s Health here in the county; not only physical, but in a mental and emotional sense as well.”
The 2018 exhibition run and open evening was very well attended and prompted extending it further afield. Here, out west at An Gailearaí, we re-run this laudable project with the valued contribution from the Rosses, Gweedore, Dunfanaghy and Falcarragh ‘Men’s Shed’ projects as well as Gweedore’s senior and reserve GAA team. In addition to this exhibition An Gailearaí will host an open night on Wednesday 4th December at 7pm where we can informally discuss broader topics of men’s health with guests from Pieta House, Solas, Common Health Sync Project (DLDC) and John Muldowney who will relay his personal story. We are grateful to Patrick for all his endeavours regarding this commendable project – thank you.