Artists from Louth and Meath Awarded Tyrone Guthrie Residency
Louth County Council and Meath County Council have announced Úna Curley and Ina Olohan as recipients of the 2026 Age & Opportunity Tyrone Guthrie Residency Awards.
The Residency Awards are funded by Age & Opportunity in partnership with the Arts Offices in both Louth County Council and Meath County Council. They support professional artists aged 50 and over by providing dedicated time and space to develop their artistic practice, reflect on their work and build professional networks at a fully funded week-long residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, a renowned artists retreat in Monaghan.
Dr Tara Byrne, Arts Programme Manager at Age & Opportunity, said:
"Creating meaningful opportunities for artists in later career stages is a key priority for Age & Opportunity. We are delighted to help bring these residencies in Louth and Meath to life as one of its founding partners."
Congratulating local artist Úna Curley on her selection as the Louth recipient of the 2026 residency Moya Hodgers, Arts Officer, Louth County Council, said:
"Supporting artists at all stages of their careers is vital, ensuring consistency and sustainability both for the artist and for the community who benefit from their work. Partnerships like these between local authorities and national bodies are so important in providing collaboration and networking opportunities for artists and we are delighted to support this initiative again."
Speaking on the significance of receiving the Residency Award, Úna said:
"I am so delighted to receive this award from Age & Opportunity and Louth County Council. Artist awards are very precious at any time but, with so many 'young and emerging' awards, this Age & Opportunity Tyrone Guthrie Centre Residency Award 2026 feels extra special to me.
" Annaghmakerrig House is beautiful and the staff are so welcoming and supportive to the artists. As a professional artist based at Bó Studios, space to explore and reflect is essential and the timing of this award is perfect."
Gerardette Bailey, Arts Officer with Meath County Council congratulated Ina Olohan on being selected as the Meath recipient of the 2026 residency award saying:
"Meath Arts Office is delighted to continue this important partnership with Age & Opportunity, Louth Arts Office and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre. Supporting artists at all stages of their careers is a core objective of the Meath County Arts Development Plan. Partnerships like these provide professional artists aged 50+ with the space and time to continue developing their practice, as well as valuable networking and collaboration opportunities in the wonderful setting of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre."
Meath artist and Residency Award recipient, Ina added:
"I am delighted to be the recipient of a Residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre. It has been an aspiration of mine to take time out to reflect on my arts practice and to engage with my work in a dedicated artist retreat environment. I am very grateful to Age & Opportunity, Meath County Council and the Meath Arts Office for this opportunity."
This is the third year of the Age & Opportunity Tyrone Guthrie Residency Awards. This year’s recipients were selected following an open call for applications in the May 2026. Both artists will take part in the week-long residency later this month.
About Age & Opportunity
Age & Opportunity is the national organisation working to enhance wellbeing for older people through participation in sport and physical activity, arts and creative engagement, personal development, community collaboration and active citizenship.
Age & Opportunity Arts is a dedicated programme which supports the participation and representation of all older people in cultural and creative life in Ireland. We do this work by supporting and resourcing artists, arts audiences and arts organisations and encouraging involvement in arts activities by people all over Ireland. We also aim to raise the standard, knowledge-base and visibility of the arts and older people sector.
About the Tyrone Guthrie Centre
Based in rural County Monaghan, The Tyrone Guthrie Centre is a cross-border organisation that offers time away, space to work, and opportunities for collaboration and networking for artists and ‘other like persons’ that facilitates the development of their practice across all art forms. Annaghmakerrig House, otherwise known as the ‘Big House’, is situated in the quiet countryside of County Monaghan, and together with the self-catering cottages, studios and performance spaces, as well as the lake and forests, gardens, and fields, The Tyrone Guthrie Centre is a place where creativity flourishes amid the many pressures and distractions of contemporary life.