The Courthouse Gallery & Studios

The Courthouse Gallery & Studios is a contemporary art gallery and artists’ centre in Ennistymon, County Clare, on the west coast of Ireland. It occupies a former Georgian courthouse on Parliament Street that dates from 1790. The building was saved from demolition by a local history group, the Old Ennistymon Society, first developed as artists’ studios in 1997 with support from the Arts Council, and reopened in its present form as The Courthouse Gallery & Studios in 2007.

The centre runs as a not-for-profit charitable organisation and combines gallery, studio and community space under one roof. There are two exhibition areas: the Main Gallery on the ground floor and the smaller Red Couch Gallery upstairs. Both show work by local, national and international artists, with a particular focus on emerging talent. Exhibitions are largely chosen through an open-call process and change regularly, so there is usually something new to see. Alongside the galleries, the building houses working artists’ studios and a sound recording studio.

Beyond its exhibitions, the Courthouse keeps a year-round programme of workshops, talks, seminars and classes, and hosts events spanning music, performance, poetry readings and dance. It plays an active part in the cultural life of Ennistymon and north Clare. Entry to the gallery is free, and the venue offers on-site facilities including toilets and free WiFi.