Equine design by Ballydoyle's Ana O'Brien to feature in GOAL art project across Tipperary

More than 80 unique pieces of art will go on display at several locations across Tipperary this week as part of a public arts fundraising campaign for the charity GOAL.

The designs, part of GOAL’s ‘What On Earth’ project, will be exhibited at locations in Fethard, Clonmel, Cahir and Carrick-on-Suir from Tuesday, October 23rd to Saturday, October 27th and will include a very special equine-related piece from Ana O’Brien, daughter of champion racehorse trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Launches will take place on Tuesday evening October 23rd at 5pm at Fethard Horse & Country experience; and at 7pm atKickham Barracks, Clonmel.

All participating artists were given a blank, white resin planet Earth sculpture at the start of the summer and were asked to create a design of the choice on the globe. The 100 globes are currently available to view online at www.goalwhatonearth.ie - with bidding having already started - and they will be touring the country over the coming weeks.

Ana said she was delighted to support the GOAL project and explained how she covered most of her globe in wood chip from the all-weather gallops in Ballydoyle and then attached horse shoes from some of the famous horses that were trained on those gallops. The shoes of Istabraq, Camelot, So You Think, High Chaparral, St Nicholas Abbey, Churchill, Winter and Minding are attached to the Globe. Between the eight horses, they won 53 grade 1 races all over the world including Australia, USA, Dubai, France, Ireland and the UK.

“This project has already captured the imagination of the arts community in Ireland, and I expect the public to fall in love with it too,” said National Campaigns Manager for GOAL, Alan Vard. “When people see the varying designs and themes that the artists have come up with, they are going to be blown away. These globes will become hugely sought-after and I would encourage people to get their bids in as early as possible. I would particularly expect strong interest from the corporate sector, local authorities, as well as art aficionados.”

Some of the other Irish artists taking part in the project include multi-award-winning names such as Donald Teskey, Tom Climentand Neil Shawcross; Leah Hewson, whose multi-layered globe and eye-catching geometric pattern is in keeping with her style of work; and internationally-recognised street artist, Maser.

Many of the Irish artists have worked on their individual unique pieces, while others have collaborated with well-known personalities, including Dublin footballer, Alan Brogan; golfer, Padraig Harrington and former international athlete, Sonia O’Sullivan.

The online auction is now open at www.goalwhatonearth.ie and the globes will remain on that site and open to bidding until Thursday, November 28th at 7pm. The designs will be exhibited at Fethard Horse & Country experience; Kickham Barracks, Clonmel; Cahir Castle; and Brewery Lane Arts Centre, Carrick-On-Suir, from Tuesday, October 23rd to Saturday, October 27th