The west of Ireland’s annual Architecture at the Edge festival will include recognition of a high-profile Galway city architect who passed away suddenly in 2021.
Architect Patrick McCabe was well-known in construction and sporting circles across Ireland, and was founder of Open House Galway which later became Architecture at the Edge. A keen sea-swimmer and boater, his family and colleagues believe this year’s emphasis on marine and coastal architecture, such as piers and quays, would marry Mr McCabe’s professional and personal interests.
“It was Pat’s support and advice from establishing Open House in Galway more than a decade ago that proved vital in making Architecture at the Edge a reality,” says festival director Frank Monahan. Last year around 3,500 people attended dozens of Edge exhibitions, lectures and screenings across Galway and Mayo.
Beginning tomorrow, Friday, September 29, and running until next Saturday, October 8, across several Co Galway and Mayo locations, the theme of this year’s event is ‘Re-Mapping’. With a western, coastal twist, the theme explores the premise that redrafting maps and reimagining built environment improves our human understanding of the complexity of our natural environments. Twenty-nine academic, environmental, architectural, design and artistic thinkers will contribute to over 50 events.
Patrick McCabe Architects is sponsoring Uncertain Futures: Ireland’s Maritime Heritage, a presentation by UCD’s Dr Elizabeth Shotten, and zoologist Dr Noel Wilkins, biographer of Scottish engineer Alexander Nimmo who built scores of harbours across the west of Ireland. The event runs 5pm-8pm at the Mick Lally Theatre, Druid Lane, in Galway city, next Wednesday, October 4.
The full programme can be viewed - and free attendance booked - at www.ArchitectureAtTheEdge.com
Originally from Dublin, UCD graduate McCabe worked for many years in Galway city’s SJ Kelly Architects, before establishing Patrick McCabe Architects with his wife and fellow designer Sarah Kelly in 2013. The Galway residential design studio will sponsor a memorial event at Architecture at the Edge for an initial period of three years.
The festival launches tomorrow, September 29, with an address at 5pm by Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland president Charlotte Sheridan, at the Printworks Gallery on Market Street.
“This is the first time the festival will have a dedicated space for architecture in the city,” says Mr Monahan.
Director Monahan will also be announcing a strategic review supported by Arts Council funding to evaluate the growing festival, which includes a summer school, year-round workshops for children and a future film school.
Architecture at the Edge is one of around 30 universities and organisations across Europe and the Mediterranean region which make up the LINA network of architecture programmes. One of Ireland’s two current submissions to LINA is a cartographical exploration of County Galway’s Inisbofin island by London-based architect Laura Hurley.
