2026 PAINTOUT VENUES
WEXFORD TOWN - Sunday, 26th July
Wexford town is at the heart of Art In The Open's festivities and lies at the mouth of the Slaney River. Founded by Vikings in 800AD, the town centres around a long main street parallel to the quayside and a series of narrow lanes down to the harbour. These lanes would have once reached water and been lined with boats. Today, they are brimming with old time pubs, art galleries, craft shops and celebrated restaurants..
Cahore - Monday, 27th July
Cahore is a small fishing village located 2km from Ballygarrett Village in North Wexford. In the heart of the sunny South-East, but only an hour south of Dublin, Cahore has been a popular location for tourists, fishermen, and wild-life enthusiasts for generations.
Cahore is a gorgeous little harbour with lovely views north towards Tara Hill and Arklow. If walking to Cahore, there are steps up to the cliff at Newtown Beach with a simple path to walk to the top of the cliff at Cahore. The Pier in Cahore is a renowned place for families to fish for crabs.
Inistioge - Tuesday, 28th July
The lovely village of Inistioge rests in the Nore valley, with a ten-arch 18thc. bridge and wide grassy bank surrounded by wooded ridges and sheep pastures. The quaint village with its tree-lined square, traditional shop-fronts, pubs and restaurants made it an ideal location for several star-cast movies. There are the ruins of a 13thC. Priory and the ruined mansion of Woodstock with its elaborate glass-house, arboretum and ornamental gardens.
Hook Head & Slade Harbour -
Wednesday, 29th July
Lonely Planet describes Hook as the world's no. 1 lighthouse. It is also the oldest operational lighthouse in the world and its iconic, black and white, chubby shape and spectacular shoreline setting make Hook a 'must-paint' feature landmark in south-east Ireland. There is a Visitors' Centre with cafe and tours of the lighthouse operate regularly. There are gentle coves, cliffs and crashing waves over black, sedimentary rocks teeming with fossils. If that is not your delight, just 2.5 km but a world away is the tiny harbour of Slade with its handful of fishing boats, its castle, cottages, washing lines and ancient graveyard or the mysterious Loftus Hall with its spectacular views of the estuary.
Artramon Estate - Thursday, 30th July.
Artramon House is located 12 minutes drive north of Wexford town. The 600 sq.m. Georgian mansion is set in four acres of stunning parkland, this is rural luxury at its best. Painters will uncover an array of romantic spots to pop up their easels. The serene gardens boast beautiful hydrangeas and palm trees as well as a greenhouse with more botanical gems. Stumble upon an awe-inspiring waterfall or the Castle of Roche, a four storey tower which dates back to 1247. Despite its age the tower is in surprisingly good condition.
Artists will also revel in stunning views of the River Slaney and further on, Wexford harbour across the bay.
Ballyhack / Arthurstown / Passage East -
Friday, 31st July
The villages of Ballyhack, Wexford and Passage East in Waterford are full of small colourful craft and the paraphernalia one could wish to find in two of the best fishing villages for painting in Ireland. Ballyhack slopes uphill to a 15th century Norman tower-house which belonged to the Knights Hospitallers while Passage is a warren of small cottages backed by a steep escarpment. The two are connected by ferryboat which plies across the Three Sisters estuary every few minutes. Participating artists travelling as foot passengers may travel free for the day. Soup and sandwiches are available in Byrne's Bar and shop, Ballyhack.
Minutes from Ballyhack is the village of Arthurstown (formerly King's Bay) where there are always several boats raised on scaffold for repair.
