Have a Gawk: Weekly Art Conversation at VISUAL Carlow

What to Expect

Have a Gawk is a weekly Friday afternoon group at VISUAL Carlow for adults of all ages, run by artist Mary Jo Gilligan. Each session takes a different topic, walks the current exhibitions together, talks about what is on the walls, and then moves into a playful making session trying out a technique. Tea and coffee follow, which is as much the reason people come back as the art.

No prior art experience is needed and all materials are provided, so it functions as a low-barrier social hour for people who want company on a Friday afternoon rather than an art class with homework. It has run every Friday since 5 June and its last listed session is Friday 21 August 2026, which makes the 14 August session the second-last of the run. VISUAL’s exhibitions Hold This, Mycelium and Our Place all remain open until 30 August, so there is plenty on the walls to work from.

Good to Know

• Fridays, 2:00pm to 3:30pm. This listing is dated to Friday 14 August 2026; the run’s final session is 21 August.
• Venue: VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art, Old Dublin Road, Carlow.
• Free, but a ticket must be booked in advance.
• Book through VISUAL’s box office online, in person, by phone on 059 917 2400 or by emailing boxoffice@visualcarlow.ie.
• For adults of all ages. No art experience needed, all materials supplied.
• Wheelchair users and groups over eight should book directly with the box office.
• If you cannot make a session you have booked, tell the box office so the place can go to someone else.

Getting There

VISUAL is on the Old Dublin Road inside the grounds of Carlow College, about ten minutes on foot from Tullow Street and the town-centre car parks. Free parking is available on site. Carlow railway station on the Dublin Heuston to Waterford line is roughly fifteen minutes’ walk away, and Bus Eireann and JJ Kavanagh coaches from Dublin, Kilkenny and Waterford stop in the town centre. The gallery cafe is open through the afternoon.