We are open and look forward to welcoming you!

About

Súil is the first municipal gallery in County Clare and is the result of years of consultation, design and development.

Súil will significantly improve the quality and quantity of opportunities for the people of Clare to engage in and celebrate culture and creativity. Súil offers a purpose built, professionally curated and managed space in the heart of Clare.

The new gallery will provide the people of Clare, surrounding counties and tourists, with access to professional, contemporary art exhibitions and events. It will also act as an additional resource in the realisation of national and local initiatives including, Bealtaine, Cruinniú na nÓg and Culture night.

Opening hours

Sensory Hours

During our sensory hours, our lighting is dimmed and artworks which make noise are muted. A member of staff will always be at reception if you have any queries or require additional support.

Current Exhibition

The Art of Place: People and Landscape of County Clare

The Art of Place: People and Landscape of County Clare, based on the book of the same name, is a celebration of the sacred and ancient tradition of storytelling in Ireland. Through a selection of photographs and personal reflections, we are welcomed on a journey into the creative soul of County Clare.

As the contributor Liam Ashe notes, the project is a kind of bothántaíocht – visiting a neighbour’s house. We are invited into the worlds of these writers, poets, artists, composers, musicians and performers. Together, their reflections form a love letter to the complexity of home, identity, and memory.

The Art of Place: People and Landscape of County Clare is a collection of personal reflections by 31 artists living in or from Clare, edited by Peadar King and Anne Jones, Published in 2022. The accompanying photography by John Kelly was commissioned by Clare County Council through the Per Cent for Art Scheme.

The photography featured in this exhibition was printed and installed by Ennis based printer, RealPrint.

Access

• Changing Places Toilet – Fully accessible toilet with shower and adult changing table
• Ramp Access
• Sensory Friendly Hours – Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 11am
• Social Story –   Social Story – 2024
• Social Story Video – Coming Soon
• Sensory Map – Sensory Map – 2024
• Large print artwork labels – The Art of Place Wall Labels – Large Format
• Dyslexia friendly labels – The Art of Place Wall Labels – Dyslexia Friendly
• Assistance dogs are welcome in our building

If you have any access needs that are not listed here, would like any other resources, or have further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch. We are always interested to learn more about what we can do to improve our services and facilities and to ensure that you are happy and safe during your visit.

Getting here

Súil, Causeway Link, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95 DKP5, Ireland

Get Directions

Parking

There is a metered Car Park with 90 spaces, adjacent to glór (one-hour free parking), for the benefit of all patrons, open 24 hours a day, courtesy of Ennis Town Council. Parking tickets are required during the hours of 9am to 6pm. There are age friendly and disabled parking spaces available in the car park and parking is free for those with a blue badge.

Public Transport

Ennis is served by train and bus services. For further information please click here

Café

The glór café is open from 10am – 2.30pm Monday to Saturday

Contact

Phone – 065 689 9091

Email – suil@clarecoco.ie

To join our mailing list sign up for regular updates at the bottom of this page

Our Team

Muiríosa Guinan – Visual Arts Co-Ordinator

Muiríosa joined the Clare Arts team in September 2024 as visual Arts Co-Ordinator. She previously worked as Arts Development Officer in Galway City Council and Art-Science Curriculum Coordinator in Science Gallery, Dublin.

Muiríosa was awarded a Fulbright Award in 2020 to work as a research fellow in The Exploratorium, San Francisco. Her research focused on how curatorial practice can increase accessibility and inclusion for the blind and visually impaired.

Muirí­osa received her M.A in Art history, Collections and Curating  and  Postgraduate Diploma in Creativity, Innovation and Leadership from University College Dublin. She completed her B.A. in Sculpture and Expanded Practices from the National College of Art and Design.

Muiríosa maintains her visual arts practice, working primarily through sculpture, photography and painting.

Aoife Byrne – Curatorial and Collections Assistant

Aoife joined the Clare Arts team in September 2024 as a Curatorial and Collections Assistant. She previously worked as an Arts Management Intern with the social enterprise SumGood in Dublin, and as an Archival Intern with the Sullivan Bluth Studios Archive, Dublin.

She received her B.A. in Art History and Film Studies from University College Dublin, completing one year of her studies in the Arts and Culture Studies programme in Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Aoife went on to complete her M.A. in Art History, Collections and Curating, also in University College Dublin. Her previous research focused on animation in Ireland and animation art archives.

Learning and Engagement

• Leaving Cert Gallery Visit Resource Booklet – Leaving Cert – Resource Pack – Súil – 2024
• Class Visits – We can facilitate class visits to the gallery in Irish or English, for all ages – Contact suil@clarecoco.ie to book your free tour
• Educated at Home Visits – We welcome visits from groups or individuals who are educated at home, in Irish or English, for all ages – Contact suil@clarecoco.ie to book your free tour

Publications and Policies

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

Súil is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable people. You can find our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy here – policy-and-procedures-for-the-protection-and-safeguarding-of-children-43518

Curatorial and Programming Policy

Súil will provide the people of Clare, surrounding counties and tourists, with access to professional, contemporary art exhibitions and events. Súil aims to significantly improve the quality and quantity of the opportunities available to Clare artists, offering a purpose built, professionally curated and managed space in their own county.  Súil’s curatorial and programming policy ensures that fair, transparent and high-quality stakeholder outcomes are at the core of gallery operations.

Súil’s curatorial and learning practice posits accessibility at its core and provides a range of supports for visitors and artists including large text exhibition labels, sensory maps, social stories, wheelchair and buggy access, inclusive tours and events. Súil offers quiet hours with reduced lighting and sensory elements, to support neurodivergent visitors.

The gallery will offer learning programmes for Clare Primary and Secondary schools, including DEIS schools and Gealscoileanna. Súil will act as an additional resource in the realisation of national and local initiatives including, Bealtaine, Cruinniú na nÓg and Culture Night.

Most exhibition programmes will consist of artworks in the gallery space and a learning programme, planned and designed in tandem by the arts team. The learning programme will create opportunities for visitors of all ages to explore and engage with the artworks on show. Some examples could include thematically programmed talks, practical workshops and bespoke projects in collaboration with local community groups.

Súil’s programming team is comprised of the Visual Arts Co-ordinator, embedded MA research student and Arts Office staff members with specialist arts knowledge. Artists, cultural partners, national cultural institutions, key partner organisations and arts specialists will be consulted as required.

Programming will include a mix of established gallery models of commissioned exhibition programmes, touring exhibitions of national interest, exhibitions of the Clare County Council art collection and open call exhibitions, allowing artists to propose exhibition ideas for selection.

A public submission competition for open call opportunities will take place in 2025. A panel of peer selectors including artists, curators and arts office staff, will assess and select the open call exhibitions. Unsolicited exhibition proposals will not be accepted.

Audience research, gallery attendance figures and continuing consultation with relevant stakeholders, including artists and audiences, will inform further gallery programme policy direction. Due to gallery scheduling and programming commitments, Suil is not available for private hire or events.

This policy is informed by consultations with artists and is gallery best practice based on research conducted on visual arts spaces throughout Ireland. This policy is not static and will adapt in response to the changing needs of our stakeholders.

A PDF of this policy is available here – Curatorial and Programming Policy 2024 -2026

FAQ

Do I have to pay to visit?

No, Súil is free to all.

Do I need to book tickets to visit Súil?

Tickets are not required to visit Súil.

Can I take photos or videos in the gallery?

Non-flash photography for personal use is allowed. However, photographing other visitors or staff without their permission is not permitted. Some exhibitions or artworks may also have restrictions on photography. Please ask our staff for further information.

Can children visit Súil?

Yes, children are of course welcome, but must be supervised at all times during your visit. Please note also that some artworks or exhibitions may contain material that is not suitable for younger visitors. These will be clearly marked and signposted but if you’re unsure, feel free to ask our staff or check the Súil website ahead of time for guidance.

Are pets allowed in Súil?

Only service animals are allowed in the gallery to ensure a safe environment for all visitors and to protect the artworks.

Can I host a private event at Súil?

No, we do not hold private events at Súil.

How can I stay informed about upcoming events and exhibitions?

Check our website or follow us on Instagram or Facebook for the latest news on events and exhibitions. Additionally, join the Clare Arts mailing list to receive the latest information on Súil and other arts events in Clare.

Is the gallery accessible to people with disabilities?

Yes, the gallery is accessible for all visitors. For more information, please visit our ‘Accessibility’ section above. If you have any specific questions or needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Will there be sensory-friendly hours in Súil?
Yes, the first hour of every day from 10am until 11am will be sensory-friendly. During this time, lights will be dimmed, and any sounds in the gallery will be minimised to create a calm, sensory-friendly environment for visitors who prefer a quieter experience.

How can I contact Súil for more information?

You can reach us by phone at 065 689 9091  or by email at suil@clarecoco.ie

Can I propose an exhibition?

Please refer to the Súil Curatorial and Programming Policy 2024 – 2026, above, which provides information on our exhibition programming guidelines. Please note that we are unable to accept unsolicited exhibition proposals.

Technical Specifications

Floor Plan- Súil

Súil Lighting System