Testimonials/Reviews

‘SOUL SEERS- AN IRISH ANTHOLOGY OF CELTIC SHAMANISM’ NEW BOOK WITH ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY BARBARA O’MEARA

‘…A BEAUTIFUL AND HEARTFELT TRIBUTE TO THE DREAMING OF THE LAND OF IRELAND…’
DR SHARON BLACKIE BESTSELLING AUTHOR
MAY 2019
”SORT OUR SMEARS MANDALA INSTALLATION – RUA RED ARTS CENTRE 2019

“…Of particular note is O’Meara’s project ‘The Covering’, a baby blanket made out of 796 squares, one for each of the babies found buried at the Tuam mother and baby home. Visitors are encouraged to meet the artist and knit, stitch, crochet or weave their own baby square…”
Dublin Gazette -Review Five Lamps Arts Festival 09/03/2018

“..Four blankets knitted by 300 women from around the world are to be exhibited in an art show about the Tuam mother and baby home…Barbara O’Meara, the Dublin based artist behind the blanket project called ‘The Covering’ took 796 knitted pieces…. stitched them into four blankets to represent the four provinces of Ireland. The Times 11/01/2019

Barbara is a friend and artist I respect very much. I have been working with her for the past 12 years in many different programmes and art courses both in Ireland and Italy. I particularly admire her integrity as an artist, her enthusiasm and hardworking ethos and her willingness to share ideas and collaborate. A Rare Gem!” Jole Bortoli, Director – Art to Heart

WILD FLOWERS – STROMBOLI – WATERCOLOUR ON FABRIANO

“I was privileged to have been invited by Barbara to collaborate on three seminal works: “Na Leanai- Children of 1916′, ‘B.O.R.N’ Babies of Ravaged Nations 2017 and the Tuam ‘Stitched With Love’ baby blanket – 2017 – 2019, creating sacred ceremonies to launch each exhibition. The reaction by the audience has been exemplary by enthusiastically stepping into the energies of each unique piece. I feel she has initiated a new exciting approach for the art form” Karen Ward PhD, Celtic Shaman and Moon Mna Facilitator. 2016 -todate…

“Barbara has organised and run many interesting and varied visual art workshops during the festivals. She has worked well with both small and large groups of children. Barbara is a wonderful teacher and we have had great reports from the many schools she worked with and would highly recommend her ” Alts Ents – Alternative Entertainments Tallaght Children’s Arts Festival. 2015, 2016, 2019

” I wanted to do some creative art classes for a long time. Your classes have been so inspiring and have totally awakened my creativity, it is flowing out of me and my life is changing, thank you so much” Ger W. – Dublin

“Barbara brings to her work as an art tutor great competence, extraordinary creativity, a spirit of fun and friendship, and the skill to impart confidence and creativity in her students.” Director Luisne Centre for Spirituality 2016

“Fabulous Art at the Cockleshell Gallery”  ‘By the Simple Action of Water’ Solo Exhibition New Ross Standard -24/03/2010

Pick of the Week Arts Belfast Telegraph 11/01/2013 ‘Heartlands’ Solo Exhibition Alley Arts Centre

“… Her chief focus has always been on expressing the fragility of life and at the same time developing and capturing the essence of her own personal journey….the themes which drive her practice are still the same, O’Meara likes to experiment with a variety of media, which brings a refreshing element of chance to her work”

“….Barbara O’ Meara achieves some terrific water effects in her allegorical work….” Aidan Dunne The Irish Times Visual Arts Review 13/01/2007