Festival Archive 2021

  • Draw on the Walls!

    Our visiting cartoonists Dean Patterson, Tom Mathews, and Jim Cogan at work on our Drawing Wall @ 2 Wild Geese, Kirwan’s Lane just now!

  • Galway Cartoon Festival Launch 1 Oct 2021 – At Large in the 2020 Hub Galway

    Massive thanks to Mayor of Galway Cllr Colette Connolly for attending and speaking, to Gerry Hanberry for the music, to Vinny Brown for officially launching us and judging, and to everyone who attended!

  • Is mian le Féile Cartún na Gaillimhe cuireadh a thabhairt do chartúnaithe


    Is mian le Féile Cartún na Gaillimhe cuireadh a thabhairt do chartúnaithe a bhíonn ag obair trí mheán na Gaeilge a saothar a chur isteach le haghaidh eagrán na bliana seo d’Fhéile Cartún na Gaillimhe. Tá an téama lánoscailte do thaispeántas na Gaeilge agus déanfar cartúin ar bith i nGaeilge a mheas le cur san áireamh ann.

    Ba cheart iontrálacha a sheoladh trí r-phost chuig info@galwaycartoons.eu i bhfoirm jpeg 300dpi. Bronnfar duais airgid ar shaothar amháin a dhéanfaidh moltóir neamhspleách a roghnú. Déanfar na hiontrálacha a roghnófar a chur i gcló agus a chur ar taispeáint in ionaid timpeall na Gaillimhe, 1-9 Deireadh Fómhair 2021. Is é an dáta deiridh a ghlacfar le hiontrálacha an 28 Lúnasa 2021.

    . Tá na téarmaí agus coinníollacha go léir ar fáil ag www.galwaycartoons.eu nó ach iad a iarraidh.

  • Public Participation: Augustus John’s Galway Revisited
    In 1915 Welsh artist Augustus John visited Galway. He began work on a large mural based on the inhabitants of Galway City. He hoped to make ‘a vast picture synthesizing all that’s fine and characteristic in Galway City – a grand marshalling of the elements’. In 2021 Galway Cartoon Festival is going to update Augustus John’s vision for synthesizing all that’s fine in Galway, and we need your help! We are looking for the iconic images of Galway as they exist in the modern imagination of Galway’s people. We want to create a bank of the magic moments of Galway’s recent past that our cartoonists can respond to creatively and exhibit the results. It can be anything from a Macnas Parade to a hurling final So if there’s a photo you feel epitomises the best of Galway we’re looking for you to nominate it! If you don’t have the image send us a description and we’ll do some sleuthing! Send your nominations to info@galwaycartoons.eu. Closing date 31/07/21 Please note: we are looking for nominations of well-known existing photos only. Please do not send your own snaps! WAIT THERE’S MORE! We need your help in raising funds for this year’s festival. Can you pledge a fiver? Everyone who donates will enter a draw to win a caricature by Allan Cavanagh. CLICK HERE TO HELP THE FESTIVAL HAPPEN IN 2021
  • Galway Cartoon Festival Call for Entries 2021- “At Large”

    GALWAY CARTOON FESTIVAL 2021: AT LARGE

    Galway Cartoon Festival would like to invite cartoonists from around the world to enter this year’s group exhibition to take place in October 2021. This year’s theme is AT LARGE.

    With a growing expectation that we will be able to emerge from our Covid-cocoons over the next year we would like cartoonists to consider what happens to the metaphorical butterfly when it hasn’t had a social life for 18 months. Will the world be scary and incomprehensible? Will we be overwhelmed when we have to talk to people? Or will we be more patient? Friendlier? Will our chins feel cold without the masks? Show us what a post-Covid world of freedom looks like!

    Entries should be emailed to info@galwaycartoons.eu as 300dpi jpegs. Selected entries will be printed and exhibited in venues around Galway 1-9 October 2021. Closing date for entries is 31/07/21 28 AUGUST 2021

    IRISH LANGUAGE

    Galway Cartoon Festival would like to invite cartoonists working in the medium of Irish to enter their work in this year’s Galway Cartoon Festival. The theme is open-ended for the Irish language exhibition and any cartoons in Irish will be considered for inclusion. There will be a €500 prize for one selected work chosen by an independent judge (sponsored by Blacknight Solutions).

    Entries should be emailed to info@galwaycartoons.eu as 300dpi jpegs. There will be a cash prize for one selected work chosen by an independent judge. Selected entries will be printed and exhibited in venues around Galway 1-9 October 2021.Closing date for entries is 31/07/21 28 AUGUST 2021

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    TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

    Selected cartoons will be printed and framed by the Galway Cartoon Festival and offered for sale during the Festival. Galway Cartoon Festival is a voluntary organisation promoting the art of cartoon and any sales will be put into meeting the costs of running this year’s festival or put into the budget for next year’s festival. One cartoon will be selected for our posters, leaflets and other publicity with a credit to the artist. There will be a cash prize for one winning cartoonist in the At Large exhibition and one winning artist in the Irish Language exhibition selected by an independent judge.

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    Can you help us raise the funds for this year’s festival? We are seeking donations of €5 or higher to help us meet this year’s funding target. We still have a long way to go so any help is appreciated! You can donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/fszxdm-galway-cartoon-festival-2021

  • Galway Cartoon Festival Interview: Osama Hajjaj
    This month Galway Cartoon Festival talks to cartoonist Osama Hajjaj. Name: Osama Eid Hajjaj Where are you from? From Amman the capital of Jordan. When did you become interested in drawing cartoons? Since I was 20 years old. My father was the one who encouraged me to enter this field because of the nature of his work at this time as a news translator. I was unemployed at this time but I was full of talent for drawing. The drawing was just as a hobby for me in this time. Then I got into the newspaper where my father works, not as a cartoonist, but as an expressive graphic artist, especially for newspaper topics with very low salary, so From here I started my way to be a cartoonist. Who are your big influences? There’s many… not just one… Since I was young I loved comic books & tv cartoons program my big influences in this time like Stan Lee & Frank Miller, and in cartoon art like… Hajo de Reijger & Angel Boligan. Where were you first published? My first published cartoon was in the same newspaper that my father works for, and the first newspaper I worked for as a cartoonist. It was an indescribable feeling I remember having when I saw my first cartoon published on paper. I bought 5 newspapers at that time in 1993 ☺ What’s your favourite cartoon (single panel or strip)? Mmmm .. I love them both, But most likely single cartoon What materials do you use? In the past I was using paper and ink colors, pencil, free hand drawing. More fun, but more difficult and needs time… but now with technology I use ipad pro And drawing programs so I am now digital artist. On a scale from 1-10, where 1 is the thing you hang wet clothes on and 10 is the thing Gandalf rode in on, how are you at drawing horses? Hahahah… nice question… 7/10 Did you scribble in the margins of your books in school? Oooh this is a big story on my life ، I’ve always scribble on my school books. It made me a lot of trouble and rebukes with my teacher, but that period or habit for me was like learning to draw and this is one of the sacrifices that affected my studies in this time. My friends liked my drawings and called me an artist. I miss those books that have so many sketches ☹ Do you have any advice for aspiring cartoonists? My advice to aspiring cartoonist… to never give up & keep trying… And to take this art a very seriously… And to keep learning I am still learning until now. And keep updated: every time the cartoon artist needs to read and follow news and events and be educated. This time is easier on their way than in the past because you don’t need a newspaper or magazine to be a cartoonist. The future is now the social media, make your page and go. Where can we find you online? Online you can find my work by google search or my page on facebook: osamahajjaj cartoons And instagram: osamahajjaj Twitter: @osamacartoons Cartoonmovement.com Cagle.com Royatv.com   It’s that time of year again where the Galway Cartoon Festival must rattle our fundraising can to ensure this year’s Cartoon Festival happens! We are a completely voluntary organisation that seeks to promote the art of the cartoon each year through exhibitions, talks and workshops. It is the public that gets us over the line each year and this year is no different! So if you’ve ever laughed at a Larson or cracked up at a Keyes please consider getting the card out!

    Click here to make a small donation to keep the Galway Cartoon Festival going in 2021.

  • We Need You!


    Click here to make a small donation to keep the Galway Cartoon Festival going in 2021.

    It’s that time of year again where the Galway Cartoon Festival must rattle our fundraising can to ensure this year’s Cartoon Festival happens! We are a completely voluntary organisation that seeks to promote the art of the cartoon each year through exhibitions, talks and workshops.

    We gratefully receive funding from Galway City Council’s Arts Office and sponsorship from local businesses. However it is the public that gets us over the line each year and this year is no different! So if you’ve ever laughed at a Larson or cracked up at a Keyes please consider getting the card out!

    Here’s a video of last year’s Festival:

    https://www.youtube.com/embed/huMg0fy59Mc
  • Cartoonists Respond to Cúirt Festival Events 2021
    As part of Cúirt 2021, Galway Cartoon Festival will be responding to the Ashford Castle events and you’ll be able to see the resulting cartoons online! Renowned editorial cartoonist Graeme Keyes and queen of quirky line Caoimhe Lavelle will be responding to the themes discussed and the authors discussing them during this series of events that sees Cúirt’s second year as a mainly online event. The cartoons will be appearing on Cúirt’s social media channels so don’t forget to subscribe. It’s also that time of year again where the Galway Cartoon Festival must rattle our fundraising can to ensure this year’s Cartoon Festival happens! We are a completely voluntary organisation that seeks to promote the art of the cartoon each year through exhibitions, talks and workshops. We gratefully receive funding from Galway City Council’s Arts Office and sponsorship from local businesses. However it is the public that gets us over the line each year and this year is no different! So if you’ve ever laughed at a Larson or cracked up at a Keyes please consider getting the card out! Click here to make a small donation to keep the Galway Cartoon Festival going in 2021.
  • Galway City Council Virtual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
    Here’s the virtual St. Patrick’s Day Parade as drawn by the children of Galway, and animated by Earthbound Films. This event was organished by Ruairí Lehmann, Tourism Officer in Galway City Council, in collaboration with the Galway Cartoon Festival. A great initiative from the Galway City Council in encouraging artistic creativity among the next generation of cartoonists!
  • St Patrick’s Day Parade Galway Colouring Page!
    Galway Cartoon Festival in association with Galway City Council is delighted to present this colouring-in /activity page for children everywhere. Using your markers, crayons, paints and colouring pencils you can draw your own St. Patrick’s Day Parade winding along the streets of Galway, then colour the crowd and buildings in! This page is also published in the St Patrick’s Day supplement in this week’s Galway Advertiser. Pick up a copy for information and activities about what Galway festivals are getting up to this March 17th! The Galway Cartoon Festival will run this year from 1-9 October in various venues in Galway. Check local press for details or subscribe to our site! For a high-resolution version click on the image above, then print it off at home!
  • DRAW ST. PATRICK’S DAY/ TARRAING LÁ ‘LE PÁDRAIG!
    Galway City Council in association with the Galway Cartoon Festival is inviting entries from children of all ages to take part in a virtual St Patrick’s Day parade in 2021! “Are you looking forward to St. Patrick’s Day? Well we need your help in creating this year’s virtual St. Patrick’s Day parade for Galway! We are inviting you to draw a picture of yourself at the St. Patrick’s Day parade – you can either be there as a spectator or taking part. Our animators will then work behind the scenes to bring your images to life! Your picture may appear in our animated 2021 parade online, in the Galway Advertiser or be displayed in one of our exhibitions across the city. An bhfuil tú ag tnúth le Lá ‘le Pádraig? Bhuel, an gcabhróidh tú linn chun mórshiúl fíorúil Lá ‘le Pádraig a chruthú i nGaillimh? Iarraimid ort pictiúr a tharraingt díot féin agus tú ag mórshiúl Lá ‘le Pádraig – gléasta suas ar fhlóta nó mar dhuine den lucht féachana. Rachaidh ár mbeochantóirí ag obair sa chúlra chun do phictiúir a bheochan! Is féidir go mbeidh do phictiúr le feiceáil inár mórshiúl beoite 2021 ar líne sa ‘Galway Advertiser’ nó i gceann dár dtaispeántais ar fud na cathrach.”

    Click here for details of how to enter! Closing date for entries is the 1 March 2021.

  • And The Winner Is…
    We were able to put together a small pot this year to recognise one cartoon that was judged to best capture the theme of the Galway Cartoon Festival’s main 2020 exhibition, The New Normal. We asked artist Ted Turton to judge this for us (Ted also launched the exhibition). The winner is Brandon Hicks for his entry, Together. Congratulations Brandon and we’ll be in touch. Many thanks to every single artist who submitted this year. Many thanks also are due to our sponsors below. Thanks to everyone who attended one of our events and came along to the exhibitions, we hope you had your spirits lifted! The exhibitions are currently closed and while the Festival officially finished on Friday we hope to run for another week or so when Level 3 restrictions each. And don’t forget the whole of The New Normal exhibition is online!