By Michelle Crean

A new photography exhibition next week will showcase the creative talents of young people from Ballyspillane.

'BallyLife' highlights their interest in photography and their local area amd the result is a showcase which is intuitive, sometimes telling, but very creative in its originality. It builds on the work of Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB to support child and youth creativity where access to creativity projects is most challenged in Kerry.

On Tuesday next (October 25), they'll hold an exhibition to show their work to the public from 3.30pm to 5pm at the eurÓg KDYS building in Fairhill Killarney.

The showcase will feature 12 works in progress and is open to the public to attend. Visitors will be treated to a range of photography skills and techniques including close ups, action shots, portraits and landscape images.

The course was facilitated by Kerry Diocesan Youth Service, Ballyspillane Family Resource Centre and photographer Tara Donoghue and supported by Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership and Kerry County Council.

“The BallyLife group show us a very robust quality of output. It is clear that very discerning eyes have been capturing their local area. We’re delighted to help them along their creative journey," Ann O’Dwyer, Director of Schools, Youth & Music at Kerry ETB, said.

The project has been guided by artist, educator and photographer Tara Donoghue who facilitated a series of workshops which brought the group together. Kerry Diocesan Youth Service worked in collaboration with Ballyspillane Family Resource Centre to ensure that the project reached out into the heart of the community in Ballyspillane.

“In working with this group of young people, it was great to see the excitement they had when creating a photograph. They were so proud of the work they have created, as they should be," Tara added.

The project was funded by Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership and Kerry County Council’s Arts Office through the Creative Ireland Kerry Programme.

“Targeted youth engagement with creativity is important to grow community ownership and well-being. We are delighted to see this creative process, led by an artist, that enables self-expression and is a positive outlet for the young people involved. We look forward to seeing more of their work in the future," Kate Kennelly, Arts Officer and Creative Ireland Kerry Coordinator, said.

The show is highlighted on @kerrylcyp and on www.kerryetb.ie/creativity.