Kilkenny’s newest artist collective are putting together an exciting show for the first weekend of AKA Festival 2026. Join Squeaky Door Collective for their opening launch on Friday 7th August between 4-7pm to meet the artists. The exhibition will run from 10-6pm Friday to Sunday, 7th-9th August. Situated in the beautifully lit Saint Patrick’s Community Hall, the KK1 bus will drop you right outside the door in no time!
Hailing from Kilkenny, Carlow, Galway, Kildare and Ukraine, there will be a truly exciting variety of perspectives on display. You will have seen some of the members exhibiting at the Grennan Mill Graduate Show at the start of the summer, while others have been hard at work with different projects. This exhibition offers yet another great opportunity to discover your new favourite artist! You’ll find artwork on display from a range of mediums including painting, photography, printmaking, ceramics and weaving, so there’s truly something for everyone.
Brought together by a shared interest in heritage, place and memory, many of the artists in the collective are graduates of the wonderful Grennan Mill Craft School. Others have passed through the Mill in different capacities, but all share that connection and love for the place, and felt inspired to bring their work together for this adventure.
An Cumha Nua encapsulates the common theme of the work, focused on nostalgic reflections, seasons of transition, endings and new beginnings. We hope it will inspire you to reflect on your own interpretation and share a word, a note or even a drawing on our Memory Line installation. This interactive social artwork will be displayed throughout the exhibition, so please come and make your own magic a part of the show.
St Patrick’s Community Hall is situated on Bohernatounish Road, just beside the Loughboy Shopping Centre, alongside St Fiacre’s Church. It will be well-marked, so don’t worry about finding it! There is plenty of parking available, as well as the bus stop directly outside the door.
You’ll find all the details of the exhibition on page 23 of the AKA Festival Programme 2026, which is full of exciting events and can be picked up in a variety of venues around town now. For updates, follow us on Instagram @squeakydoor_collective and keep an eye on akafringe.com. Entry is free and all are encouraged to drop in for a visit.
