South Tipperary Art Group, known as STAG, is an amateur and semi-professional Art Group catering for Adult artists and Junior members from all over Clonmel and the greater South Tipperary region and of late have extended to Waterford City, Dungarvan and Lismore with several new members in the Adult section! We primarily operate from The Art Room, Infant School, Ss. Peter & Paul’s Primary School, Kickham St., Clonmel, E91 NF43

The Adults meet for sessions on a Tuesday night at 7.30 to 10 pm from September to June when we finish up with our annual Art exhibition in Clonmel Library. A Tutor is not employed for Adult STAG members, as most artists are quite experienced and new members will have some courses in Art completed before joining the group. There is also a small but extensive art library for the use of members at our Tuesday night sessions. We also have an extra Adult Art Session on a Wednesday morning in the South Tipperary Arts Centre, Nelson St., Clonmel, for those unable to come to the Tuesday night meetings! We run specialised Art/Craft courses for both the Adult and Junior Sections every so often, and occasional trips to art Exhibitions and Culture events around the country. Adult members have a Plein Art Trip at least once a year. The Adult Art Group’s STAG Workteam of 8 to 10 members hang Exhibitions, paint murals, and do much voluntary Artwork that is required by the Community at large.

For adults, the only criteria for membership, is to have some practical knowledge of Art /Craft or to have followed at least one basic art course and are aged from 18 years upwards. The number of adult members fluctuates as people relocate to or from the town but generally there are about 45 members at any one time in Adult STAG. We welcomed Ukranian, Pakastani, US and Korean members to our Group over the last 6 months. New members are always welcome.

The Junior Members range from nine years up to 18 years of age. They meet on a Saturday morning from 10.30 am to 12 mid-day in the Art Room, Ss. Peter & Paul’s Primary School, where they are taught Art and Craft by qualified Art Tutors. They are divided into two groups, the Primary Group, range in ages from nine years up to 6th Class pupils, and the senior section range from 1st year students to Leaving Certificate students. As they have five to six separate Art Courses during the year from September to June this gives them a chance to attend other hobbies on a Saturday morning also if necessary. Junior STAG also incorporates ‘Out & About’ sessions where the art students draw all the different aspects of historical buildings and the townscape of Clonmel.

There are about 60 members in Junior STAG, which is the limit of membership for juniors. Age is the only criteria for membership in the Junior section i.e. from age nine years to Leaving Certificate Examination. As places are limited in Junior STAG there is always a waiting list in operation.
Our aim is to promote Art in its broadest sense and the love of Art/Craft and Creativity in the Community and to facilitate Art/craft courses for young and old, advantaged and disadvantaged in Clonmel and South Tipperary.

HISTORY: The group, started its life in Sept 1968 when a small number of enthusiastic amateur artists who were attending art courses in the local Central Technical Institute in Clonmel at the time, got together with three of the Art Teachers from that college to form the South Tipperary Art Group, STAG, for the artists and craftpeople of Clonmel and the South Tipperary region. There are just two of the core founder members still active in the Organisation (Maureen Purcell and Nellie O’Brien)