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The White House Gallery & Coffee Shop
The White House Gallery opened its doors on the 1st of August 2012 after delicate restoration by Mick Eile
and Corina Thornton (aka Thorn).
This is an unusual gallery space in that it retains the essence and a few fixtures of the legendary White
House Bar. Situated 1 mile west of Kilcrohane, it lays at an ancient ceile crossroads where folk would travel
across the water from Beara and the Mizen to meet, play music, sing and dance. The site of the old dancing
square is a perfect setting for Thorn, a visual artist in love with music and dance.
The Gallery is intimate, atmospheric and relaxing within the bar-themed artisan coffee shop, “like Paris in
the 1950’s” – you will often find artists and entertainers hanging out, hidden deep in the magnificent beauty
and effervescent light of The Sheep’s Head peninsula, reaching 25km into the Atlantic Ocean. This thriving
community on the peninsula created a great local Producer’s Market Shop; also on the Sheep’s Head is The
Heron Gallery, Dun Oir Pottery, a stone carver, Iron works, a Milner, weavers, authors, artists, bakers, food
producers, musicians, jewelers, sculptors, farmers and fishermen residing in the land of The Sheep’s Head
Way – A walkers, horse-rider’s and cyclist’s paradise with magnificent trails spanning 200+km.
The West Barn is the venue ‘out back’ of the White House Gallery overlooking Dunmanus bay. It’s an old-
world, cosy setting for music sessions, gigs, comedy nights, art events and workshops. It has also hosted
magical wedding parties and other private events and gatherings. This space is also where Thorn teaches
her students, beginning at the core of the ‘Art of Observation’ (www.arty.guru) to unveil the unique style of
each individual participant, from beginners to masters. A mighty place to unleash your creativity within
the luminous light and colour, where the coffee is fabulous, the craic is mighty and the land is inspirational.
Years before moving to the White House, Thorn founded the Four Corner’s Arts Festival, the Westmeath
Arts Movement and her latest venture, {where she met fellow artist Sioban} ‘The Free Art Society’ (www.
freeartsociety.net) which acknowledges all of the arts of life; from the art of fine wine, growing vegetables,
the art of debate and good conversation, the art of healing, compassion including the art of farming.
- ‘If you are willing to pay attention to the details of your endeavours, you become the artist’ - Thorn.
Thorn & Sioban, aka ‘West Cork Decorative Artists’ (www.WestCorkArt.com) make a great team in the
business of sign writing, gilding, restoration work, specialist paint finishes and murals. They have a variety
of national and international projects under their belts.
‘Thorn’s work IS inspiring’ as many others who’ve seen Thorn’s original paintings have declared! ; There
are currently four songs written about Thorn and her Art, most recently ‘Thorn Song’ by Venus Crow and
‘Thorn’ by Steve LaValley.
Mick Eile; a fire-eating pyrotechnician met Thorn when he was on stilts, hanging from a trapeze, suspend-
ed from a bicycle which was travelling on a tight-rope (Phew!) and she painted his face. They fell in love…
(Aaaww), now Mick is a street theatre artist, pyrotechnician, and an exciting all-round entertainer great to
meet on any day at The White House!
www.TheWhiteHouse.Gallery www.ThornArt.Com www.RocknRollStreetStars.Com
www.LivingTheSheepsHeadWay.Com www.sheepsheadponytrekking.com www.WestCorkArt.com
Contact info:- email info@thewhitehouse.gallery
Snail mail :- The White House Gallery, Kilcrohane, Bantry, Cork, Ireland
Landline :- 02767047 Mobile :- 087 3399971
The White House Gallery opened its doors on the 1st of August 2012 after delicate restoration by Mick Eile
and Corina Thornton (aka Thorn).
This is an unusual gallery space in that it retains the essence and a few fixtures of the legendary White
House Bar. Situated 1 mile west of Kilcrohane, it lays at an ancient ceile crossroads where folk would travel
across the water from Beara and the Mizen to meet, play music, sing and dance. The site of the old dancing
square is a perfect setting for Thorn, a visual artist in love with music and dance.
The Gallery is intimate, atmospheric and relaxing within the bar-themed artisan coffee shop, “like Paris in
the 1950’s” – you will often find artists and entertainers hanging out, hidden deep in the magnificent beauty
and effervescent light of The Sheep’s Head peninsula, reaching 25km into the Atlantic Ocean. This thriving
community on the peninsula created a great local Producer’s Market Shop; also on the Sheep’s Head is The
Heron Gallery, Dun Oir Pottery, a stone carver, Iron works, a Milner, weavers, authors, artists, bakers, food
producers, musicians, jewelers, sculptors, farmers and fishermen residing in the land of The Sheep’s Head
Way – A walkers, horse-rider’s and cyclist’s paradise with magnificent trails spanning 200+km.
The West Barn is the venue ‘out back’ of the White House Gallery overlooking Dunmanus bay. It’s an old-
world, cosy setting for music sessions, gigs, comedy nights, art events and workshops. It has also hosted
magical wedding parties and other private events and gatherings. This space is also where Thorn teaches
her students, beginning at the core of the ‘Art of Observation’ (www.arty.guru) to unveil the unique style of
each individual participant, from beginners to masters. A mighty place to unleash your creativity within
the luminous light and colour, where the coffee is fabulous, the craic is mighty and the land is inspirational.
Years before moving to the White House, Thorn founded the Four Corner’s Arts Festival, the Westmeath
Arts Movement and her latest venture, {where she met fellow artist Sioban} ‘The Free Art Society’ (www.
freeartsociety.net) which acknowledges all of the arts of life; from the art of fine wine, growing vegetables,
the art of debate and good conversation, the art of healing, compassion including the art of farming.
- ‘If you are willing to pay attention to the details of your endeavours, you become the artist’ - Thorn.
Thorn & Sioban, aka ‘West Cork Decorative Artists’ (www.WestCorkArt.com) make a great team in the
business of sign writing, gilding, restoration work, specialist paint finishes and murals. They have a variety
of national and international projects under their belts.
‘Thorn’s work IS inspiring’ as many others who’ve seen Thorn’s original paintings have declared! ; There
are currently four songs written about Thorn and her Art, most recently ‘Thorn Song’ by Venus Crow and
‘Thorn’ by Steve LaValley.
Mick Eile; a fire-eating pyrotechnician met Thorn when he was on stilts, hanging from a trapeze, suspend-
ed from a bicycle which was travelling on a tight-rope (Phew!) and she painted his face. They fell in love…
(Aaaww), now Mick is a street theatre artist, pyrotechnician, and an exciting all-round entertainer great to
meet on any day at The White House!
www.TheWhiteHouse.Gallery www.ThornArt.Com www.RocknRollStreetStars.Com
www.LivingTheSheepsHeadWay.Com www.sheepsheadponytrekking.com www.WestCorkArt.com
Contact info:- email info@thewhitehouse.gallery
Snail mail :- The White House Gallery, Kilcrohane, Bantry, Cork, Ireland
Landline :- 02767047 Mobile :- 087 3399971
