Noelle Campbell-Sharp facts for kids

Noelle Campbell-Sharp (born in 1943 in County Wexford) is an amazing Irish person who helps artists and promotes art. She owns an art gallery in Dublin. She has also been a member of the Arts Council of Ireland. Noelle is best known for starting and leading the Cill Rialaig project in County Kerry. This special project has welcomed more than 5,000 artists since it began in 1991.

Life Story

Noelle Campbell-Sharp was born in 1943 in Wexford, Ireland. She was adopted by the Roche family and grew up in County Wexford. She learned to love history and military stories from her adoptive father. Noelle left school at 15 after finishing her Intermediate Certificate.

Her Career Journey

Starting Out

Noelle's first job was as a clerk and typist for a company called Pierce's in Wexford. Later, she moved to Dublin. She studied acting at the Brendan Smith Academy. She also performed with the Young Dublin Players.

Because of her acting experience, she got a job. She became a Public Relations Officer for the Gaiety Theatre. Her very first client was the famous actor Peter O'Toole.

Noelle later married Neil Campbell-Sharp, who was a fashion photographer. She started writing for his photos. She also helped manage his career. This is how she got involved in fashion journalism.

Becoming a Publisher

Noelle Campbell-Sharp started working for Irish Tatler magazine. In 1979, she bought the magazine. She worked with John Kerry Keane, an editor from the Kilkenny People.

She changed the magazine's name to IT. Noelle was the editor until 1988. She also bought other magazines. At one point, she published 11 different titles. These included Social and Personal and Success. She even published Ryanair's in-flight magazine for several years.

Noelle sold her magazine business in two parts, in 1989 and 1991. She faced challenges with the payment after the buyer passed away.

In the late 1980s, Noelle bought a house in Ballinskelligs, County Kerry. She had it made new by an architect. She later made Ballinskelligs her main home.

The Cill Rialaig Project

Noelle heard that an old famine village in Cill Rialaig was in danger. A road project might destroy its ruins. So, she decided to help. She organized fundraising with friends. They also got a small grant from the Irish National Lottery.

With this money, she bought the ruins. This was the start of the amazing Cill Rialaig Project. It grew into an Artist Retreat and an Arts Centre. Noelle has been the main person behind this project. By mid-2019, it had welcomed over 5,000 artists. These artists come to stay and create art.

Noelle opened her first art gallery in Dublin. It was on St. Stephen's Green. This gallery showed art created at Cill Rialaig. Important people like Dick Spring and Jean Kennedy Smith attended the opening.

She later opened the Origins Gallery. It moved locations but is still active. For a while, she also ran the Urban Retreat gallery. This gallery also focused on the art and artists from Cill Rialaig.

Awards and Recognition

Noelle Campbell-Sharp received a special award in June 2007. She was given an honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. This was a big honor for her work.

Arts Council Role

In 2003, Noelle Campbell-Sharp was chosen to be a member of Ireland's Arts Council. This council has 13 members and helps support the arts in Ireland.

Family Life

Noelle Campbell-Sharp has one daughter with Neil Campbell-Sharp. Her daughter, Tara, is a holistic therapist. Tara is married and has three children.

For many years, Noelle collected items related to Napoleon. She was a member of the Napoleon Society of Ireland. In 2019, she decided to sell her collection.