Opening Reception Friday 4 May, 7pm • Opening by Mr Tom Eklund, Honorary Consul General of Finland in Ireland

7.42 was the moment in which life changed in the area of Lapua in Finland. The moment was frozen in time on the watch face of a survivor of a terrible tragedy. In April 1976, an ammunitions factory exploded and 40 women died – at 7.42am. This was a tragedy which left an indelible mark on the people of Lapua, and one which greatly affected four Irish artists who took part in an Artists’ Residency there in 2010. The artists, Abigail O’ Brien and Seán Cotter, both from Co. Louth, Thomas Brezing, from north Co. Dublin, and Mary Kelly from Co. Wicklow, have created work for the exhibition 7:42 which will have its Irish premiere as part of the Drogheda Arts Festival this May. The exhibition has been shown in Lapua in 2011, and at the Cable Factory, Helsinki in 2012, and will continue at Highlanes Gallery until September, 2012.