Artistic Lineages and Lively Spirits
A New Exhibition Opens at Limerick’s People’s Museum
By Kieran Beville
On a dark and dreary December evening in Limerick, the stately Georgian
facade of The People’s Museum glowed with a quiet sense of anticipation. The
occasion was the long-awaited opening of a multi-generational art exhibition
that brings together the works of Michael Collins, Clare Hartigan, Barbara
Hartigan, Oisín CLeary, Teresa Collins, and Martin Finnin—an ensemble of
artists whose connections, contrasts, and creative energies made the launch as
intimate as it was momentous.
Running from 2 December to 7 December, with its
official launch on the 4th, the exhibition represents not just a showcase of
individual works but a living conversation across generations, families, and
artistic disciplines. It is the type of event one might expect in a major
contemporary art centre, yet it feels all the more resonant and rooted because
it unfolded within the elegant rooms of The People’s Museum—a space devoted to
Limerick’s cultural memory.
And, in unmistakably Limerick fashion, the atmosphere
was lifted by the generosity of Rocky from The Commercial, who supplied wine
for the evening before the celebration continued with a spirited after-party at
The Commercial itself. What began as an exhibition opening quickly evolved into
something richer: a gathering of community, creativity, kinship, and
celebration.
A Museum Filled With Conversation
The People’s Museum is no stranger to art, but the
character of this exhibition was unique. Upon entering, visitors immediately
sensed that this was more than a lineup of polished works displayed in
sequence. Instead, it felt like stepping into a family’s collective
imagination—one that spans decades, disciplines, and artistic philosophies.
What made this evening particularly distinctive was
the way it celebrated relationships—between mediums, between meanings, and
between artists who share histories not only in the artistic sense but in the
familial one.
Michael Collins: The Quiet Architect of the
Exhibition
For many visitors, the work of Michael Collins
provided a grounding anchor—a steady visual voice amid a chorus of diverse
approaches. Collins, long admired for his ability to coax emotional resonance
out of form and colour, offered pieces that balanced discipline with intuition.
His works in this exhibition carried the hallmarks of an artist who has spent
years refining his visual language: clean yet expressive lines, controlled
palettes, and a serene confidence.
Collins’ presence was also symbolic. Not only is he a
respected figure in Limerick’s art community, but his involvement signalled the
interwoven nature of the exhibition. He is both participant and mentor—an
artist whose influence can be felt in the community’s younger generations,
several of whom were exhibiting alongside him.
Clare Hartigan: Energy, Emotion, and an Artist at Full
Flame
If Collins' work provided the exhibition with its
steady heartbeat, Clare Hartigan’s contributions supplied its fiery pulse. Hartigan
has long been an artist who embraces both experimentation and emotion, and her
presence at the exhibition drew excited murmurs from visitors long before the
official launch.
Her pieces—layered, textured, alive with motion—felt
like the visual embodiment of music or performance. They stood boldly in
contrast to the quieter works nearby, yet never overwhelmed them; instead, they
seemed to cast an energizing glow across the room.
Hartigan’s creative world extends far beyond the
canvas, and on this evening her work served as a reminder of the relentless
curiosity that drives her. Guests could be overheard swapping stories of past
exhibitions, collaborations, and the ways her artistic life has influenced the
next generation. That influence was visible—literally—just around the corner.
Barbara Hartigan: A Mother’s Voice, A Distinct
Artistic Vision
One of the most touching aspects of the exhibition was
the inclusion of works by Barbara Hartigan, Clare’s mother. Barbara’s
contributions offered viewers a glimpse into the origins of a creative lineage.
Yet her work stood firmly on its own – landscapes of light and shade—delicate
without being fragile, expressive without being loud.
Many visitors lingered before Barbara’s pieces, struck
by the confident landscape compositions and the chiaroscuro of dappled light
and shade. There was a contemplative quality to her work, as though each piece
invited viewers into a quiet conversation about nature.
Oisín Cleary: The Next Generation Speaks in Ink
Oisín Cleary, Clare’s son, brought a fresh and
contemporary energy to the exhibition through his screen-prints, which quickly
became one of the evening’s talking points. His work demonstrated a bold
confidence in graphic form, with pieces that seemed to vibrate with urban
rhythm and youthful sharpness.
Screen-printing suited Oisín’s youthful voice. His
colour choices were striking, his compositions clean and exciting, and his
themes resolutely modern. While the older generations of artists in the
exhibition often leaned toward the painterly or the abstract, Oisín’s
screen-prints anchored the show in the present moment.
Teresa Collins
Another figure in the exhibition was Teresa Collins,
whose couple of small sculpted works offered a three-dimensional counterpoint to
the boldness of Cleary’s prints and the expressive energy of Clare.
Martin Finnin: Movement, Mischief, and Modernity
Martin Finnin brought yet another distinctive voice to
the exhibition. Known for his playful exploration of form and colour, Finnin’s
work injected spontaneity into the evening. His abstract pieces bursting with
dynamic brushstrokes and unexpected visual twists, seemed to dance on the
walls.
A Launch That Became a Celebration
Though the exhibition officially opened on 2 December,
the 4 December launch was the night that truly crystallised its spirit. As the
museum’s rooms filled with artists, family members, friends, collectors,
students, and curious Limerick locals, the sense of occasion became
unmistakable.
From Museum to Commercial: The Night Continues
Inevitably, the crowd drifted from the museum to The
Commercial, where Rocky’s earlier hospitality evolved into a full-blown
celebration. The after-party was good-humoured and deeply communal—exactly the
sort of gathering that seems to follow naturally from an exhibition that was,
at its core, about family and connection.
The Exhibition’s Lasting Impact
Ultimately, what made this exhibition remarkable was
not its size or its grandeur but its sincerity. Each artist brought something distinct,
yet together their works formed a vibrant tapestry that honoured lineage
without being defined by it. For those who attended the launch, the night will
be remembered not only for the art but for the laughter, the warmth and the
sense of being part of something living and communal.
As the final days of the exhibition draw to a close, what remains most striking is not merely the impressive body of work assembled within the walls of The People’s Museum, but the spirit of connection that animated every room, every conversation, and every piece of art displayed. This was an exhibition that transcended the usual boundaries of artistic presentation. It became, instead, a living testament to the ways in which creativity passes through families, communities, and generations—a reminder that art does not exist in isolation but flourishes in the fertile spaces where people share stories, influence one another, and build meaning collectively.
Visitors who wandered the museum’s corridors during
the week found themselves not just observing the works but participating in a
dynamic lineage of expression, one shaped by memory, mentorship, curiosity, and
the constant evolution of artistic voice. The energy carried through to the
official launch, fuelled by Rocky’s generous contribution from The Commercial
and by the laughter and camaraderie that followed in the late-night
celebrations at the pub. In those moments, the line between artist and audience
dissolved, revealing a community united not only by appreciation for visual art
but by a shared commitment to supporting and celebrating local creativity. As
the lights dim and the doors prepare to close on this brief but unforgettable
exhibition, its legacy lingers—a reminder that Limerick’s artistic heartbeat is
strong, vibrant, and interwoven with the lives of those who create, those who
witness, and those who gather to celebrate what art can mean.
The exhibition may end on the seventh, but its impact
will ripple outward for weeks, months, perhaps even years, carried in
conversations, in memories, and in the renewed belief that art, at its best, is
both a mirror and a meeting place. In this way, the exhibition stands not as a
conclusion but as an invitation—an encouragement for all who experienced it to
continue seeking out beauty, fostering connection, and championing the creative
voices that shape the cultural life of Limerick.
For those who attended, the event will remain a warm,
enduring reminder that when art and community come together, something rare and
deeply meaningful can take root, transforming an ordinary December week into an
extraordinary chapter in the city’s ongoing artistic story.
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