Rory's Stories podcaster launches Offaly artist's 'Ubiquitous' exhibition

LOCAL and Irish history, her native Kilcavan, Connemara and nature are among the inspirations which shape the work of artist Genevieve Murphy.

An exhibition of the Screggan resident's works was officially launched in the Central Library, Tullamore by her famous nephew, the man behind the online sensation "Rory's Stories", Rory O'Connor on Thursday evening last.

The exhibition continues for the entire month of April and all the works are for sale.

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Among the paintings on display is a portrait of the Olympian boxer, Grainne Walsh, whose mother, Geraldine Walsh (nee Grennan) is a close friend of Genevieve.

The artist paid a warm tribute to Geraldine, a well-known local journalist, at the launch and praised her for her phenonemal work promoting the launch and exhibition.

Speaking to the Tribune prior to the launch, Geneveve said the 1916 rising and the War of Independence provided huge inspiration for her work.

She said she had inherited a love of local and Irish history from her late father, Tim and pointed to one painting "Window to the Past", inspired by her grandmother, Mary Carroll O'Connor, who provided aid to people on the run during the War of Independence.

"Daddy recalled walking to school and the Black and Tans questioning him if any strangers had been in the house the night before but he had been told not to give any information away."

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Genevieve also pointed to a brooch she was wearing crafted from a piece of rubble from the GPO in Dublin which had been gifted to her father by Michael Flannery, the Ballingarry man who led Noraid in the United States.

Speaking at the outset of the brief formalities, Brendan Bracken, Master of Ceremonies, said the state of the art librray was the perfect place for an exhibition of this nature.

Rory O'Connor recalled his childhood visits to the family farm at Kilcavan during the Summer months.

He added that creativity runs in the family with Genevieve being a celebrated artist, his father, Joe, a renowned story teller and his aunt, Anne, a talented poet. Rory also pointed to the work of Genevieve's nephew, JJ, who is also an aspiring artist.

"Genevieve should be very proud of herself as she has put a huge amount of work into this exhibition," stressed the podcaster.

The artist said her childhood provided much inspiration for her work and she recalled her father telling stories about local and Irish history.

"He was big advocate of the library in Tullamore and he would regularly come back with four books, many of them about the sea and the coastguard."

In her work, Genevieve uses pen and ink, charcoal, oil acrylic, pastels and mixed media. She also welcomes commissions and private lessons and group classes are given. More details from 087 2605109.