Geraldine O’Reilly, Mary O'Donnell and Na Cailleacha: Heroines

25 November – 24 December 2023

‘Unlegendary Heroes’ is a folio of ten prints by Geraldine O’Reilly and ten poems by Mary O’Donnell. It is accompanied by Na Cailleacha’s Ballinglen print portfolio. Na Cailleacha – 'wise women' or 'witches' – is a collective of eight women dedicated to exploring collaborative practice. The collective comprises visual artists Helen Comerford, Barbara Freeman, Patricia Hurl, Rachel Parry, Therry Rudin and Gerda Teljeur; jazz composer and musician Carole Nelson; and curator and art-writer Catherine Marshall.

Mary was scheduled to introduce the exhibition but, due to illness, was unable to. In her stead Geraldine O'Reilly and Catherine Marshall talked of their own collaborative projects, and Lisa Fingleton read Mary's poem, 'Unlegendary Heroes'. The opening was a joyous and warm celebration of creative, experienced and insightful women. See https://youtu.be/XN11CXPT_JU

Above  Lisa Fingleton, Geraldine O'Reilly and Catherine Marshall introduce the exhibition.

Below  Rachel Parry, Kelp Cailleach (with reference to Paula Rego’s ‘Angel’), 2023. Dress of kelp washed ashore at Allihies, Co. Cork, sewn over wired petticoat and cotton; with black-backed gull wings. Photograph by Tomasz Madajczak, 124 x 83 cm, archival paper.

Geraldine O'Reilly, Heron and the women, one of ten leaves from 'Unlegendary Heroes', a boxed folio of screen prints in collaboration with poet Mary O'Donnell, 2021. Below, detail from 'Unlegendary Heroes'.