On Culture Night, Friday 20th September, the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society presents in the Mick Lally Theatre a history-inspired visual art installation by award-winning artist and theatre designer Dolores Lyne. ‘To the Letter: Liam Lynch’ will feature an exhibition of artworks in a theatrical setting, with a guided talk by the artist. The artworks go behind the scenes, telling the story of the artist’s grand-uncle, Liam Lynch, Chief of Staff of the IRA during the Civil War, drawn from a trove of letters written as a young man in combat and on the run – close shaves and dramatic escapes, incidents and narratives from the War of Independence, the Civil War and its aftermath. The letters are brought to life recreating the remote safe houses where they were written, emphasising the landscapes and memories of the hill communities and the story of rural resistance. The artworks are large canvases, which fold out into a pictorial evocation of a poignant history. Included in the exhibit is an original dispatch bicycle used in action at the time. On the night Dolores will tell the story and explain her creative response as an artist.
The exhibition is open for viewing in the Mick Lally Theatre, Druid Lane, Galway, from 7.00 pm. The artist’s talk by Dolores Lyne is at 8.30pm and the theatre is open until 10.30pm. This is a free event for Galway City Culture Night, with grateful acknowledgment of Galway City Council Arts Office, the Mick Lally Theatre and Druid Theatre Company.
Dolores Lyne – Biography
Dolores Lyne moved to Galway from Kerry after graduating in fine art from Waterford. Over thirty years her work has reflected a huge interest in the ritual rural landscape of the west of Ireland, its islands and communities. She has works in several public collections including Galway City and County Councils, the Arts Council of Ireland, OPW, Bank of Ireland, MoLI, University of Galway, Tipperary County Council, Kerry Library Collection, and An Garda Síochána. She is an award winning theatre designer, a graduate of Motley in Covent Garden London, has designed in London and in many Irish theatres, winning an Irish Times Theatre Award for best Set Design in 1999, and subsequently acting as judge for the Irish Times Theatre Awards. She is a founder member of the AKIN artists collective and has served on the boards of Macnas, Artspace Studios and Interface Inagh. She has worked as designer and specialist painter in film and television and as chief exhibition installer over many years for Galway International Arts Festival.
