Review In The Munster Express
6th April 2007
Liam Murphy

The charming and beautifully situated Joan Clancy Gallery has a real Easter treat with a show in Ring Gaeltacht that presents four female artists for just five Easter days over the traditional long weekend on the fourth month from Thursday April 5th to Monday April 9th. In keeping with it's charm it is not just four artists but seven female artists. Now why would you let a number spoil a good advertising slogan.

I went for a preview, one of those warm windy mornings when Spring has the yellow of Easter in it's hopes. In keeping with it's Gaeltacht setting the show is called –Céiliúradh na Cásca (Celebrating Easter).

At the top of the stairs there was a Laura McNamara needlework piece that set the maritime tone. Rita O'Connell had a series of water lily studies but BOATS, CROSSHAVEN had memorable qualities. Sinéad Ni Chionaola had a fine black and green study called INTERSTICES. I preferred her Irish title of IDIR NA gCRAINN (Between the Trees) and her acrylic DEEPEST DREAMS was a joy in pink green and yellow.

Blawnin Clancy had just a few studies of the Ring coast with images or rock, erosion and trees reaching for a mystical light. Her sister Rayleen Clancy literally showed her work at a crossroads that left me unsure of which direction she might take. Her faces still have that allure that tells stories of wishin' an' hopin'.

Another figurative artist, Eileen Healy, has four female studies; two are life drawings on reddish paper and her portraits have faces that are a little sad with hands that seem awkward and a little too long. But for that sense of Easter and childhood magic you need to see Leah Murphy's SUIL PICKING GORSE like a glowing image from a child's picture book with a timeless and happy rosy-cheeked child picking yellow gorse.

Joan Clancy Gallery – open for the five days between 11am and 5pm or by appointment. (086) 8134597