A UNIQUE exhibition on the Irish Civil War of 1922-23 entitled ‘An Alchemy of the Civil War’ is now on at the Clare Museum.

Artist Marie Connole has created a series of watercolours to represent various incidents from around County Clare.

She worked with historian Brian Spring to develop the visual timeline of events from 100 years ago.

The influence of 16th century alchemical illustrations is the starting point for these fact-based images.

Alchemists sought to transform certain materials through chemical experimentation. They believed base metals such as lead could be “perfected” into gold. Connole uses this experimental process as a metaphor for understanding the Irish Civil War.

During the War of Independence many Irish men and women sought the Utopian ideal of an Independent Gaelic island nation.

However their methods, actions and ideas for achieving this shared ideal were markedly different. The repercussions from the Civil War that followed persist to this day.

Connole’s symbolic paintings blend trauma, history and emotion to reflect the profound sadness of this beautiful but fractured vision.

This exhibition will run in the Clare Museum until October 8.

On October 7 Glór will host artists Mick O’Dea and Marie Connole in a Public Talk entitled ‘Visual Representations of Ireland’s Revolutionary Period’.
This will be followed by a tour of the art exhibition at Clare Museum. This is a free event but booking is required. For more visit glór and Insta: marieconnole.art

‘An Alchemy of the Civil War’ has been commissioned by Clare County Council and supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Community Strand of the Decade of Centenaries Programme.