Offaly artist dedicates first solo exhibition to her late parents
An Offaly artist whose first solo exhibition continues for the month of April in Tullamore Library told a packed audience at last week's official launch that she was dedicating the exhibition to the memory of her late parents.
Speaking at the launch of 'The Ubiquitous Collection', Genevieve Murphy recalled how her parents, the late Tim and Eileen O'Connor, had reared a big family and added that she takes “great inspiration” in her work as an artist from the happy childhood she enjoyed with her 11 siblings and their parents.
“We grew up together, did a lot of work on the farm and we all got a good education and great support,” said Genevieve. Among the paintings on display at last week's launch was her stunning portrait of her late Dad, and a painting of her parents which was inlaid into the sheet music of her father's favourite song, based on a poem by William Butler Yeats, 'Down by the Salley Gardens'.
Now a parent to four grown-up children, and a grandmother of seven, Genevieve said she was “very honoured at this stage of my life” to have been given the opportunity to launch a solo exhibition of her artwork, and she paid a warm tribute to her husband, Brendan, and her family for being “so supportive.”
Having been drawing and painting all her life, Genevieve Murphy told last week's launch that she believes there is “no age limit” to learning. “There is no such thing as saying 'I know it all' - there is always room for more,” she said, adding that she constantly attends workshops in an effort to further hone her artistic skills.
Brendan Bracken from Ross Road in Screggan, who is a presenter on RTE 2FM and a family friend of the Murphys, acted as MC for the launch of 'The Ubiquitous Collection' and said he was very struck by something Genevieve Murphy had said in a recent newspaper interview.
“She said 'sometimes the best teacher is observation' and I think that is a really nice sentiment to take away, both inside and outside the artistic world, and something that should be carried through in everyday life,” said Brendan.
The exhibition was officially opened by Genevieve's nephew, Rory O'Connor, who is better known as the hugely-popular comedian, mental health advocate and author, 'Rory's Stories.'
He recalled how he had spent “many a happy summer” in Kilcavan, where the Murphy family lived prior to their move to Tegan Court in Mucklagh. “I never called her Genevieve my whole life, she is Jenny to me, and she encouraged art work so we used to draw on walls we weren't supposed to draw on, but we were only using the gifts she encouraged us to use,” he said, to much laughter from the audience. “Enjoy your day Jenny and be proud of yourself, you deserve it” he added.
Genevieve made a special presentation to Rory of a portrait she painted of him taking part in his first-ever Dublin City Marathon last year to raise funds for the autism charity, 'As I Am.' She said Rory was “a big advocate” for autism awareness, and thanked him for his work on behalf of all those with an autism diagnosis. 'The Ubiquitous Collection' of art work by Genevieve Murphy continues throughout the month of April in Tullamore Library, and members of the public can view all the paintings, browse at their leisure and purchase a piece of art work during library opening hours.