Memories of McDermott's Pub, Doolin on a Monday night - pure magic!

 

Garden Lullaby Lyrics, Melody to follow

My garden sang a lullaby last Summer

Reminding me of characters of old

Of folk and dogs and friends who are no longer

Of laughter, tears and hugs that warmed my soul

My garden sang a lullaby last Summer

It started in the heartwood of the tree

The wild flowers joined the grasses in the chorus

Of robins, wrens and dragonflies and bees

They sang with dandelions sending sunshine

And singing to the pearly rain-washed sky

The poppies danced and swayed in bright red scarlet

But no ladybird was there to sing her line

 

They sang how blackbirds queued for bathing water

Joined by a cheeky sparrow, or three

How starlings used to splash in all together

Now the birdbaths sitting still and calm and free

 

Next doors wild gardens home to teaspoon pink birds

A brand-new car park may be on the cards

For SUV’s and E cars and Tour busses

For wild things tarmac’s simply way too hard

 

They say wild things are moving towards the west coast

To find a home that’s safe, where they can be

But so too are so many folk and tourists

There are no more meadows once you reach the sea

My gardens lullaby has helped me tune in

To lullabies of meadows, woods and fields

The oceans, lakes and streams and flowing rivers

Are singing farewell nocturns in the breeze

Umbrella pines of Rome are slowly dying

Their majesty is fading in full view

Infested by a tiny vicious army

Can we save these ancient souls of Rome?

They say that even small things make a difference

And maybe I can make a difference too

I’m listening to the songs from my garden

Where wild things nest, and live and rest and bloom

 

Songs from flowers, grass and trees

Songs from insects, birds and bees

Songs my garden sings

Songs from oceans, hills and bogs

These are natures songs of love

Songs our wild world sings

 

Wild Angelica

 Chinese inks, silver and gold leaf on canvas

OWNING MY SHOWDOGS

 

A wise acquaintance at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre once told me ‘Don’t hide your showdogs’.  I asked her what she meant.  She said ‘I’m talking about your portraits of animals’  She said ‘They bring joy and they pay your way.’

At that time, I felt it was considered ‘un professional’ or would do damage to my ‘perceived’ reputation as a budding artist to advertise I could capture the personality of animals on canvas.  Different times, I know.

Another conversation yesterday speaking of sighthounds,  their incredible awareness, connection, sense of humour… a handful and so worth it… 

It brought back my own two, Joey and PepR, best of pals to each other and to me for over 14 years.

I am grateful I have been able to  create a lasting memory on canvas of cherished lifetime friends and companions.

40th Annual Tuckmill Exhibition at the Moat Club Naas this weekend

 

Dining hall, Trinity College Dublin

Chinese inks, 24 carat gold on silk on canves

40th Annual Tuckmill Exhibition at the Moat Club Naas this weekend, opening hours Saturday the 15th from 12:30pm to 5:30pm and Sunday the 16th from 12:00pm to 5:00pm.

Glorious Greyhounds

A recent meeting with two adorable, long rescued greyhounds with huge hearts inspired me to create this wire image of a hound 
 

Double the trouble? NO. Twice the fun!

Song; Summer Patchwork Quilt

Patchwork Quilt  Song & Lyrics by

Sheena Meagher Feb 2025

 

My mother knit a patchwork quilt one Summer

Embroidered all our names on fields of purl

Each coloured patch a memory of her laughter

And now she’s gone I’m weaving my own quilt

 

Chorus

Quilt of laughter, quilt so bright

For the days and for the nights

So light and yet so strong                                     

Quilt of comfort

Quilt so warm

Sure protection from the storms

That’s my patchwork quilt

 

I’m weaving joyful yellows whites and azures

With heartfelt greens and deepest reds and blues

When I encounter murky shades and ochres

I stitch them round with clear and stronger hues

 

Sometimes a song, a place, a tune or perfume

Will catch my heart, my eyes, my thoughts, my soul

And I’m transported to that patch of memory

Reliving moments that were dear to me

 

My mother knit a patchwork quilt one Summer

Embroidered all our names on fields of purl

Each coloured patch a memory of her laughter

And now she’s gone I’m making my own quilt

Yes now she’s gone I’m making my own quilt

 

 

*purl is the name of a stitch in knitting

Patchwork quilt painting exhibited Clare- Voyance, Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon Co. Clare

Portraits of Lola and Amber; Portraits of two dogs

 

Lola; a very loving and energetic lab, going a little grey, aged 6, with a distinctive white blaze. Her portrait shows Lola looking like she is laughing at something- and yet relaxed. Her coat is gleaming.

This portrait is one of a pair, 

Amber is Lola’s companion.  As a pair the portraits relate to each other, while giving each dog their own space.

Chinese inks on deep edged canvas.

Testimonial from their owner;

"I asked Sheena if she would do a painting of our two lovely rescue dogs, Amber and Lola, as a present to celebrate my husband’s birthday. I knew Sheena’s work and knew her love of dogs, especially rascally rescue dogs, so was delighted when she agreed.

Sheena came over to the house when Noel was away to get to know the dogs. The dogs were very excited at first with a new visitor, especially one who was so fond of dogs herself. But they soon relaxed after their initial welcoming ceremony and settled themselves next to each other on the sofa in the sun room in their usual positions to see what would happen next. Sheena took lots of photos of them there and then we all went outside for a look round the garden and for Sheena to get a feel for where our dogs spend most of their outside time.

From what she saw from the dogs and their relationship, she suggested that two pictures would be best, with Amber and Lola looking at each other. And rather than having them side by side on the sun room sofa, she thought they would look better in an outside setting.

The resulting paintings are fantastic and we are delighted with them. They really portray the dogs’ looks and expressions and they have been much admired by visitors to the house. It is such a pity that Amber and Lola cannot appreciate them too!

As well as the two paintings, Sheena also had printed for us some note cards with the dogs’ pictures on them, so we can share them with our family and friends. What a great idea!"

 

Sally McCaffrey

Honorary Secretary, KWWSPCA

Surf Songs

 A pal gave a friend and I a present of a surf lesson in Lahinch.  Each time we tried to use the voucher something went wrong; the weather, an appointment, a …. Eventually it was ‘use it or lose it’ as  I had to come home to Kildare so a date was set in stone.  The class happened on the day Hurricane Ivan hit Liscannor Bay.  

And so I wrote a song 'Surfing Hurricane Ivan in Liscannor Bay.'  It described the surf lesson, pro surfers flooding in to surf Ailean’s under the Cliffs of Mohar, Aill Na Searrach, (Leap of the Foals), the journey from Naas to Clare, pit stops at Obama Plaza, Blakes Corner, Ennistymon, Clare, and, maybe one day succeeding at surfing.

I sang it one night in Ennis at a singing session in the Copper Jug.  Afterwards another singer asked me “Did you write that song?” “Yes” “Will you write a positive surfing song?  I’m a surfer and I’d love a positive song about surfing.”

And so I wrote ’Surf’s My Love’, set to the beautiful melody, Sì Beag, Sì Mor by Turlough O Carolan, and Erica Nicholas, the singer and surfer sang it at another session in Cnoc Na Gaoithe in Tulla.  It got 20K hits on FB.  I recorded her singing ‘Surf’s My Love’ in the Corner Stone in Lahinch, with Eoin O Neill playing bouzouki.  It was released and I joined IMRO which led to a song writing workshop with Buddy Mondlock and more….

Isn’t life is full of unexpected twists and turns?

Surf's My Love

Our Cosmic Path, FSJ Spirituality House, Spanish Point, Co. Clare

 I was delighted to be invited to be part of the team creating the Cosmic Path which is to be found at Spirituality House, Spanish Point, Co. Clare.  The project was conceived by director Nóirin Lynch and Linda Hebenstreit to help explain the history of our planet over thirteen point seven billion years in fourteen mosaic tiles which are set in a path cut into the grasses outside Spirituality House.

Designed by Gabrielle Qwynn, the mosaics were created by mosaic artist Gabrielle O Brien with the help of Linda, Shona Blake and I.  Used to working ‘sola’ as a visual artist, I loved being part of a collaborative team under the direction of Gabrielle O B (Gabi).  It was a steep learning curve for me, intense work on hot, sunny summers days in Gabrielle’s studio, lots of laughter.   I loved the teamwork, the power of the mosaic, the absolute attention to detail, finding the exact piece, shape, colour, the many synchronicities that occurred.  I also discovered my own limitations- the power-driven shape-cutting saws and sanders, essential; tools for mosaic designs of this nature were out of my comfort zone.   Grouting day, on site at Spanish Point with fourteen more participants and photographer was a wonderful experience.

The ‘full spectrum’ approach set out by Nóirin and adopted from the outset by all involved was educational, ecological, with beautiful, inspirational designs and implemented with care.

I found the whole experience truly go hiontach ar fad.

Mosaic Number 14 Looking Out -Choosing A Bright Future

*Photographs reproduced with permission from Spirituality House, Spanish Point

Cosmic Path, Spirituality House, Spanish Point

Dublin City Liffey Swim

I took the Luas to Dublin and was walking towards the city centre when I became aware of shouts and roars. Oh,  I thought I was heading towards a riot!!

 But no, it was the Jones Engineering Dublin City Liffey Swim in action.  

The atmosphere and energy were electric.  

I followed the swimmers up river, stopping to experience the thrill as they emerged from under bridges.  The colour, atmosphere and sense of place must have stayed with me as months later at the Greywood Arts Centre Residence the first painting off the brush was my memory of The Liffey Swim.  It depicts a swimmer emerging from under the James Joyce Bridge, heading towards Mellows Bridge with several swimmers ahead and framed by the city quays and iconic City of Dublin skyline. 

The finished painting measures 60x30cm, is executed in Chinese inks on canvas, and framed by Inniscarra Framing.  It is for sale through the Tuckmill Gallery tel 045879761

Creating a reminder of truly wild Nature

Some time ago, 5.30 am, Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig, a family of deer wandered through the top garden.... I wanted to create something that would remind myself and others of the magical joy and beauty I feel when in the presence of nature. I simply placed my stag on a scattering of tumbled stones, creating a wild place within my indoor living space

A Heart of Stones, Seafield Beach, near Quilty, Co. Clare

Sea tumbled heart shaped stones found on  Seafiield beach, near Quilty, Co. Clare

Sunday Wink goes to the term 'Pub pub'

 My 'Sunday Wink' goes to the term 'Pub pub', replacing that awful sounding term 'Wet pub'. (Nothing could be further from snug, welcoming pubs). I'm not so keen on the term 'Gastro pub' either - the term is too like gastric troubles than gastronomy in my mind.

I heard the 'pub pub' last week on radio - and hope it catches on.

‘Wild Irish Hare, Spring Forward’

 

Irish Hare The hare is a beautiful creature, featuring in mythology and in folklore. Sightings at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig gave rise to the painting. A walk in Clare inspired the setting. A few years ago I was walking in the Burren near Mullaghmore. I approached what I thought was a carpet of lilac/blue flowers in the limestone and grasses. . . As I drew near the 'carpet' took off- hundreds of tiny moths in a cloud of pale blue. A few yards away another gathering of pale pink covering the ground erupted into flight.

Size; 50 x 40 cm

Contact Tuckmill Gallery, Naas

DUBLIN ART BOOK FAIR 2020

This wonderful exhibition os now online and open To see all the books visit the Temple Bar Gallery website and select 'Shop'.  

A direct  Link to Because the Small Things Matter (ahem!) 

Tuckmill Annual Fine Art Exhibition; Church of Our Lady and St. David and Mc Auley Place

The fabulous Tuckmill Gallery in Naas

    

Delighted to have my painting of Church of Our Lady and St. David and Mc Auley Place in the shop window.

‘Because The Small Things Matter. They Make All The Difference’ selected for the Dublin Art Book Fair 2020

Because The Small Things Matter. They Make All The Difference’ has been selected to be featured at the Temple Bar Gallery + Studios in Dublin Art Book Fair 2020: Design as an Attitude from 23 November — 06 December 2020, curated by world leading design critic and author Alice Rawsthorn.

About the book;

Butterflies are associated with transformation and freedom. The emergence from a cocoon in a completely new form is a real-life metaphor for unimagined new beginnings. In August 2020, Covid pandemic notwithstanding, I was in residence at the Tyrone Guthrie Artists Centre at Annaghmakerrig.

Two varnished stretched canvases coated in Chinese inks on are bound together creating a cocoon containing a true story of resilience I found in nature during that residency. The reader is invited to untie and unfold the story of the residency, focusing on a wonderful example of simply hanging in there and being awake and open to new possibilities. Presented in a blend of text, photographs and artwork, there is an experiential surprise at the end for the reader.

Temple Bar Gallery + Studios

Dublin Art Book Fair 2020: Design as an Attitude

All Dublin Art Book Fair events are listed at https://www.templebargallery.com/whats-on/events, with full information and booking links.

WILD ATLANTIC WAY ART SALE for ENABLE iRELAND

 

I was happy to be invited to donate artwork to the to the #EnableIreland Wild Atlantic Art Sale. The site is now live here; https://app.galabid.com/enableireland/items

Enable Ireland provides support to over 9,200 adults, children and their families each year and events like this are vital to continue to provide essential services.

By happy coincidence I had visited Lahinch, Co. Clare on the 26th September 2020 where I witnessed an amazing sunset. The whole scene- sky, sea, land and beach turned rose gold – a wonderful end to a magnificent day, a fabulous start to a magical evening. Shadows cast by surfers carrying boards became Merpeople inhabiting the wet sands. Two girls ran at full tilt into the sea and sat enjoying their 99’s ice cream cones, laughing after a day in the surf. The resulting three paintings are part of this very worthwhile fundraiser, where there are beautiful artworks starting from as little as €10 and there are some really beautiful works available for this excellent cause. Congratulations to the organisors!

Enable Ireland Fundraiser ‘The Wild Atlantic Way’ Lahinch Beach Sunset, Liscannor Bay

Today really felt like the start of winter to me.   A friend is still sea swimming, (no wet suit) and told me today they swam between hail showers- not for the faint hearted.  

My last time by the sea was at the end of September when I witnessed an amazing sunset at Lahinch Beach, Liscannor Bay, Co. Clare.  The whole scene- sky, sea, land and beach turned rose gold – a wonderful end to a magnificent day, a fabulous start to a magical evening. It inspired a series of paintings; three are part of the Enable Ireland Fundraiser ‘The Wild Atlantic Way’ next month.  

Culture Night 2020 at the Tuckmill Gallery, Naas, Co. Kildare

 

Many thanks to Martina Phibbs for inviting me to demonstrate Chinese Ink Painting Techniques at the wonderful #TUCKMILLGALLERY in Naas, Co. Kildare to celebrate #CULTURENIGHT 2020

Chinese painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world.

It is intended to be a meditative and spontaneous art form, capturing the essence of an image or idea with very little attention to precise details. Nature is the heart of Chinese Brush painting with emphasis on form, movement, energy and flow - rather than a photographic style

I demonstrated ‘Held line’ and ‘Flowing form’ techniques on rice paper and silk, and how these materials differ from watercolour paper. I am very fortunate to have my work included in this exceptional gallery.

Photograph by Kay Geraghty

Narrating the New Normal, Birr 2020

NARRATING THE NEW NORMAL, Birr 2020

Artist: Sheena Meagher

Title: Library Opening Hours; 24/7 for Ghosts of Pandemics Past

Year: 2008 - 2018

Width/Height/Depth/Cms/ 76cms x 123cms x n/a

Medium: Chinese inks and 25 ct. gold leaf on stretched canvas

Genre: Painting

The story behind the painting;

As part of a series of views of Trinity College I created a painting of one of the wrought iron spiral stairs in the Long Room. Some time into painting I was happy with the stairs, the bookshelves and gleaming tomes. I raised my paintbrush to bring in the figure of a Librarian on the stairs when my studio door suddenly burst open. I screamed in fright. My brush did a wobble connecting with the canvas. I calmed my dog (who had just come in for a drink of water) and turned to the painting.

There, standing on the spiral stairs was a ghostly figure, not descending the stairs but calmly reaching over the handrail towards the shelves for a book. The feeling of fright was so authentic I left it exactly as it appeared. You can just make it out at top left, under the word 'Bibliotheca'.

During lockdown I wondered if Trinity College ghosts had taken full possession of campus. Had the corridors, lecture theatres, libraries, squares, the campus playing fields ever been so empty of people for such a long period? Or were the ghosts of bygone Trinity folk roaming the grounds with the Trinity Fox and occupying seats vacated by the living? And if so, will they continue to emerge into the less populated spaces?

In 2018 I gilded the work with 25 ct. gold leaf.

SOUNDS MUSICAL 3

THE GOLD RING COMMISSION 

Ceoil Draíocht, beomhar agus binn… Music, magical, living and sweet. 

THE STORY BEHIND THE PAINTING;

 

 The Gold Ring. Chinese Inks on canvas

Since 2019 I have been developing the concept of representing on canvas the atmosphere created by musicians, storytellers, poets, dancers and singers.   I contacted Muireann Ni Dhuigneain as I was particularly interested in finding some sacred harp music, and following that conversation she commissioned me to create a painting- leaving the brief wide open.

The painting evolved, a group of musicians emerged, seated around a table shaped like a fiddle.  From the outset the musicians, even the instruments were not the focal point, rather the notes merging and blending.

Once I had the group in place I had the idea of inviting Muireann, a musician herself, to help me bring the painting to life.She visited my studio in Johnstown and Muireann produced a recording of ‘The Gold Ring’ played by Willie Clancy.  The Gold Ring is a seven part jig, much loved by traditional musicians and said to have been channeled from the Other World.Coincidentally I had pre-prepared two smaller canvass, one featuring a fairy and one a harp, to use as a tutorial in mixing and applying Chinese inks.  

The theme was set and after lunch we set about the main work.  Muireann instinctively chose colours for each instrument, three for the Uileann piper, indigo for the bodhran ….and played music with finger tips dipped in colour directly on the canvas.

The painting took two more sessions in studio to complete- each one adding another layer of life and meaning to the finished work where I worked on the piece with Muireann looking on, advising.  Two of the musicians took on personalities of actual people.  Full creamy pints appeared on the table.  The notes blended and a sweep of my fingers dipped in gold paint evoked gold rings suspended in the air above the players.  The rings are not so obvious, appearing as light falls on the canvas. 

I have always worked closely with clients when commissioned to create a painting. 

This was a new experience to invite the client to become part of the actual painting process.

I feel the piece has the qualities we set out to evoke.

SOUNDS MUSICAL 1

TUNING UP

FULL TILT

MELLOW 

#Sunday Wink

#SundayWink this 5^th July 2020 goes to longevity. 

I have been producing greeting cards from my artwork since 2002.  Not all my paintings make it onto cards, but those that do seem to have staying power (whenever I do a commissioned piece I create a personalised greeting card file for the client’s sole use – but that’s a different line of work.) 

In the past couple of weeks I created a pack – a real mixture  - of my cards and they have gone very well.  It’ s the same with everything we do - the knock on effect lasts and fans out like ripples in a lake.  

An uplifting and scary thought at the same time!

Happy Sunday!!

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