New art exhibition in RCC will resonate with many who lived along the border

An art exhibition currently running in Letterkenny’s Regional Cultural Centre conveys a very real sense of what life was like along the border.

Brian Byrne draws on memories from his own lifetime during which the border region has seen everything from the most terrible atrocities to the unquenchable courage of the peace brokers. 

It is fitting that his exhibition Images From The Borderland coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The anniversary has stirred up a lot of memories of the Troubles, and it reminds us of why the agreement is so important.

Brian, 71, is a trained artist, seasoned exhibitor and retired art teacher. Originally from Dublin, he has been living in Donegal for the last 23 years. 

This series of around 33 paintings was completed during lockdown.

“They are based on my memories along the border 1968 to today,” he said.

“Although I grew up in Dublin, my father had a house in Dundalk and my time was spent between the two places. 

“During the Troubles, I was up and down along the border, so I am drawing on first hand experience of what went on. 

“My paintings are memories of that time, and also memories of my time in Donegal.”

IMAGE: The Battle of the Bogside by Brian Byrne

The paintings included in the exhibition range from 12 inches x 10 inches to six foot squared. “They are a segment of what I have,” said Brian. “I have a large body of work. Some are two metres squared but not in the exhibition because of space.”

As well as holding an exhibition approximately every two years, Brian shares his work in a weekly Facebook post.

He said: “Every Friday I put a post up of what is on the easel - my work during the week. It is a great motivator.

In addition to the paintings, Brian often includes with his Facebook posts a piece of music which he feels is connected to his work and which brings more to the story that he is conveying. 

Brian describes his work as very figurative, with some abstract pieces too.

He is looking forward to the exhibition at the Regional Cultural Centre, and is quick to praise his host, Jeremy Fitzhoward at the RCC.

“What Jeremy is doing there is excellent,” said Brian. “He is a very good musician and he is doing great work in opening up the gallery to exhibiting artists and musicians.”

The exhibition opened on Holy Thursday and runs until May 13. 

Background:

Brian studied in the National College of Art and Design in the 1970s and ‘80s. 

He exhibited in RHA Gallery in Dublin on a number of occasions during the 1980s and ‘90s. 

In the same period he was a gallery artist at the Oriel Gallery in Dublin.

Brian has also exhibited in An Grianan and An Gailearaí, Gaoth Dobhair and had two shows in the US, in Washington DC and New York.

His last exhibition was in 2020 at Custom House Gallery in Westport but was cut short because of Covid.

Images From The Borderland will no doubt stir up many memories for people from both sides of the border. And for those who don’t have first hand experience of that era, these powerful images will give a clear insight into the lives of those who lived through such troubled times.