Achill Island to remember a legendary artist

A 40th anniversary tribute to the internationally acclaimed Achill painter, the virtuoso Belgian impressionist Marie Howet - who first arrived at Caherlistrane-born Eva O'Flaherty's home in Dooagh in 1929 - will take place on the island on Sunday, August 4th, in Keel Hall at 7pm. Special guests will be John McHugh, Dooagh sculptor; Dr Edward King, Howet expert; and Anne Burke, whose Brae family was intertwined with Howet’s life for 53 years.

This long overdue celebration (95 years after the Belgian’s initial visit to her beloved Achill) of such an important European painter, with such lengthy and tenacious island links, will also feature a book launch, and a display of eight specially commissioned biographical banners.

Dr Edward King, Howet aficionado, will speak on her 1934 book, ‘A La Source D'Ara', a magnificent publication that contains 25 of Howet’s vibrant watercolours, mostly of Achill. It was published in Paris and designed by the exalted Parisienne Saudè/Ducros Colas partnership. 

On one of her recent trips to Belgium, author Mary J Murphy discovered that Howet was, in fact, staying with the Burkes in Dooagh in 1933, where she received many letters from Saudé and Ducros Colas, as the famous French printers prepared the intricate layout of Marie’s magnificent book, now a collector’s item.

Many never before seen landscapes of the island by Howet were also unearthed in Belgium by Murphy, as were two spectacular portraits of the famous painter by no less than George Russell (AE) and Seán O’Sullivan, foremost Irish artists of their day. Thrillingly also, a photograph of Howet standing at her 1929 Dooagh ‘home’ – ‘Pat Macs’ - also turned up.

An inscribed Dooagh beach pebble from Anne Burke, marking her family's 53-year friendship with the artist, was laid on Howet's grave by Murphy, along with a piece of amethyst from Keem Bay, donated by John 'Twin' and Mary McNamara, local island historians and long-time admirers of her paintings.

Renowned local sculptor John McHugh will introduce the proceedings at the August bank holiday event and will launch Mary J Murphy’s third Achill-themed book.

Called 'Achill Remembers Marie Howet (1897-1984)', the monograph documents in full colour both her recent visits to Belgium, where she spoke with many of Howet's friends and family, as well as the painter's numerous visits to the island over half a century.

In association with this exciting island tribute, the illustrious Redfoxpress of Dugort, Achill, has also produced their own celebratory book, in collaboration with Mary. Called ‘Marie Howet: A Belgian Painter on Achill Island’, it is a unique collector’s item, a hard back, hand bound, limited edition series of 150 signed and numbered copies.

Mary J Murphy’s ‘Achill Remembers Marie Howet’ will be available online from Achill Tourism and from good book stores from August 4, while her unique artistic collaboration with Redfoxpress can be ordered from them, directly, from that same date.