County Tipperary: Arts

Situated in the southern central area of the Republic of Ireland in the province of Munster, the sprawling County of Tipperary (Tiobraid Árainn) has a population of 140,131 and is divided administratively into two sections: Tipperary North (capital Nenagh) and Tipperary South (capital Clonmel). Tipperary is famous for the Rock of Cashel whose records date from the forth century.

Early Visual Art

County Tipperary is associated with three important items from the earliest period in the history of Irish art. First, the Derrynaflan Chalice - an outstanding example of early religious metalwork made by Irish metallurgists in the eighth or ninth centuries, which was discovered on farmland close to the site of an early Irish monastery, in 1980. Other treasures found in the so-called Derrynaflan Monastery Hoard include a silver paten, a paten stand, and a bronze basin. All are now exhibited at the National Museum of Ireland.

A Rest in Rotten Row, by Tipperary
artist Rose Maynard Barton.

High Crosses

Another of County Tipperary's earliest artworks are the Celtic High Crosses at Cashel, which exemplify Irish sculpture during the Medieval period. Like the Cross of Cong, in County Mayo, the Cashel crosses are decorated in the Nordic Ringerike and Urnes styles - a sign of the influence of Viking artists on Irish sculptors. A third item of Tipperary visual art from the same period (c.1150), is the Book of Leinster/Noughaval, one of a series of illuminated manuscripts produced by monks in North Tipperary. Although not as old or as beautiful as other gospel texts, such as the Book of Kells, or the Book of Durrow, it is a fine example of early Christian Art in the Insular style.

Life Fragments, Tipperary artist
John Keating.

Cashel

The town of Cashel, the historical Seat of Kings is now a heritage town. Its architectural centrepiece is the Rock of Cashel with its Round tower (c.1100), huge castle and cathedral, along with the Chapel of King Cormac, consecrated in 1134. The entire edifice is like a piece of medieval visual art. At its foot is Bru Boru's heritage centre. In addition, Cashel contains several abbeys and a Folk Village which celebrates native Irish folk arts including music, song, dance, theatre, and Celtic studies.

Holycross Abbey

A few miles from Thurles, in County Tipperary stands Holycross Abbey, one of Ireland's important monastic sites. Although not associated with any surviving artworks, such as illuminated religious manuscripts, the abbey was part of the Irish monastic culture that preserved Western art and culture during the Dark Ages.

Pallisade, 2003, by Tipperary artist
Alice Maher.

Famous Artists

Celebrated Irish artists born in Tipperary include: Rose Maynard Barton, (Townscape Painter); Alice Maher, (Expressionist Painter and Sculptor); Patrick Hall, (Contemporary Artist); John Keating, (Figure Painting, Watercolour, Charcoal and Mixed-Media); Bernadette Kiely, (Contemporary Abstract Artist, renowned for her Impasto Studies of Landscape); Declan O'Connor, (Portraitist, Landscape and Equestrian Artist); Desmond Shortt, (Contemporary Landscapes)

Art Venues

Art galleries in county Tipperary include: the Narrow Space Gallery in Clonmel (052-27838), as well as South Tipperary Arts Centre, Clonmel (052-27877); Source Arts Centre, Thurles (0504-90204); and Tipperary Excel Arts Gallery, Tipperary Town (062-80520).

• For more about Irish culture, see: Visual Arts in Ireland.
• For more about the cultural heritage of Ireland, see: Irish Art: Visual Arts in Cork.

• How to Update This Mini Review of Art in Tipperary.