Award-winning artist and theatre designer Dolores Lyne is marking the centenary of her grand-uncle Liam Lynch, Chief of Staff of the Anti-Treaty IRA, with an exhibition  inspired by a trove of personal letters written by Liam to his brother Tom, the confidante in whom he felt safe, writing unique letters that covered the most dramatic and tragic events of Lynch’s life in the War of Independence and the Civil War.

Dolores followed the letters back to the locations where they were written, visiting the remote and beautiful hill farms, the safe houses that provided sanctuary where Liam was protected and cherished. She met the descendants of those who had sheltered him, and they shared their stories with her; retracing his steps brought her closer to understanding him.

 Works on canvas, the paintings focus on incidents and stories drawn from the brothers’ correspondence. The letters are brought to life, referencing real places and people only hinted at or concealed behind initials, decoding at last the real addresses, the people who opened their homes and their hearts.  There is an emphasis on the landscape and memories, of hill communities and the story of rural resistance.

According to Dolores: ‘There’s the public Liam but these are private letters. They provided me with the spark for a personal, non-political contemplation of his last years, the places where he stayed and the people who looked after him. It’s my creative response, as an artist.’

In her research visits Dolores was greatly assisted by local communities and expert historians across Cork, Waterford and Tipperary who generously gave their time to show her the secret places of the struggle.

 ‘To The Letter’ will be presented in the The Sean O’ Casey Theatre / community Centre in East Wall as part of a Liam Lynch Trilogy of events with Historian Gerard Shannon and film maker John Foley whose film #The Dying Days (of the civil war) will be shown, the first time it has been screened in Dublin. Historian Neil Donovan will show an illustrated timeline on the life of Liam Lynch .

Filled with Dolores Lyne’s exciting new works , the Sean O’Casey Community Centre will be a dramatic space to encounter these important paintings, and a powerful exploration of history.

The exhibition is  a commission by Cork County Arts and Heritage Offices, supported by Library and Art Service and Commemorations Committee of Cork County Council.

Gerard Shannon will discuss the life and legacy of Liam Lynch , and will be signing copies of his best selling book.

FREE EVENT, ALL WELCOME:

Tuesday 16th May @7.30pm

Sean O’Casey Theatre

St Marys Road, East Wall.