Art does more than decorate society
It was a crisp morning on October 11th 2025 when I set out to Dublin from Wexford for the ATAI {Art Teachers Association of Ireland} conference. This is my 25th year teaching art to secondary school students. I love it, its a demanding profession but equally very rewarding one. This years conference was in IMMA.
The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) was established in 1990 as Irelands first national institution for the presentation and collection of modern and contemporary art. The founder of the Royal Hospital was James Butler of Kilkenny Castle, who was Duke of Ormonde and Viceroy to King Charles II. Inspired by Les Invalides’, then recently opened as Louis XIV’s home for his army pensioners, Ormonde obtained a charter from King Charles to create a similar building in Kilmainham. He laid the foundation stone in 1680 and presided over its completion four years later. The architect for Kilmainham was William Robinson, official State Surveyor General. Of his many other buildings, only Marsh’s Library, Dublin and Charles Fort, Kinsale, still stand. The Royal Hospital in Chelsea was completed two years later and contains many similarities of style to Kilmainham. The Duke of Ormonde wanted the Royal Hospital to be on a grand scale, classical in layout and continental in style. He needed a home for his pensioner soldiers but equally he wanted a building of distinction that would, he hoped, mark the starting point of Dublin’s development into a city of European standing. The site selected for the Hospital was once part of the Phoenix Park.
A large hospital, founded by Strongbow and under the care of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, was sited in this exact place but was demolished in 1670. Dr.Steeven’s Hospital, built nearby in 1720, is a small architectural replica of the Royal Hospital. Incidentally, Sir Patrick Dun was the first Medical Officer to the Royal Hospital.
The Royal Hospital remained an old soldiers’ home until 1927. In the 19th-century the building had gradually grown in military significance – becoming the residence and headquarters of the Commander in Chief of the army, who combined this role with that of Governor (or Master) of the Hospital. Queen Victoria paid two visits to the building, which was eventually handed over to the Free State in 1922. It was used as Garda Headquarters from 1930 to 1950.
Building and Grounds
The building comprises a North Wing containing the Master’s Quarters, the Great Hall, the Chapel and the Vaulted Cellar with the 19th-century kitchen and the South, East and West Wings which provided accommodation for the pensioners.
The grounds contain the following:
An early 18th-century formal garden.
Bully’s Acre – once Dublin’s main cemetery, containing a 10th-century standing stone.
The Hospital Burial Ground – the cemetery of the old soldiers.
The former stable building – a 19th-century building, now Kilmainham Garda Barracks.
The West Gateway – the work of Francis Johnston. This structure was formerly a gateway at Watling Street on the Quays. It became a traffic obstruction and was removed from the Quays and rebuilt in Kilmainham in the 1840s. (History taken from IMMA website)
The expanse of the cobbled courtyard at IMMA is impressive on arrival. I strolled across it, and I met with 150 other art teachers in the beautiful setting of the chapel. What a delight to have my morning cuppa surrounded by the exquisite interior of the chapel with its incredible stained glass windows and impressive vaulted ceiling with intricate plasterwork in a room known for its acoustics. It was filled with the chatter of art educators' eagerness for the day ahead and all clearly dedicated to their passion on a Saturday away from the classroom. I was excited for the keynote speaker. Alice Maher, an artist I have followed through my career both as an art student, artist and art teacher. The one thing that has always stood out for me about Alice Maher is her pursuit of storytelling through her work and that was evident when she took to the stage to address us.
Before she spoke it struck me that here I was in IMMA in a room surrounded by predominantly female art teachers, listening to Aosdána member and leading Irish female artist Alice Maher being overlooked by portrait after portrait of male figures I'm sure painted by male artist. A room full of feminine strength and artistic expression and a reminder of art and society and women's role both as maker and muse over centuries of creation.
“No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist.” – Oscar Wilde
Opening her address Alice Maher reminded us that in the last decade as educators we have seen massive change in the world. The world at present is one with a great feeling of instability. Art through all eras has articulated our existence in the world. It has been a constant. Art does more than decorate society. Art is the one place where complex ideas can be teased out, and the world observed through free exploration. Where words may not be enough, art has and still remains an important universal language that speaks to all. Never undervalue or underestimate the importance of your work as an artist. Maher stated that the audience completes the meaning of an artwork. Art is a communicator and people experience it in the here and now. It can record history and place but also change meaning over time. She also cited Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states
Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which [they are] the author.
WE MUST MAKE ART AND ENJOY THE PROCESS! Never forget to have fun.
Mahers work, The Sibyls, has just finished showing in Kevin Kavanagh Dublin, Chancery Lane, Dublin 8.
Hair features predominately in Mahers work and she compares hair to drawing. Thousands of lines making up a piece of art like thousands of strands of hair combine.
As an extra treat, our afternoon was filled with workshops. I chose to paint Plein Air with artist Kate Beagan.
We escaped for a short time to paint in the grounds with a limited palette. I must admit I usually use Burnt Sienna with my Ultramarine blue and Cadmium Yellow but Kate replaced this for alizarin crimson. A colour I use but one I find quite loud and by that I mean it can change a colour rapidly and shout over it. Kates demo painting can be seen below and as an extra activity we moved from very small individual canvases to a very large piece where we all painted a piece to collaboratively fill one large canvas.
For me the entire day reminded me about the importance of the title of the day – communicate, collaborate, create and the importance of the Dublin Art Society. A society that encompasses the title of the ATAI conference, Communicate, Collaborate,Create.
To quote Georgia O’Keeffe
“To create ones own world takes courage. It really speaks to the vulnerability and boldness required to put your unique vision into the world”
Keep creating
Trisha O’Callaghan, DAS member.
