Dolan’s Art Auction House returns to Limerick on December 2 with an auction of contemporary Irish art, including the full studio contents of well-known Parteen artist, Geraldine O’Brien.  

Dr Niall Dolan, owner of Dolans Art Auction House, said that he is delighted to return to the Treaty City with this important work, which is currently on display in Punch’s Hotel.

“I will always remember with fondness my visits to Geraldine O’Brien in her beloved Parteen, and my abiding memory will be her wonderful laugh and good humour, as we walked through the gardens and into her studio which she tells me, with glee, has always been called the ‘piggery’,” he said.

“I stood in the studio with Geraldine’s dogs about our feet, and it was a privilege to be there. It was like stepping back in time. Here was the studio of a real artist, with her easel and paints, and what looked like hundreds of brushes, and work all around us—on the walls, under the table, in drawers, on shelves, work dating back over six decades to the 1940s, most of which had been undisturbed for years and years. A veritable treasure-trove.”

In March, Dolans sold Part I of Geraldine’s Studio and are now offering for sale at auction the main body of her work.

There was huge interest in Geraldine’s work at the auction and large numbers of people viewed the exhibition. Interest in her work was not limited to Limerick and attracted the attention of art collectors and buyers from all around the country and abroad.

According to the auction house “the work on offer stretches back over 60 years and many were ‘lost’ in Geraldine’s studio in drawers, and under tables and had not seen the light of day for decades”, making the auction a particularly special occasion.

Other work by leading Irish contemporary artists will be on sale, including the work of many Limerick artists from Jack Donovan to Douglas Alexander, and young Limerick artists such as Anne marie Bourke and Lynne O’Loughlin.

Work by emerging artists such as Galway’s Bridie Ryan and Clare-based Michael Hanrahan will be on sale along with a collection of work by renowned Limerick artist Thomas Ryan, who was president of the Royal Hibernian Academy for many years and who recently became a Freeman of the city.

Dolan’s Art Auction House also complimented the “the wealth of artistic talent in Limerick, a city which has produced so many leading contemporary Irish artists. Undoubtedly, a key factor has been the Limerick School of Art & Design, which for decades has nurtured young artistic talent”.

The Galway-based auction house is one of the fastest growing in Ireland and the Limerick auction will take place in Punch’s Hotel on December 2 at 4.30 pm.

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