Village vistas in focus in book and art collection

A new book and art collection depicting West Cork’s village vistas opens as an exhibition today in Castletownshend.

Artist Avril McDermott snapped pictures in remote sleepy villages to form the basis of her first publication.

Time and Place, a collection of oil paintings of towns and villages across West Cork — includes views of traditional colourful architecture from Bandon to Eyeries on the western edge of the Mizen Peninsula.

Coastal situations include Courtmacsherry, Clonakilty, Rosscarbery, and the artist’s home village of Union Hall.

“I always look at old houses that are falling down and I think of the life that was there, the families that were reared. And there’s just something about the West Cork villages,” Ms McDermott said.

Some 200 curious guests packed into the artist’s yellow terraced home for the book launch as part of Union Hall Festival by the Sea.

“I can’t believe the reaction. I was astounded by how many people turned up. It’s very hard to sell a painting now, so I thought, I have to think of another way to make a living. This is all I know, it’s either that or go out and scrub a few floors.”

Ms McDermott lived in Westmeath for almost 25 years before taking the plunge and moving to West Cork two years ago.

“For years I had looked after my parents and Daniel [her son who died aged 7] and my kids had grown up and gone and I just thought the sky’s the limit here, I can do what I like,” she said.

She fell in love with the brightly coloured houses lined up in rows along well trodden tourist routes across the region.

“It’s the colours that make these villages, no question about it,” she said.

The book includes information on each location provided by local history enthusiast Ann O’Connor from Leap.

Launching the book, Professor Paul Finucane said Ms O’Connor’s contributions were “magic”.

The collection of 29 oil paintings, along with the book, form an exhibition as part of Maritime Week in Castletownsend at the pier from today until Saturday, Aug 3.

*The book is available to purchase in Bantry Book Shop, White’s in Schull, Pierce Hickey’s in Skibbereen and selected locations around West Cork, priced at €20.