Somme oak inspires West Cork artist's moving sculptures at Skibbereen Arts Festival

Murrough O'Donovan turned branches from his family's historic Somme oak into sculptures exploring resilience, remembrance, grief and hope

Sculptor Murrough O’Donovan has five pieces of work in exhibition at Seanua 26, as part of this year's Skibbereen Arts Festival which continues until Sunday August 2. Picture: Larry Cummins

It started its life as a tiny acorn brought home by his great-granduncle from the battlefield he fought on during the First World War.

Generations later, artist Murrough O'Donovan has immortalised the mighty oak’s fallen branches with a unique artwork that is making waves at the Skibbereen Arts Festival.

The three wooden sculptures embody the resilience of the tree, which stands proudly in the garden of his family home.

Murrough compared the oak tree, which has survived three lightning strikes, to an injured, albeit unbreakable, soldier.

“The house was built by my great-great-grandaunt, and she never had children,” he told the Irish Examiner. 

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“My great-grandmother inherited it as a result, and my family has been here ever since. 

The oak tree has been standing here for years. We called it the Somme Oak because my granduncle, Robert Bagnell, brought it back as an acorn from the Battle of the Somme.

The First World War offensive, fought from July 1 to November 18 along the River Somme in France in 1916, resulted in more than one million casualties.

While the 26-year-old said it was concerning to see the 'Somme Tree' damaged during a storm last autumn, the resulting debris made for some interesting artistic material.

“One of the larger branches of the oak tree was ripped off in a storm. 

"While you don’t want any damage done to the tree, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about working with this type of wood. 

"As an artist, I have primarily been working with wood that comes from fallen trees on the farm. However, this is a really nice tree with a special story behind it. 

Three of the five items being exhibited in Skibbereen by sculptor Murrough O’Donovan are from his series ‘Navigating the forest — the Somme Oak’. Picture: Larry Cummins

"The history is on my dad’s side of the family, so this means a lot to him. He initially wanted to have beer mats or jewellery made to give to family members as a token of remembrance, but I think he’s okay with me turning it into an art project.” 

The oak tree formed a significant part of Murrough’s childhood.

“Every November on Remembrance Sunday, we had a moment of silence around the tree. Other people might have done that in a church, but this was our way of remembering our relatives who died in the First World War. 

"Both my grandfathers served in the First World War. 

"The family has a military history that we are all very proud of.” 

The tree has been a source of inspiration for Murrough for as long as he can remember.

“I used to draw the tree a lot. 

It is very evocative because it’s like an old soldier itself. It has been struck by lightning three times. It has big cracks down it, but it is still standing. 

"We are a bit worried about it, so we have someone in to try and propagate it so we can keep it alive for as long as possible.” 

Art has been a huge comfort to Murrough during difficult periods. 

Speaking about the path into his career, he said: “I never finished school due to a severe fungal infection at 16 that left me bedridden until the age of 19. 

"I was in transition year when the condition started. When I was finally well enough to go back, I went to another school. 

"We had to find a closer one as the condition made travelling difficult. I found the experience challenging because I wanted to be in college. 

"Instead, I was in fifth year, with people who were quite a bit younger than me. 

Sculptor Murrough O’Donovan with some of his work in exhibition at the Daly Building, West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen, West Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

"I decided to do a PLC course and later studied at the Crawford College of Art and Design. It could have been the wrong decision, but I know now it was the right one. 

"I certainly wasn’t planning on being an artist before the illness. I had my heart set on marine biology when I was in school, so this is a massive change, but I have no regrets because it’s all worked out. 

"Of course, there was a period of reintegration into social life. I had become quite isolated, so interacting with people was a little difficult at first. Fortunately, going to college fixed all that.” 

Murrough’s parents have always been extremely supportive.

“Chronic disease can be very difficult to diagnose, and I saw a hell of a lot of doctors before we eventually found out what the cause was. 

"They did a test for toxins, and I think about six were found in my blood. It lasted three years in total, and my parents were massively supportive during that time. 

Sculptor Murrough O’Donovan with some of his work in exhibition in Skibbereen, West Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

"They took care of me and kept looking for doctors, cures, and solutions. I am grateful that they gave me the time, and now it’s like it never happened.” 

The sculptor hopes the theme of his work will resonate with the public.

All my work is environmentally themed. It looks at environmental loss and grief and how this affects us psychologically, as well as looking at potential reasons for hope and positivity. 

"These particular works take on the meaning of loss and grief from the First World War. 

"They are inspired by the cross gravestones you find in France from the First and Second World War.” 

The Skibbereen Arts Festival runs until Sunday, August 2. 

It features a programme of film screenings, live music, interactive poetry, and community art events from across Skibbereen. 

Murrough’s work is currently on display in the Daly Building, which is located in the West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen.