Edward Ardizzone at a book signing in London circa. 1970.

Edward ardizzone exhibition to be launched in belmullet

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny will launch a permanent exhibition of illustrations by Edward Ardizzone in Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet, on Monday, September 1, at 2 p.m.

Special guests at the launch will be Christianna Clemence and her daughter Susannah – the daughter and granddaughter respectively of Ardizzone.

Edward Ardizzone (1900-1979) is regarded as the most influential illustrator of modern times. According to Quentin Blake (illustrator of the famous Roald Dahl books), he was ‘the greatest illustrator that ever lived’.

His connection with Erris came about thusly. In the 1950s, T.H. White spent some time in Erris and wrote a book about his experiences titled The Godstone and The Blackymor. According to White himself, the book is about “living on the west coast of Ireland in the ‘parish next to America’ and it is about the people and things there ... about a complicated place which I loved and anyway it has pictures by Ardizzone who loved it too”.

Indeed, Edward visited T.H. White during his stay in Erris and he did the illustrations for the book. Ardizzone is a renowned author himself, and his illustrations are much sought after.

Coiste Oidhreachta Iorrais - a heritage committee group based in Belmullet - discovered that eight of the original drawings for the book were in the safekeeping of the illustrator’s daughter, Christianna Clemence, in London. With the help of individuals and groups in Erris, funds were raised to acquire these beautiful illustrations for the community. This project has taken a number of years and now they are ready to be exhibited permanently in Áras Inis Gluaire, the arts centre in Belmullet.

Edward Ardizzone was an artist, writer and illustrator. He worked prolifically, illustrating over 200 books. He has become well known by generations of parents and children alike for his Little Tim books, featuring the maritime adventures of the eponymous young hero. Ardizzone also worked as an official war artist in World War II and an extensive collection of his pictures (as well as his wartime diaries) can be seen at the Imperial War Museum in London. National collections of paintings, manuscripts and lithographs can be seen at the Tate in London and at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

Fr. Kevin Hegarty, who is involved with both Coiste Oidhreachta Iorrais and Áras Inis Gluaire, said: “All of us are very happy that we have managed to secure eight of Edward Ardizzone’s Erris drawings for permanent exhibition in Áras Inis Gluaire. We are so thankful to the individuals and local organisations whose financial contributions have helped to bring one of our long-term aims to fruition.”

All are welcome to attend this special launch on Monday, September 1, at 2 p.m. in Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet. Thereafter, the exhibition will be on display permanently and can be viewed, free of charge, during opening hours.