Genius Richard King deserves to be honoured in his native Mayo town

by Auld Stock

RICHARD King, one of Ireland’s foremost stained-glass artists and illustrators, was born at Barrack Bridge, Lower Charles Street, Castlebar, in a house later occupied by John and Susan Garvey, parents of Michael Garvey, Chicago, and Maymo Lally, who has lived for many years in England. Another son of the Garveys, Gussie, died some years ago.

In his time Gussie and Bernie Murphy were two of the most brilliant students in St. Patrick’s National School.

Susan Garvey was a sister of Tom Ketterick, a legend on the soccer scene in the west of Ireland, Paddy Ketterick, Spencer Street, Castlebar, and Mattie Ketterick who worked in England for many years.

Richard King’s father was a sergeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary stationed in Castlebar prior to the War of Independence.

He had three sons, Kenneth, David and Richard, who received their early education at the old St. Patrick’s Boys’ School, Chapel Street, Castlebar. Richard’s wife’s Christian name was Alice.

Sergeant King was later transferred to Westport and lived at The Quay, where he was a neighbour of Jim and Mollie Quinn, Tommy Staunton, Dan O’Brien, Josie Toole and Michael Hestor.

There are examples of Richard King’s outstanding work in churches in Westport, Newport and Swinford.

The King family later moved to Dublin where Richard studied at the Metropolitan School of Art. It was there he began his career as a stained-glass artist.

Included in his early commissions was the Kevin Barry memorial window in University College Dublin.

Richard King died in 1974, leaving behind a huge volume of work both in Ireland and overseas.

He never lost his love for his native Castlebar and regularly recalled his old neighbours, Mary Faulkner, The Grove, Richard Condon, Thomas Street, Corcoran family, Market Square and Marian Row, Larry Kelly, Springfield Terrace, and Hubert Dupré, Thomas Street.

Richard King designed a number of Ireland’s first postage stamps.

Angela Corcoran, a noted musician, said Richard King loved his native Castlebar and its people.

“Richard was a very unassuming man and often came to our house on a Sunday for a chat and cup of tea,” Angela told me many years ago.

Sadly, Richard appears to be forgotten in the county town.

No plaque marks his birthplace and he is rarely mentioned when Castlebar’s foremost artistes are recalled.

The time has come to right this wrong. Richard King, a genius in his profession, deserves to be honoured in a positive manner in his native Castlebar.

*Noelene Beckett, Castlebar and Westport, some years ago wrote an excellent article in the Cathair na Mart magazine on Richard King’s many achievements.