This exhibition is now closed. Please contact the gallery prior to purchasing art from this exhibition to confirm availability.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Battle of The Book: Invited Artists

Diarmuid Delargy, Catherine Fanning, Kate MacDonagh, Brian McDonagh, John O’Connor, Mary Plunkett, Maureen Quinn.

November 6th - 27th

He was reputedly born 1500 years ago this year. Along with Bridget and Patrick he is one of Ireland’s 3 patron saints. His name is Colmcille. 

A defining infamous episode in his life was his bitter dispute with a rival saint, Finnian, over a psalter Colmcille had copied. The dispute resulted in the purported birth of copyright when the High King Diarmait Mac Cerbaill ruled in Finnian’s favour, declaring “to every cow her calf, to every book its copy”. Saintly hubris and chieftain rivalries that flowed from the decision gave rise to the tragic death of thousands during notorious Battle of The Book shortly thereafter, a battle fought along the quiet meandering banks of the Drumcliff river in County Sligo. 

Battle of The Book will feature new works influenced or inspired by the Colmcille story and its legacy. Invited artists contributing to this exhibition are Diarmuid Delargy, Catherine Fanning, Kate MacDonagh, Brian McDonagh, John O’Connor, Mary Plunkett, and Maureen Quinn. 

The exhibition is part of the Sligo Colmcille 2021 programme.

Diarmuid Delargy

Catherine Fanning

Kate MacDonagh

Brian McDonagh

John O’Connor

Mary Plunkett

Maureen Quinn