Hamilton Gallery countdown to our St Brigid’s Day exhibition at 12 Star Gallery, Europe House London, is underway.

The exhibition will open to the public from January 23rd and run until February 1st, St Brigid’s Day, and it is part of the Irish Embassy in London’s St Brigid’s Day Celebration of Women and creativity.

In the run up to our opening night in London we bring you a daily blog with a selection of the 90 works by Irish women artists that will be shown at the exhibition.

We will include interviews and insights from the artists involved as well as other news and developments relating to events at the 12 Star Gallery in London which will occur in compliment to the exhibition.

Tonight our artists are Eileen MacDonagh, Kate Mac Donagh, Bernie Masterson and Mary Mc Caffrey.

We also include the poem “Four Woodbines“ by Leland Bardwell. Lelands poem “St Brigid’s Day 1989” was circulated to all participating artists as the thematic inspiration for the exhibition.

Eileen MacDonagh was born in Co.Sligo and has worked as a sculptor since the early 1980s. Her work has featured in many exhibitions, both in Ireland and abroad, including shows in Portugal, Scotland, India and Japan.Eileen has both organised and participated in many symposia, in Ireland and abroad; her work is included in numerous collections, such as the OPW, Kilkenny and Cork County Councils, Marlay Park, Dublin and Tawara Newtown, Osaka, Japan.

Kate MacDonagh is a Sligo born artist currently living and working in Dublin. She studied at the Limerick School of Art and Design, Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Madrid, Bob Blackburn Printmaking Workshop in New York, and at MI- LAB, Fujikawaguchiko Studio, Japan.

Kate is a member of the Graphic Studio Dublin.

Bernie Masterson

Bernie Masterson is a visual artist born in Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. Her practice explores the human condition through a social, political and cultural forum. She lives and works in Dublin.

 “This work make reference to Edvard Munch's painting 'The Scream' in the context of todays political, cultural and social struggle for women, nationally and internationally. St. Brigid was a leader of women.”

Mary Mc Caffrey Mary McCaffrey (nee Mulligan) born in Bornacoola, Co. Leitrim and lives and works in Belfast.  Achieved a Master’s Degree in Fine Art in 2010 at the Ulster University, Belfast.

 “The single white shape of the paper boat is strategically placed as the centre of interest, with St. Brigid’s cross ‘for luck’.  There is hope as it bobs along, the youthful hope that all our children have. “