CAG.1987 Mary A. O’Neill, Self Portrait, undated, oil on canvas board, 35 x 24 cm. Presented, 1999.

WORK OF THE WEEK!

Stern and professional, Self Portrait by Mary A. O’Neill is an undated likeness of the artist. Her thick brown hair is swept back in a style that might suggest the 1930s, while she is otherwise plainly dressed.

The portrait is currently displayed in a grouping of artworks that reflect those who had a professional connection to the Gallery’s building.

A teacher of two-dimensional design, ‘Miss O’Neill’ taught at Crawford Municipal School of Art from 1914 until at least 1939. In September 1923, the numbers taking her classes were so high – particularly as night students – that a temporary lecturer ‘in Leatherwork and Design’ had to be sought. In 1931, she became full-time teacher; her assistant Agnes Frost was also made permanent at this time. Among O’Neill’s students was Diarmuid O’Ceallacháin (1915-1993) who won a Taylor Scholarship in 1938 and succeeded her in a teaching position at the art school, from 1940 until 1970.

At present, we do not know much else about Mary A. O’Neill and therefore welcome any information that family, friends, or former students may have.

Self-Portrait by Mary A. O’Neill is featured in SITE OF CHANGE: Evolution of a Building until 12 November.

The Arts House: Conor Tallon chats with curator Michael Waldron about a work from the Collection every Sunday morning on Cork’s 96FM and C103 Cork.

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