Below The Hill

Comments by Tom Kenny, on the opening of an Exhibition of Oil Paintings by Mick Flaherty, The Kenny Gallery, 13th August 1999

About twenty-five years ago a friend of mine brought me to Kerry for the first time and I found myself "Below the Hill". The hill, of course is Mount Brandon, which dominates the landscape, and below it on the eastern side is a remarkable landscape of rich geographical diversity. There are hills and valleys, rich agricultural land and bogs, streams and spectacular beaches, fuschia bushes abound and sheep are everywhere. The people are warm and welcoming. There are occasional villages, Cloghane, Brandon, Stradbally but most of the community live in a rural setting, often in remote areas. There is much to explore, the primeval valleys of Macha na mBó and Loch a Dún, the sand dunes of the Maharees, the wooded hills of Gleanntinassig, the loneliness and the larks of Arraglen, the magnificent beach at Fermoyle, the tasty pints and wonderful talk in Peig Neills pub. This area became a spiritual home, a special place for me, not least because there were no artists there at all. It always intrigued me how painters could ignore such an inspirational landscape.

All this has changed since Mick Flaherty moved back to his native Cappagh between Cloghane and Brandon, and started to celebrate it on canvas. He gradually developed a highly personal and identifiable style using a heavy impasto technique and lively vibrant colours. He has captured the unique flavour and character of West Kerry. This area is a spiritual place and an inspirational landscape for artists. Mick Flaherty moved back to his native Cappagh between Cloghane and Brandon, and started to celebrate it on canvas. He gradually developed a highly personal and identifiable style using a heavy impasto technique and lively vibrant colours. He has captured the unique flavour and character of West Kerry in his own inimitable style. He brings a riot of colour to the canvas and provides us with a contemporary snapshot in oil of rural landscape.