Karen Mullaney-Oignam reveals the extent of the Bryce family collection as their former home on Garinish Island, County Cork opens to the public this summer
Garinish Island, located in Bantry Bay, County Cork, is a state-managed historic property, known to horticulturists and botanists around the world as an island paradise of rare sylvan and exotic beauty. Acquired by the Bryce family from the British War Office in 1910 – and known as llnacullin thereafter – the transformation of a relatively barren outcrop into one of Europe’s most important island gardens took place under the guidance of the English architect and garden designer Harold Peto (1844-1933). Over the past century, thousands of visitors have enjoyed its Edwardian gardens, its collection of sub-tropical plants and its Italianate structures framing the landscape beyond. (Details of the transformation can be found in Irish Arts Review, Summer 2013: 128-33).”Less familiar perhaps is the modest house on the island, a treasury of fine artworks and artefacts, currently being conserved by the Office of Public Works.
Overcoming the slow down at home, Irish architects Heneghan Peng, Grafton Architects, O’Donnell+Tuomey amongst others have looked to international competitions, but overseas projects are not without risk, writes John McLaughlin
In addition to creating a likeness of her daughter, Geraldine O’Neill has in mind the age-old interrogation of representation, writes Robert Ballagh of this year’s recipient of the Ireland-U.S. Council/Irish Arts Review Portraiture Award
James Watson could trace his family’s artistic lineage to York Minster and following his move to Cork he launched a new tradition to last a hundred years, writes Vera Ryan.