Brand new exhibition on life and times of Countess Markievicz at Millmount

A brand new exhibition focusing on the life and times of Countess Markievicz opened at Martello Millmount Tower in Drogheda last week and features rare and unique art pieces and artefacts that almost never saw the light of day.

The exhibition, the brainchild of Tommy Hodgins and Pat Woods, aims to focus on the life of the politician, revolutionary nationalist and suffragette, especially given it is 100 years since she was first elected as both an MP and then later in 1918, a TD.

Letters on display in the exhibition include from some of the most recognisable faces in Irish history such as Michael Collins, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, W.B Yeats and Padraig Pearse. These were among a sizeable haul of extraordinary pieces from the time that were recently recovered from storage at Newgrange.

According to Tommy, the items were destined for the dump before they were rescued and put on display to the public for the very first time. Items previously owned by the Countness herself also came from her former Lissadell House residence.

Pat Woods proudly looked on at a stunning display of 13 of the Countess’ own art renderings from her time training as a painter which adorn the walls of the exhibition. Local art expert Raphael Hynes explained how the methods she was taught in the late 19-century continued to be taught long after.

The launch of the exhibition which runs in the Millmount Tower all this week for Heritage Week, and which aims to return next year for Fleadh 2019, was attended by a group of interested locals, friends, visitors and TD’s Imelda Munster, Fergus O’Dowd and Thomas Byrne.

Organisers also thanked Donncha MacRaghnaill who kindly allowing the exhibitors to become the first group to use the room in the tower itself.