Mayo community to pay tribute to renowned Belgian artist

A 40th anniversary tribute to the internationally acclaimed painter, the virtuoso Belgian Impressionist Marie Howet will take place on Achill Island on August 4 in Keel Hall at 7pm.

Marie Howet first arrived at the home of Caherlistrane-born Eva O'Flaherty's home in Dooagh on Achill Island in 1929 and continued to make regular trips to the island up to her death 40 years ago.

Special guests at the event will be John McHugh, Dooagh sculptor; Dr. Edward King, Howet expert; and Anne Burke, whose Brae family was intertwined with Howet’s life for 53 years.

This long overdue celebration (95 years after the Belgian’s initial visit to her beloved Achill) of such an important European painter, with such lengthy and tenacious island links, will also feature a book launch, and a display of eight specially commissioned vibrant biographical banners.

Dr Edward King, Howet aficionado, will speak on her 1934 book, ‘A La Source D'Ara', a magnificent publication that contains 25 of Howet’s shimmering watercolours, many of them Achill landscapes. On one of her recent trips to Belgium, author Mary J Murphy discovered that Howet was, in fact, staying with the Burkes in Dooagh, for the third time, in 1933, where she received many important letters from Saudé & Ducros Colas, the famous Parisienne printers who prepared the intricate layout of Marie’s magnificent book, now a much sought after collector’s item.

Many never before seen landscapes of the island by Howet were also unearthed in Belgium by Murphy, as were two spectacular portraits of the famous painter by no less than George Russell (AE) and Seán O’Sullivan, foremost Irish artists of their day. Thrillingly also, a photograph of Howet standing at her 1929 Dooagh ‘home’ – ‘Pat Macs’ - also turned up.

An inscribed Dooagh beach pebble from Anne Burke, marking her family's 53-year friendship with the artist, was laid on Howet's grave by Murphy, along with a piece of amethyst from Keem Bay, donated by John 'Twin' and Mary McNamara, local island historians and long-time admirers of her paintings.

Renowned Dooagh sculptor John McHugh will introduce the proceedings at the August bank holiday event and he will launch Mary J Murphy’s third Achill-themed book.

Called 'Achill Remembers Marie Howet (1897-1984)', this monograph documents in full colour both her recent visits to Belgium, where she spoke with many of Howet's friends and family, as well as the painter's numerous visits to the island over half a century.

In association with this exciting island tribute, the illustrious Redfoxpress of Dugort, Achill, has also produced their own celebratory book, in collaboration with Mary. Entitled ‘Marie Howet: A Belgian Painter on Achill Island’, it is an exquisite collector’s item, a hard back, hand bound, limited edition series of 150 signed and numbered copies.

Mary J Murphy’s ‘Achill Remembers Marie Howet’ will be available online from Achill Tourism and from good book stores from August 4, while her unique artistic collaboration with Redfoxpress can be ordered from them, directly, from that same date.