Cork’s River Lee Celebrated in New Exhibition Featuring Bold Art

An exhibition at Crane Visual Art in Cork is drawing attention for its bold and thought-provoking interpretations of the River Lee. Titled River Run, the exhibition showcases various artworks that capture the river’s essence and historical significance. Among the pieces is a striking mixed-media work by artist and Buddhist nun Mary P O’Connor, titled The Legacy of the Merchant Princes, which features a golden skull surrounded by dragons and symbolic imagery of the river.

O’Connor, who grew up near the river in Mardyke, reflects on her childhood memories of swimming and jumping from the “Shakey Bridge.” Her artwork does not shy away from the darker aspects of Cork’s history, emphasizing that the river was once a hub for the importation of luxurious goods in the 18th and 19th centuries. “All of that happened in the port of Cork, so there is a legacy there that we can’t forget,” O’Connor states.

The skull in her piece represents those who suffered under exploitation, including Irish individuals who were enslaved in the Caribbean. Its golden finish symbolizes the wealth amassed by the city’s merchant elite at the expense of many. “Everything that went into my piece has a very deep symbolism,” O’Connor explains.

Exhibition Inspired by Local Community

The River Run exhibition is part of an annual art competition conceived by Liam Mullaney, the owner of Myo cafe on Pope’s Quay. Mullaney’s cafe is situated alongside the river, offering a picturesque setting where locals and visitors often gather to enjoy drinks and art during the summer months.

O’Connor’s journey from the Shandon area to Myo for coffee reveals her connection to the local community. She has enjoyed a varied career in the arts, including winning the Guinness Peat Aviation Award twice in the 1980s. Her early experiences, including a controversial exhibition at the Triskel Arts Centre in 1979 featuring a male nude, highlight her long-standing engagement with provocative and challenging themes in her work.

After sharing a laugh about her past, which included a run-in with Bishop Cornelius Lucey over the nude exhibition, O’Connor speaks of her affinity for nature. She often visits Bishop Lucey Park to hug trees, a practice she finds grounding. “It connects me to the environment,” she says.

A Celebration of Artistic Expression

Although O’Connor was not the winner of the River Run competition, she was a runner-up. The award went to Norma Healy for her serene painting of rowers on the Lee, capturing the water’s reflective quality. This celebration of the river resonates with the sentiments expressed by writer and artist Robert Gibbings, who celebrated the River Lee in his book, *Sweet Cork of Thee*, published in 1951. He wrote, “merely to stand beside the lake at Gougane Barra brings to one’s whole being a peace beyond the telling.”

The exhibition also touches on local folklore, where sightings of a magical otter in the River Lee are believed to ensure that one will stay in Cork forever. While this is a charming legend, it contrasts sharply with the more serious implications of recent flooding events that have affected local homes and businesses.

The River Run exhibition runs until January 3, 2026, at Dance Cork Firkin Crane, offering a compelling look at the River Lee through the eyes of contemporary artists. With its rich blend of history, community, and artistic expression, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the river’s enduring legacy.