To celebrate the 150 year anniversary of the birth of two of Ireland’s most important artists of the 20th century, the prolific painter, Jack B. Yeats (1871-1957) and the celebrated playwright, John Millington Synge (1871-1909), Coiste Oidreachta Iorrais, Belmullet Historical Society, will organise an on-street shopfront exhibition in over a dozen vacant shopfronts throughout the town.

Both artists visited the Erris and Belmullet district on several occasions. Their most documented excursion to Belmullet was in 1905 on commission from the Manchester Guardian. Their brief on this occasion was to report on distress in the most outlying and poverty stricken districts of Connemara and Erris. On their shared journey, they captured their surroundings in both writing and illustration.

During this time in Erris, Synge was inspired to base two of his plays in the district, most notably his controversial masterpiece,’ The Playboy of the Western World'. 

We propose to create a public exhibition of the work of the two artists in vacant shop fronts around the town. We will scan material relating to the two artists time in Erris, digitise it and enlarge it. A free public walking tour will be provide while the exhibition is on view.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.