Exciting tribute to Belgian Impressionist on Mayo island

In weather that might cheerfully be described as veering between dire and atrocious, a wonderfully energetic crowd of die-hard enthusiasts attended the launch of Achill Remembers Marie Howet in Keel Hall last weekend.

John McHugh, renowned Dooagh sculptor, launched the book and introduced the 40th anniversary tribute event by giving a fascinating condensed history of painters on the island from the 1830s, and placing the talented Belgian Impressionist in context.

Author Mary J. Murphy then gave an overview of Howet's extraordinary life in Belgium, along with her half-century connection with Achill and with Anne Burke's family on the Brae by using eight full-sized biographical banners.

Special guest on the evening, Edward King of Dooagh, gave a riveting talk on Howet's most famous work, 'A La Source D'Ara', and showed too a vibrant slide-show selection of some of Marie's other compelling paintings.

Redfoxpress of Dugort were in attendance too, with their own beautiful publication about Marie Howet, and the evening was rounded off by a lively Q&A session.

All present agreed, before facing out into the bracing rain and heaving gales again, that the event was but the first step in the new Marie Howet Revival Movement, its raison d'etre being to ensure that the gifted Belgian painter is allotted, from here on in, her (rightful) island place beside fellow luminaries such as Robert Henri and Paul Henry et al.