Mayo works to feature in permanent Marie Howet exhibition in her Libramont home

Following on from the Marie Howet 40th anniversary tribute in Achill last month, the Belgian community group which oversees the running of Howet's home in Libramont is to put in place a permanent exhibition in her house that will include a number of her Achill works.

Local committee member and retired international businessman, Guy Maillard, said: “We thank you again, and thank you also for your beautiful book, a tribute to our painter, Marie Howet.”

Monsieur Maillard, an accomplished amateur photographer, accompanied Achill Remembers Marie Howet author Mary J. Murphy on a tour of important locations in Libramont, Vresse and Rochehaut earlier this year, along with Howet experts Angelique Brousmiche, Alderman Jonathan Martin and Dr. Maryse Boeur.

Perhaps Howet's 1964 painting of Geilty's pub (identified as such by Dooagh sculptor John McHugh) will make it into the exhibition, a work which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Diarmuid Gielty, Dooagh musician and local historian, was delighted with the 'find', which was painted by Howet during the summer of '64 when she returned once more to her friends, the Burkes of the Brae.

She was accompanied on that trip by her niece, Marie-Cecile, who keeps in touch with her Dooagh friends to this day.

The opening of the Marie Howet Permanent Exhibition, on the ground floor of her Grand Rue home (set to become a museum), will take place on September 26.

Meanwhile, copies of Achill Remembers Marie Howet by Mary J. Murphy are available online from Mayobooks.ie, Achill Tourism, Kennys Bookshop and Charlie Byrne's, Galway.