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Description:
Roscommon Rising is the start of a series of contemporary portraits undertaken by artist Siobhan Cox-Carlos in response to her learning that many young people don’t seem to have an appreciation of their Roscommon heritage and are in fact ashamed of coming from this beautiful county. Apparently Roscommon, the County that Cox-Carlos, was born in, is the butt of many jokes on social media and not the ‘in’ place to be from, which the artist is more than happy to disprove and show that we can be very proud of our heritage. The artist hopes remedy this and to change this perception by shining a light on the founding fathers and mothers to more current icons and “to shake things up a bit so to speak, put Roscommon forward in a positive, vibrant light that will be hard to ignore and instil a sense of pride for the county”. Well known figures such as Douglas Hyde,(1860_1949), the first President of Ireland and co-founder of Conradh Na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) and Percy French, (1854-1920), songwriter, poet and painter. Siobhan will be re-painting their famous sepia/black and white portraits in a modern context, expect bright colours and materials. She is also looking to figures more unknown such as Margaret (Gretta) Cousins, (1878-1954) from Boyle, a suffragette for women’s rights both in Ireland and India, certainly a figure who needs to be known and celebrated. Others she is interested in painting in the future are Brian O’Doherty, 1928-2022) (artist, Ballaghderreen); Roderic O’Conor, 1960-1940), (artist, Castlerea); Turlough O’Carolan, (1670-1738),(blind Celtic harpist, composer and singer)Keadue, Maureen O’Sullivan, (1911-1998), Actress, Boyle and Jane Clarke, (1961-)poet. Siobhan will also be celebrating current heroes from our county such as actor Chris O’Dowd and Joe Caslin, whose father Leo, is from Strokestown the artist’s hometown. This will be an ongoing project and Siobhan hopes to have at least three portraits to exhibit on Culture Night in King House in Boyle
