LCGA Exhibitions

Limerick’s Municipal Collection

29 June – 6 September 2020

Limerick City Gallery of Art (LCGA) is delighted to present an exhibition of selected works from the first exhibition in 1937 of the Municipal Collection and works acquired up to 1948 when the Collection arrived into its purpose built exhibition space in the Carnegie Free Library, Pery Square, Limerick. 

In 1936 a group of prominent Limerick politicians, artists and patrons wanted to establish the first Art Gallery in Limerick.  A Committee was formed lead by District Justine J. M. Flood, Mr. Johnson and Paul Bernard.  The Committee set about acquiring a representative collection of paintings by Irish artists, they were successful in obtaining paintings by the most distinguished Irish painters of the eighteenth and nineteenth century and from living artist in Ireland who were members of the Royal Hibernian Academy.    

The first exhibition of the municipal collection was held in November 1937 in the Savoy Cinema on Bedford Row. The exhibition featured Douglas Alexander, George Barrett, Margaret Clarke, J. Crampton Gore, Percy French, Alfred Grey, Letitia Hamilton, St. George Hare, Joseph P. Haverty, Paul Henry, J. Humbert Craig, Sean Keating, Harry Kernoff, Charles Lamb, Sir John Lavery, William J. Leech, Frank McKelvey, William Mulready, James O'Connor, Leo Whelan, Jack B. Yeats, Portrait of Catherine Hayes to name a few, and was only on exhibit for a short period. 

The next major exhibition of the Municipal Collection was held in 1948 in the purpose built gallery space (east gallery) attached to the back of the Carnegie Free Library building, on the grounds of the Peoples Park.  The exhibition in 1948 exhibited the artworks acquired since 1937 up to 1948 and featured donations and purchased which included Moyra Barry, C. W. Bion, D. H Charde, George Chinnery, William Connor, J. Crampton Walker, J. C. Dollman,  Lady K. Dobbin, Frank Eggington, Eva Hamilton, J. M. Kavanagh, Sean O'Sullivan, Walter Osborne, Sarah Purser, George Russell, Maurice Wilks, Old Thomond Bridge. 

The exhibition space was used to exhibit the collection and over the years occasionally visiting and touring exhibitions that came to Limerick.  The Municipal collection and Gallery space was managed by the Arts Advisory Committee and the Head Librarian.

This current exhibition features only 53 artists and 63 artworks which were in the collection in 1948.

We hope you enjoy the exhibition

Information sheet  Limerick Municipal Collection information (230 Kb)

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date. 

If you notice any errors or omissions please let us know as soon as possible and we will correct them as appropriate.  

Please forward the information to artgallery@limerick.ie