Sean O'Dwyer (artist)
Encyclopedia
Sean O'Dwyer is an Irish
painter and sculptor.
Sean O'Dwyer was born in Nenagh
, County Tipperary
and educated in Dublin. He studied at the National College of Art and Design
, graduating in 1989 with a Higher Diploma in Art & Design. In 1990, he co-founded Artsquad, a government-sponsored initiative that enables artists to create work on behalf of Dublin-based community groups and voluntary organisations.http://cityartsquad.com/
O'Dwyer received his first public commission in 1995 from Fingal County Council
. This led to the creation of The Ready Boat Pillar, a 4-metre tall granite sculpture located in the fishing village of Howth
, Co. Dublin. The piece features 12 sculpted relief panels depicting scenes from Howth's history and it was unveiled by broadcaster, Gay Byrne
, in September 1996.
In 2001, O'Dwyer moved to Drogheda
, County Louth
and has since been described as one of the town's "most talented, prolific and controversial artists". His painting, The Miracle Ship, became the subject of controversy in 2007 when a local politician described the work as "a vision of ignorance". The painting was inspired by a local folk-tale which suggests that a Turkish
ship brought aid from the Ottoman Empire
to the starving citizens of Drogheda during the Great Famine. The dispute reached the national airwaves when O'Dwyer was invited to defend his artistic integrity on RTÉ Radio 1
's live phone in
programme, Liveline
.
O'Dwyer is married with three children and continues to paint and sculpt. He also devotes some of his time to teaching a small number of students.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
painter and sculptor.
Sean O'Dwyer was born in Nenagh
Nenagh
Nenagh is the county town of North Tipperary in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of North Tipperary and in 2011 it had a recorded population of 7,995. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
and educated in Dublin. He studied at the National College of Art and Design
National College of Art and Design
The National College of Art and Design is a national art and design school in Dublin, Ireland.-History:Situated on Thomas Street, the NCAD started as a private drawing school and has become a national institution educating over 1,500 day and evening students as artists, designers and art educators...
, graduating in 1989 with a Higher Diploma in Art & Design. In 1990, he co-founded Artsquad, a government-sponsored initiative that enables artists to create work on behalf of Dublin-based community groups and voluntary organisations.http://cityartsquad.com/
O'Dwyer received his first public commission in 1995 from Fingal County Council
Fingal
Fingal is a county in Ireland. It is one of three smaller counties into which County Dublin was divided in 1994. With its county seat located in Swords, it has a population of 239,992 according to the 2006 census...
. This led to the creation of The Ready Boat Pillar, a 4-metre tall granite sculpture located in the fishing village of Howth
Howth
Howth is an area in Fingal County near Dublin city in Ireland. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development and wild hillside, all on the peninsula of Howth Head. The only...
, Co. Dublin. The piece features 12 sculpted relief panels depicting scenes from Howth's history and it was unveiled by broadcaster, Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
, in September 1996.
In 2001, O'Dwyer moved to Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
and has since been described as one of the town's "most talented, prolific and controversial artists". His painting, The Miracle Ship, became the subject of controversy in 2007 when a local politician described the work as "a vision of ignorance". The painting was inspired by a local folk-tale which suggests that a Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
ship brought aid from the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
to the starving citizens of Drogheda during the Great Famine. The dispute reached the national airwaves when O'Dwyer was invited to defend his artistic integrity on RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926...
's live phone in
Phone in
In broadcasting, a phone-in or call-in is a programme format in which viewers or listeners are invited to air their live comments by telephone, usually in respect of a specific topic selected for discussion on the day of the broadcast. On radio , it is common for an entire programme to be dedicated...
programme, Liveline
LiveLine
Liveline is an Irish radio interview and phone-in chat show broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday afternoon between 13.45 and 15.00. The programme, which is currently presented by Joe Duffy and known for its slogan "Talk to Joe", seeks the public's opinion on various questions, normally one or more...
.
O'Dwyer is married with three children and continues to paint and sculpt. He also devotes some of his time to teaching a small number of students.