It was a very poignant morning out at Mornington beach last Wednesday (August 28th) as the Drogheda Port Company hosted a unique event to unveil the 2024 port art commission.
The annual commission on a maritime theme is normally very open in terms of subject matter, but this year it was very different recalling a specific tragic event in 1871. The company reached out to artist Emily McCormack to portray a specific story from the port archives, an emotive story which was committed to song entitled 'Brig Manley' by SJ McArdle in his recent PORT project. The Brig 'Manley' was shipwrecked at Mornington on 28.09.1871 with the loss of six lives.
Emily McCormack is an Irish artist with an art studio and gallery based in Ireland's Ancient East. She works primarily in oils and loves to paint a variety of subjects including seascapes and landscapes. When Emily was propositioned with the commission earlier this year, she immediately felt excited, emotional and privileged to undertake such as ask. Emily spent many months reading the story of the event and listening to SJ's song repeatedly. There were times she even woke up at 5am to reinact the horror of the lifeboat crew while sitting on her kitchen floor. All of this assisted her in building a strong human connection to the piece of art she was creating.
The breathtaking, dark, emotive art piece was unveiled close to the spot of the tragic incident on the beach and songwriter SJ Mc Ardle performed his song 'Brig Manley' alongside. The event highlighted the Port's commitment to fostering the arts and reflects the connection between our community, our history, and the ever-evolving natural landscape.
This remarkable annual arts initiative has been running for almost 20 years, resulting in a wonderful collection of work to date all on a maritime theme and it has really created an artistic bridge between the port and creativity. It is not just an investment in art; it is an investment in the spirit of our community. By supporting local artists and giving them the opportunity to create works that reflect our port and town, the Port Company is ensuring that the story of Drogheda and its surrounding areas continues to be told in new and inspiring ways.
