3rd August limerick hunt museum Robert Ballagh display

'not for sale' - 2008

I, personally, am of Irish dissent. This means that the Robert Ballagh display in the Hunt museum touched a nerve end in me.

1916

It is obvious that this is meant to represent and document what happened exactly 100 years ago; the Irish revolution and its efforts to eradicate english oppression and rule. This is shown through decades of artwork from the 70s to now.

liberty on the barricades, after Delacroix - 1970

The 3rd of may, after Goya - 1970

My favorite display is 'not for sale' (left) because it is simple in it elegance. A flag. A flag is not an object or a thought it is a sense of nationality or pride for your country - this cannot be sold or bought - that is my rendition of the meaning. But it also may be seen as protecting the counties nationality from people who want to buy out Ireland's industries. The secondary painting  is of  all of the republic's provisional government standing in front of  1916 in fire, on a backdrop of the provisional government proclamation, armed with rifles and flags. This needs no explanation 'tis but a declaration of victory against the British rule and the worthwhile efforts of the past struggle. The third picture is of a parody of a famous 'Liberty Leading The People'. The reason for this is that the artist may be looking at the french and saying "hey. We had a revolution with war and death - of the likes you've never seen! This belongs to us." And so he did a parody in a bold pseudo pop art way. He did many more paintings in these styles most notable 'the third of may' parody whereon many a Guerrilla rebel were killed by Napoleon's army. The Reference to the irish rebellion is that on the 3rd of may 1916 many of the major resistance fighters were executed at the hands of the British these

Birth of the Irish republic - 2012

men who had helped write the proclamation only months before. They are forever remembered in plaques. The third Pseudo pop art piece is an original creation called the birth of the Irish republic-  this is shown and  emphasised by the centerpoint of  the portrait - a man - party member ( who had been fighting)  lying in a stretcher with a wounded leg, water held to his mouth, surrounded by people -  party members of the rebellion  looking and taking notes like  doctors soldiers around him like family members.  All of this represents not only the birth of a government but also that it cares about the individual soldier, man,  family and all else of its populus. Through the smoke soldiers silhouettes showing the militant standards that they would take about oppression.

James Connolly - 1971

The man in that painting is called James Connolly and he was one of the most influential leaders of the republic - not only himself a general but also one of the seven proclamation signers, This is the reason there is so much art about him and why he is the birthplace of the republic. not only did he create the irish citizens army but he also was a martyr to his cause - executed by the british 12th may 1916. He was a brilliant man and that's why most mentions of the irish revolution involve his name.
This piece of work is dedicated to him in name and image. The best thing is he was born in england... he had no irish blood in him.
The last explained image I will do in this review is called fall of the republic. the image is of a sign on the roof of a nondescript building - the sign is of the word  republic in bold red. It is crumbling and degrading signifying that the true meaning of the Republic has crumbled away in time along with its true leaders and believers. Republic no longer signifies anything, it is but a word to be used by people fighting not for reason or ease of oppression but for fear and power. Targeting civilians carrying the Irish citizens army flag. Burning signs of peace and destroying cities in the name of anarchy. That is their twisted, eroded definition of  'Republic'. And that is what this painting signifies.this is what his exhibition signifies. Republic is joint freedom. Republic is peace. Republic is love.