New exhibition of works inspired by the legend of Cill Stuifín opens at Clare gallery

Clare Arts Office, in conjunction with Cultúrlann Sweeney Library Gallery, is currently hosting ‘Submerged: Cill Stuifín’, a striking new body of work by Marie Connole.

Inspired by the legend of Cill Stuifín; a mythical village said to sink beneath the Atlantic waves and reappear every seven years. This series blends folklore, memory, and ecology in a deeply resonant visual meditation.

In a departure from her earlier, research-driven watercolours, Connole embraces the boldness of acrylics to explore what lies beneath the visible world.

Her large-scale canvases evoke the shifting moods of the Atlantic coast, populated by seaweed, submerged ruins, lost keys, and mythic forms. The series further develops archetypal motifs through drawings and watercolours, grounding the work in familiar local landmarks from Loop Head to the Cliffs of Moher.

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At its heart, ‘Submerged: Cill Stuifin’ is a reflection on ecological and emotional resilience. Through the lens of myth, Connole addresses contemporary themes, such as coastal erosion, cultural heritage, and our changing relationship with the natural world. Drawing from Ireland’s rich storytelling tradition, she invites viewers to reflect on what endures beneath the surface.

This exhibition, which opened on June 3, reimagines folklore as both warning and compass; a call to remember, reconnect and endure.

Marie Connole is an Irish visual artist whose work explores folklore, ecology, and memory through paint, drawing and installation. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the Irish Arts Center in New York, the Royal Ulster Academy, the University of Galway and EVA International. 

‘Submerged: Cill Stuifín' continues at Cultúrlann Sweeney Library Gallery until July 5.