Rahan Church, Co. Offaly, Edition 6

The very first sculpture I created in this series of work back in 2017 is this one! Based on Rahan Church in Co. Offaly this edition was painted in 2023.

The earlier editions were much lighter, but this one has darker, stronger colour scheme. It’s a representation of how my work has evolved over the last number of years.

This fine Romanesque doorway serves as the entrance to one of three churches that still remain at the site in Rahan, Co. Offaly. The site was founded in the sixth century and it is believed that this church was built in the late 15th century incorporating elements, including the door, from an earlier structure. There was once a large community that lived an worked around these buildings with a history that would rival the modern day, including corrupt monks and murderers. It seems strange that somewhere that was once so full of drama could now seem so quiet and peaceful, the doorway seems like the portal to another world.

The frame is 37cm x 43cm x 4.5cm (14.5” x 17” x 1.7”).

This piece was sculpted in wax and then moulded, each edition is then cast, painted and framed. This process makes all 20 editions related, but, like siblings each has it’s own personality and imperfections which make it unique.