www.thomasdelohery.com You can e-mail Artist Thomas Delohery at: tomdelohery@hotmail.com  or phone him on:00353(0)86-8975104.

N.B. To veiw Thomas Delohery's Art work,you can click on to the word gallery on the top left of this web-site,just under the Artist's name in orange , where you will see images of his Holocaust related work, Richard Harris related work and his Killing Fields related work;please take the time to look at them.Thank you!

Clare and Irish Artist Thomas Delohery was born on the 2nd June, 1971. He has studied both at The National College of Art and Design in Dublin, and at The University of Ulster in Belfast. He has a First Class Honours B.A. Degree in Fine Art Painting, received from the University of Ulster in Belfast.In 2002,he spent 4 weeks on residency in Schwandorf,Bavaria,Germany,thanks to the Tyrone Guthrie Centre. In 2004 he successfully completed 140 hours in Holocaust Studies,Yad Vashem,Jerusalem. In 2005, he followed that up by successfully completing a 2-week seminar in Poland and Lithuania in Holocaust Studies for Educators, run by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. www.yadvashem.org Then in 2008,he attended as well as exhibited as part of,"Interrogating Trauma:"Arts & Media Responses to Collective Suffering Conference,Curtin University of Technology and Murdoch University,Perth,Western Australia. 2-4 December,2008.

He has had 37 solo shows to date, both at home and in Northern Ireland, as well as in London,Germany,Australia and Canada. He has participated in 16 group shows.

He has received numerous awards;the most recent being,a Travel and Mobility award from the Arts Council of Ireland to travel to Perth,Western Australia in December,2008.Other awards have been from, "Yad Vashem Toronto," Culture Ireland, the European Association for Jewish Culture Grant (www.jewishcultureineurope.org) in 2006, to an Aer Lingus Travel Award and 5 Travel and Mobility Awards from the Arts Council of Ireland (www.artscouncil.ie), a Scholarship from Yad Vashem in Jerusalem to do The Holocaust Educators Course there in 2004, to being the first Irish recipient of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre International Bursary Scheme to Bavaria in Germany, 2002, to 3 separate Artist's Support Grants from Clare County Council over the years.

PUBLICATIONS: 

Richard Harris:Anything is Possible by County Clare Artist,Thomas Delohery.Catalogue,to coincide with 5 Tribute Exhibitions in honour of the late Richard Harris.Included is a letter by Jared Harris(Richard Harris's middle son),Preface by Poet Desmond O'Grady,1 poem each by Thomas Delohery and Mark Whelan.All illustrations by Thomas Delohery.

Nowhere to go,and no-one who seemed to care:an Exhibit of Holocaust Related Work Thomas Delohery.Catalogue for exhibit at PIER 21,Canada's Immigration Museum,Halifax,Nova Scotia.All illustrations and text by Thomas Delohery.

Always Pushing the Pull Door Poems by Mark Whelan.Illustrations by Thomas Delohery.Revival Press,Limerick,2007.Book launch by renowned Artist,John Shinnors.

In 2007,Thomas Delohery created the front cover for a new Jazz C.D. by Eamonn Lennihan of RTE Lyric FM,that is due out in early 2009.(WATCH THIS SPACE!) www.rte.ie/lyricfm

RESEARCH:

At this stage, he has visited most of the infamous Concentration, Killing and Work Camps of Europe; from Auschwitz 1, Birkenau, Dachau, Flossenburg, Belzec, Majdanek, Treblinka, Sobibor, Terezin, and Stutthof. In 2004, he travelled to Israel to do a series of one-on-one interviews with Holocaust Survivors.

WORKS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS:

His work has been purchased by the University of Ulster for their permanent collection; by Oberpfalzer Kunstler Haus Permanent Collection, Bavaria, Germany; The History Department, University College, Cork; The Wiener Library, Institute of Contemporary History, London, UK, (www.wienerlibrary.co.uk) ,Yad Vashem Museum,The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heros' Rememberance Authority,Jerusalem.Israel,(www.yadvashem.org) ,etc. His work is in the private collections of such people as: Holocaust Survivors Herr Otto Schwerdt (Germany), Havka Folman Raban (Israel), Olga Solomon (Israel), Zoltan Zinn-Collis (Ireland),Goldie Steiner,Canada; Artists, John Shinnors (Ireland), Neil Shawcross (www.artireland.net./sys-tmpl/neilswawcross/) (Northern Ireland), Eamon O'Kane (UK), Veronica Bolay (Ireland), Anne Brennan (Ireland), Peadar Drinan (www.drinan.net) (Ireland), Andrea Tuchezyora (Czech Republic), Anushiya Sundaralingham (Northern Ireland), etc; Suzanne Bardgett OBE (Director, Permanent Holocaust Exhibition, Imperial War Museum, UK) (www.london.iwm.org.uk), Actors Jared Harris (www.imdb.com/name/nm0364813/) and Jamie Harris(www.imdb.com/name/nm0364807), Director Damian Harris (www.imdb.com/name/nm0364807) and many others.

RELEVANT INFORMATION:

His work since 1997 has mainly been concentrated on the theme of the Holocaust. But in January of 2004, he started work on the various and colourful aspects of Richard Harris's career and life. "I don't take on board any theme lightly. Unless I am obsessed and driven by a theme, I won't touch it. So I did pieces on Richard Harris, on and off for over 3 years." When the first of 5 Tribute shows to the late screen and stage legend opened in Friar's Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co.Limerick on the 1st of October, Richard's birthday, it was officially opened by Richard Harris's three sons, Jamie, Jared and Damian Harris. Bill Harris, Richard's youngest brother was also in attendance. All four members of the Harris family purchased pieces on the night. Jared Harris said of the piece he purchased, "I love my picture! It looks awesome...God Bless you,and thank you for all you have done for my Dad." Jamie Harris said, "Wow, you captured so many of my Dad's different moods" and Jared Harris said, "Thankyou so much for kick-starting everything off" in relation to all the recent tributes to Richard Harris in one form or another, Charlie St.George's Pub, Richard's favourite old haunt in Limerick, also purchased work, as did Kim and Liam Brown and one of Richard's nieces(Alison O'Sullivan) in the second of the 5 Tribute shows.

"I am very touched that Tom has chosen to devote so much of his creative energy to this series of pictures dedicated to my father.Over the last few years it has been consistently true that,no matter where in the world I've found myself,I always end up talking about Dad with strangers who tell me some mad story of how they met,and how influential he has been to them,as he has been to me.Dad was possessed with a tremendous raging mercurial life force.One that was not too dissimilar to how I have heard the weather described on the west coast of Ireland.All four seasons in an afternoon.My brothers and I joked that when we were all on holiday together at his house in the Bahamas,(that he named after Kilkee where he spent many treasured summers during his youth),the first one of us up would take a weather report of his mood off him.Dad would look bewildered when one of us would reply "A little overcast.Possible storms threatening later."Dad would look out the window at the clear Bahamian sky and say "what the hell are you talking about.There isn't a cloud in the f--king sky?"

"These pictures are an attempt to capture that spitit.What that spirit meant to Tom.And for that,as always with anyone who honours Dad,we are deeply grateful."

Jared Harris

We have,on the one hand a sculpture commissioned by Limerick Corporation situated in Bedford Row which is nothing more than "Touristy Kitsh."an opportunity lost. Tom Delohery's Graphic and often stark images of Harris is the way it should be done.   JOHN SHINNORS

I also note with equal measures of gratitude and disappointment that the roles of defending my father has fallen to a vocal few,namely Thomas Delohery and kindred spirits within Limerick's rugby fraternity.My father always said he trusted a rugby man above all others.Thomas has my enduring gratitude for his moral and artistic support of my father.Anyone who saw his portraits knows how much creative effort he put into memorialising his own personal connection he felt to my father.And everyone who saw those pictures has their own individual response to them.

Jared Harris (Taken from a letter Jared Harris sent into the Limerick Leader.The article was entitled,Enough!Stop kicking my father,Richard Harris )5.7.'2008

"Humanity thought it knew itself until the Holocaust happened.Not only did millions of people die in these camps,but I feel a certain part of humanity died there as well."Thomas Delohery

Havka Raban

I met Tom in Israel,in the Museum of the Ghetto Fighters.I live in the Kibbutz of the Ghetto Fighters(www.gfh.org.il) and I am one of the founders.

Tom told me about his work.I was very moved and also astonished to hear about the subject of his paintings;holocaust!A young Irish man is interested about our destiny - is something special and touched me deeply!Thank you Tom!

Havka

Havka Folman Raban was a courier in the warsaw Ghetto.She was captured and interrogated by the Gestapo without admitting anything.Then she was sent to Auschwitz:prisoner 32291 is tattooed on her forearm.She is the Author of,"They are still with me."Copyright 1997 by Beit Lohamei Haghetaot. www.theverylongview.com/WATH/essays/courier6.htm

In response to Delohery's first Holocaust Exhibition in Canada at PIER 21,Holocaust Survivor Judy (Weissenberg) Cohen wrote,"Echoes powerful memories." www.womenandtheholocaust.com

"I hope we'll meet up again one day and that I have the chance to see more of your work.I gaze at the two paintings you gave us quite regularly and I am always impressed and moved...Thomas Delohery's skill and vision as an artist are of a very high order.Tackling the theme of the Holocaust poses huge challenges to any artist and Mr Delohery is among the very few who have succeeded in producing work that expresses deep truths about the subject while also expressing a coherent and ultimately optimistic artistic vision."

Ben Barkow Director The Wiener Library,Institute of Contempory History,London.(The Wiener Library is one of the world's leading and most extensive archives on the Holocaust and Nazi era). www.wienerlibrary.co.uk

I am delighted to see your ongoing good work and effort,not only artistically,but in spreading Holocaust education,as well as teaching tolerance as evidenced by your lectures...You address the issue of genocide,so badly needed to be stressed and to be combated.

Goldi Steiner(Holocaust Survivor)Toronto,Canada

At present, Thomas Delohery is working 17 hours a week as the Art and Design Tutor in Ceim ar Ceim, The Probation Centre in Moyross, Limerick. The rest of his time is spent working on his own visual and personal obsessions.There is an ongoing Artist file on Thomas Delohery's work in the Holocaust Art Research Center,Yad Vashem,Jerusalem. www.thomasdelohery.com

Internet Links:

www.thomasdelohery.com

www.newirishart.com (Click onto any Artist's painting,then look for "List all Artists" top-right in grey,then scroll down to "D" )

www.holocausteducationaltrust.org/arts_culture

http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/trauma/docs/List-Art-Exhibitions.pdf- 

http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/trauma (Click:ART&FILM,then:ART DESSCRIPTIONS AND ART BIGRAPHIES)

www.richardharris.de (The Roundtable)

www.friarsgate.ie/pastartex.htm

www.irishartblog.com

http://www.NewIrishArt.com/Bulletin/Latest.htm  

www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/cominfo/arts/artists_database/thomas_delohery_

http://www.twwc.ie/?page_id=342 "Always pushing the pull door" Illustrations by Thomas Delohery

http://www.catholicregister.org/content/view/1234/854

http://www.admin.ukings.ns.ca/khes/pictures.html

www.limerickpost.ie/entsnews.elive?id=7&category=events

www.independent.ie/topics/Thomas+Delohery-

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

Kidogo Art Gallery,Western Australia.In connection with  "Interrogating Trauma:"Arts & Media Responses to Collective Suffering Conference.Hosted by Curtin and Murdoch University,Perth,Western Australia..Curator,Mandy Harwood. http://wwwmcc.Murdoch.edu.au/trauma

Friars Gate Theatre,Kilmallock,Co.Limerick,Ireland.Opened by Eamonn Lenihan,RTE Lyric FM.  www.rte.ie/lyricfm/  www.friarsgate.ie

Toronto Center For The Arts,Toronto,Canada.Opened by Mrs.Elizabeth Comper,founder of FAST(Fighting Anti-Semitism Together) www.fightingantisemitism.com ,in connection with Yad Vashem Toronto www.yadvashem.ca www.holocausteducationweek.com

PIER 21,Halifax,Nova Scotia,Canada.(As part of Nova Scotia's Holocaust Education Week 2007) www.pier21.ca

Toradh Gallery, Co. Meath. Opened by Rebecca Grinblat,in honour of her Grandparents Eva Marianna(Marika)Cierer and Alexender Weinberger who survived the Holocaust.(The work on this exhibition was carried out with the support of a grant from The European Association for Jewish Culture). www.jewishcultureineurope.org )

St. John's Theatre & Art Centre, Co. Kerry. Opened by Billy Keane (son of renowned playwright John B.Keane)

Friar's Gate Theatre, Limerick. Opened by Jamie, Jared and Damian Harris (sons of the Late Actor Richard Harris) www.friarsgate.ie

The Wiener Library, Institute of Contempory History, London, UK. www.wienerlibrary.co.uk

The Changing Room Gallery, London, UK. Opened by Suzanne Bardgett (Director of the Permanent Exhibition, Imperial War Museum, London, UK) www.iwm.org.uk

The Courthouse Arts Centre, Co. Wicklow. Opened by Mickie Goldstein, Head of the Cultural Section, Israeli Embassy, Dublin.

The Old Market Arts Centre, Co. Waterford. Opened by Peadar Drinan (Cartoonist with the Irish Examiner) www.irishart.com/theoldmarkethouseartscentre.php

Clare County Museum, Co. Clare. Opened by Limerick Poet Mark Whelan.

BBC Buildings, Belfast, N. Ireland.

Dundalk County Museum, Co. Louth. Opened by Yanky Fachler.

Main Gallery, Down Art Centre, Co. Down, N. Ireland.

Sunburst Gallery, Ards Art Centre, Co. Down, N. Ireland. Opened by renowned Ulster Artist David Crone.

Bourne Vincent Gallery, University of Limerick, Co. Limerick. Opened by Prof. Dermot Keogh M.A., PhD, Head of History at the University College,Cork.

Clotworthy Arts Centre, Antrim, N. Ireland. Opened by Artist Anushiya Sundaralingam. www.antrim.gov.uk/clotworthy/

N.U.I. Galway Art Gallery, Galway. Opened by Mike Fitzpatrick, Director of Limerick City Gallery of Art.

Dunamise Theatre & Arts Centre, Co. Laois. Opened by Holocaust Survivor Zoltan Zinn-Collis. www.dunamaise.ie

The Market Place Gallery, Armagh, N. Ireland. Opened by renowned Ulster Artist David Crone.

Signal Arts Centre, Co. Wicklow.

Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Dublin.

Ojo Centre, Cologne, Germany (In connection with anti-Fascist Week)

De Valera Library Gallery, Co. Clare. Opened by Artist, Mick O'Dea R.H.A.

Linen Hall Arts Centre, Co. Mayo. Opened by Chairman Eamon Smith www.thelinenhall.com

The Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick. Opened by Artist Eamon O'Kane. www.belltable.ie

Limerick City Gallery of Art. Opened by renowned Irish Artist John Shinnors. www.limerickcity.ie/LCGA/

Mullingar Arts Centre,Co.Meath.

Tipperary Excel Centre,Co.Tipperary.Opened by Co.Clare Arts Officer,Siobhan Mulcahy.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

Hunt Museum, Co. Limerick, Glor Irish Music Centre, Co. Clare, The Jelly Leg'd Chicken Arts Centre, Reading, UK, Cavancor Gallery, Co. Donegal, Kunstler Haus 2, Bavaria, Germany, Siamsa Tire Arts Centre,Co.Kerry. Selected by Declan McGonagle (former Director of IMMA), Gem House of Fine Art, Cork,West Cork Arts Centre, Co. Cork, 1 Oxford Street, Belfast,Castle Court, Belfast, People's College, Belfast.

Next line down from here,will give you a chance to "CLICK ON" and see some of Thomas Delohery's Art Work!!!Please do!

For a selection of work by Thomas Delohery click here.

FORTHCOMING SOLO EXHIBITIONS by THOMAS DELOHERY:

Holocaust related solo exhibition to tie in with Holocaust International Memorial Day 2009 at the Alley Arts and Conference Centre,Railway Steet,Strabane,Co.Tyrone,Northern Ireland."WHEN GOD AND THE WORLD SLEPT."Exhibition runs from the 19th of January to the 13th of February 2009. www.alley-theatre.com  www.alley-theatre.com/exhibitions/

Holocaust-related solo exhibition at the Signal Arts Centre,1 Albert Avenue,Bray,Co.Wicklow,Ireland.Tel:01-2762039."IF THIS IS A MAN."The show runs from the14th of September to the 27th of September 2009.   www.signalartscentre.ie

NEWS:

"Always pushing the pull door"A book of poems by Mark Whelan with illustrations by Artist Thomas Delohery was launched on the 6th of December,2007 in Limerick City Library.The launch was officially opened by renowned Artist John Shinnors.

"Always pushing the pull door"with illustrations of Richard Harris was reviewed on SOISCEAL PHARAIC,TG4,on Wednesday,23rd of January,2008.One of the many positive comments about the illustrations was,"The sketches of Richard Harris are excellent!"

"Hi Tom,...I wanted to pass on my complete and utter respect to you and Mark Whelan for the book of poemtraits and portraits of Dad that you both did.I loved them all...I truly think Dad would have loved them and be deeply touched by all the hard work,passion and insight you both have.Thank you,God bless you both,Jared"

Page 10.April 2008. Irish Edition. www.irishedition.com

Painting a Different Picture 

His exhibition"Portraits of Richard Harris" was so popular it required five showcases.Three in Limerick, one in Listowel (Which was opened by Billy Keane, son of the author of The Field) and one in Kilkee.                      Mr.Delohery, as well as many others in Limerick City, has a negative opinion regarding the Richard Harris statue by Jim Connolly which depicts the actor as King Arthur in Camelot. "Richard Harris was a man bigger than life.To many, the jaw, nose, and teeth are wrong.And where are the broad shoulders?"                                        Richard was tall and lanky, which made running the rugby ball very difficult for the opposition.The statue was made to be politically correct.Delohery said Richard was anything but politically correct.He said Harris was "passionate,emotional,and did exactly what he wanted to do-he really put Limerick on the map and world stage."I asked Mr.Delohery if "Bull McCabe,"Richard the rugby player or Harris of Limerick might be more suitable he replied,"Harris,the Limerick man."                       ...Being so close to King John's Castle,people may mistake it as being King John himself instead of King Arthur.                                              Bill Harris (Richard's late younger brother) was impressed with Mr.Delohery's paintings to honour his brother.Jared Harris was contacted,and was also impressed with his sincerity and promised to be at the opening of his exhibition.He loved the portraits along with Richard's other sons Jamie and Damien Harris.             Mr.Delohery said the people should have been polled,as to how the statue was depicted-...Perhaps another statue at Thomand Park where Munster plays rugby.Most people in Limerick know its not a true likeness of Dickee.To many coming to see it,it is just a king.Some thought it might be Brian Boru.                                                                         ...Many say Dickee should have been honoured long before he passed.Mr.Delohery thinks if Dickee were alive today and asked how he would have liked to be remembered,it would be Dickee Harris of Limerick,the miller's son,who always said "fame meant nothing to me.I loved,and was loved by my family."Richard always defended Limerick,its people and its reputation.

Bill O'Reilly  Philadelphia,PA                                                                                                                                                                                   

"My first solo exhibition of Holocaust related work in Canada opened in PIER 21,Halifax,on Monday the 29th of October,2007.There was a big turn out.A film crew from the Canadian TV network (CTV) arrived in PIER 21 to interview me and film the work.There was such a great response to the exhibition in Halifax,Canada."

"There was an even bigger turn out for my second Canadian show in Toronto Center for the Arts.I got to meet more survivors that night at the opening on the 13th of November,2007.For me,they are the real critics of my work.Most people wanted to know why I started doing work about the Shoah in the first place.In Toronto,like in Halifax,I gave a lot of lectures about the work to local schools and colleges.On a whole,the two exhibitions in Canada was quite a positive experience for me,and great exposure for my work!"Thomas Delohery

REVIEWS:

If you want to see what Paul McLellan,Editor of The Catholic Register,Canada's Catholic news source,wrote about Thomas Delohery's Toronto Exhibition,at Toronto Center For The Arts,log onto; www.catholicregister.org/content/view/1234/854/

In "Holocaust exhibition to be opened by Nazi camp survivor" by Louise McBride for The Sunday Business Post, she writes, "Delohery, who has visited most of the Nazi concentration camps,c alled his exhibition 'Man-Made' to show that human beings were responsible for the Holocaust. 'Forget about monsters and good versus evil - at the end of the day, human beings were behind concentration camps,' said Delohery. 'It's something most people don't want to accept.The more you look into the Holocaust, the more you find it has resonance with the here and now - that there are always extreme sides to human nature.' Delohery, from Clare, said he hoped his exhibition would allow people to experience a journey through the concentration camps and show how nature has taken over these camps. 'Life still goes on in these camps and nature has taken back what should never have been at all,' said Delohery. 'I'm trying to show the beauty of these places but with the sense of history pushing through. Although these places are beautiful now, you're never let forget that there's something not quite right.'" www.sbpost.ie

Zoltan Zinn-Collis (Irish Holocaust Survivor and author of "Final Witness") has written, "There is something about the Holocaust which manages to take over Tom's mind, perhaps his soul. It would, at first thought appear to be a rather unlikely subject to get inspiration from, if that is the right word to use. But think on it. On different levels, the deaths, murder, torture, anguish, beatings, hanging, starvation. The gas, the ovens...I find that his work seems to have a very powerful message running through it. On a personal level, I find the brutality which was the Holocaust coming through, but also there is a kind of half-hidden humanity which of course is the opposite of the brutality. Some achievement to get those two emotions through."

In "EXHIBIT A" by Sophie Gorman, Irish Independent, she writes, "There can be no denying that every line and wrinkle on this most familiar face was well-deserved. Richard Harris' was a life hard-lived and featured a veritable kaleidscope of moods, many of which artist Thomas Delohery has successfully depicted in this exhibition...Delohery is an artist who never gets involved with a project lightly. Since 1997, he has concentrated on the theme of the Holocaust, spending a long time studying in Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, followed by related studies in Poland and Lithuania to create a number of powerful exhibitions...OBSESSED. In 2004, he turned his attention to this Limerick actor and has been obsessed by him ever since...The resulting work was given the ultimate seal of approval when Harris' three sons and his brother all bought pieces on the night...According to them, Delohery has captured the real essence of their father. And they should know." www.independent.ie/topics/Thomas+Delohery-  www.unison

In "Interview" by Alannah Hopkin for The Irish Examiner, she writes, "Delohery paints images of the Holocaust, hoping to restore individual faces to the millions who died in the concentration camps of Europe...Delohery is also technically a superbly accomplished artist. His use of oil pastel is much admired by other artists, including Mick O'Dea, Eamon O'Kane, David Crone and John Shinnors. Shinnors says of Delohery, 'One thing that is hugely evident is that he is a marvellous draftsman, and he is able to pull off these images that evoke cruelty and repression. It is the handling of his medium that I admire, his handling of oil pastel, a very tricky medium.' .....Delohery's work successfully revives our sense of horror at evil past and present, by giving it a human face, while it avoids sentimentality by his controlling technical mastery." www.irishexaminer.com

review "No Voice" Thomas Delohery by Alannah Hopkin for The Irish Examiner.

At first,it seems odd for a young Irish artist (born 1971) to work with images of the Holocaust.Suspicious minds might ask if it is just an easy way to attract attention.But in the case of Thomas Delohery,this is clearly no gimmick.

From left to right,as the 26 pieces on show progress from mass executions to liberation.The Shot Before(Parts One to Six) are based on a photograph of a group of Jewish women in the Ukraine,waiting to be shot and thrown into a grave.

Delohery takes photographs as a starting point,a theme on which to improvise.Here he seizes on a woman whose hand is tidying her hair for the camera.

"I intend to give these black and white images of the past,voices,colour and a contempory feel,so that people today can relate to them on a more personal level and think again about what happened,"explains Delohery.

Another theme is the beauty of the camps' locations,amid scenic forests,and the contradiction with the horrifying events that took place.'All Along the Watchtower'catches the beauty of dark blue evening against barbed wire and guard tower.This is a serious and highly accomplished exhibition.

Alannah Hopkin

Ennis Road,Limerick,Ireland.