In a late but very welcome addition to the Allingham programme we are delighted to announce that an Allingham Bicentenary Exhibition will be on display in the newly reopened Ballyshannon library from Wednesday, 6 November during normal library opening hours. With the kind assistance of library staff there will be an extensive collection of books by and about William and Helen Allingham on display.
Allied Irish Banks have kindly loaned their fine bronze bust of the poet which was commissioned by them in 1971 from the noted sculptor, Arthur Breen, to mark the centenary of County Donegal Historical Association.
Also on view will be an image of a plaster bust of William Allingham created by his friend, the Scottish sculptor Alexander Munro in 1855. Following a successful display in the Royal Academy exhibition of that year, two copies of this piece were delivered to William Allingham’s home on The Mall, Ballyshannon. In 1908 Mrs Faucett donated this copy to the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin. In the same year, Helen Allingham donated her watercolour portrait of William to the same institution.
Another feature of the exhibition will be a set of reproductions of Helen’s breakthrough project when she provided 12 illustrations for the first edition of Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd. These drew the admiring attention of no less a figure than Vincent van Gogh.
Free Internet access will be available to allow visitors to browse the extensive collection of letters by and to the Allinghams held in the University of Illinois.
Many snippets from contemporary newspapers concerning this remarkable couple and their contacts with some of the most noted writers and artists of the time will also be on view.
The exhibition will be formally opened by Mr Anthony Begley, Ballyshannon’s greatest authority on the Allingham family at 11 AM on Friday, November 8. Admission free, all welcome.
The exhibition is expected to continue for some time beyond this year’s festival during normal library opening hours:
Wednesday 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m., 2–5:30 p.m.
Friday 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m., 2–5:30 p.m.