Open 10:30–5:00, Tuesday – Saturday
Saturday 3rd January at 3pm
Welcome the New Year in with a perspective by Brendan Mattews on the challenging and fascinating life & times of 19th century Drogheda-artist Laurence Fagan.
Laurence Fagan was born in the townland of Lisdornan parish of Moorechurch County Meath in 1825. The son of Sylvester and Mary Fagan, Laurence was born Deaf and also non verbal at a time when the population of the country was dramatically increasing and when the religious landscape across Ireland was changing rapidly.
Born into a mixed marriage which, during this period, often presented its own challenges in relation to identity along with cultural & religious differences, Fagan attended the Protestant Claremont Institution at Glasnevin in Dublin in 1836 where he learned and perfected his artistic pen & ink and pencil drawing skills before he returned to the Drogheda area in 1857 and settled in Trinity Street until his sad demise in 1892.
Brendan Matthews will present an illustrated lecture exploring the the life of Laurence Fagan who had an extraordinary facility for drawing and with excellent draughtsmanship skills.
Brendan will also discuss the more serious challenges he faced throughout his life including the `power struggle` between different religious denominations regarding the education and teachings of the Deaf and Non Verbal community which, incidentally, included his younger sister Margaret.
Tea, coffee and a biscuits will be served.
