Clare Arts

Oil on Canvas work dated 1983 by Ennis-born artist Mick O’Dea (b. 1958). O’Dea is a past President of the Royal Hibernian Academy, a member of Aosdána, and a past member of the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland. His work is included in collections such as The National Gallery of Ireland, the Arts Council of Ireland, and the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA).

“Tommy Killoughrey was a customer in our pub in Ennis back in the 1970s. He was a great fan of Bruce Lee, the kung fu master. Tommy regularly demonstrated Bruce Lee’s moves to us in the bar with great enthusiasm and we loved having him as a customer. He worked in The Old Ground hotel as a dishwasher and was a great character around the town of Ennis.

I painted a portrait of him in the lounge of our pub back in 1983. He is wearing a woolly hat and sits on two chairs put together. The painting was done in one sitting on a summers’ evening in the company of other customers. It demanded intense concentration all around as I was making a serious portrait. The customers who witnessed the process from beginning to end applauded when I lay down the brushes. It felt as if something important happened that we had all shared in, and now it was time for a drink. It was great fun.

I can’t remember exactly how Tommy reacted to the finished portrait, it’s always a shock to look at yourself and I did not let him see the painting as I was painting it, however, I felt it was a true likeness and represents the kind of work and way of working that I was engaged in at that time.”