Seán Ó Brógáin

Well its that time again, another Osprey coming down the tracks. This time it aint no Roman's, instead its the "War of Spanish Succession 1701-1713"...this is the period I have always fascinated me as there were many Irish fighting for the French and for other armies. These were soldiers who left Ireland with James II in 1691 and became soldiers for Louis XVI and fought with honour and courage and earned the reputation as fierce warriors. As this is a campaign volume, it will only have 3 paintings, a few drawings and my photographs of the battle field and environs. The book will cover the battle of Ramillies 1706, between the Allies and French forces of Louis XVI. The main combat occured in the land around and icluding the hamlets of Ramillies, Autre-Eglise and Offus. Although the Allies did have to clear the hamlets of Tavier and Fronqnee of French forces earlier the same day on the main road south of the hamlets. Now, Ramillies is reputed to be flat, but actually ...

Aughrim 2014 Just recovering from the long drive over the weekend. I was in Aughrim, Galway (site of the battle in 1691) at the Aughrim Remembered event. I was unexpectedly invited to give an illustrated talk/lecture based on the theme "painting the Williamite War (infantry)". This was a "how to" lecture on how i create my artwork. "Painting the Williamite War (infantry)" This was a tough proposition, as it meant i had to analyse my own artwork & untangle how i actually go about creating it. Now i haven't explored my work in this way since i was at Art college in Derry, back in the early 90s, when we where obliged to keep a journal ( which i thought was  pretentious, instrusive and left your inner creative process open to criticism, ridicule and external influences, so becoming robotic (maybe youthful impatience ;¬) But i found the process actually enlightening, as meant i had to look critically at how i approach my work. Unfortunately I did...

https://www.facebook.com/events/247781898756671/ I have been asked to put on a small exhibition (15 or so paintings) as part of the Falcarragh "An Féile Na Sean bheairice". The work will be on shown from 27th June - 20th July. This will include a selection of artwork produced over the last number of years. Work delivered today...as with these things its hard not to be nervous of what the exhibit will look like and how the artwork will be received?

I did a wee bit of work at the beginning of the year for Circle Creative. This was a large format portrait of John De Courcy, the Norman Knight who built the original castle on Fergus' Rock (Carraig Fergus). I was sent a link today of the image today, so i have put it up here. But it is up on the wall now. The original figure was painted on canvas, but was then reproduced as full size metal cut out to be attached to a wall in the town of Carrickfergus. I had a friend who closely matched De Courcy's description, tall, lean, fair-haired, so i used him as the model (Yuri)...this was a relatively straight forward job and Circle Creative were a joy to work with. As an adjunct to this i also met the archaeologists doing work in the castle Rory O'Boyle from Queens University Archaeological Dept. who gave us some great insights into small artillery traintrack in the castle grounds, they where recording, but thats another story ;¬) Below are a few links: http://ww...

Well i spent an enjoyable afternoon at Prehen House, Derry yesterday, chatting and taking some photos. Oireash Historical services where doing a historical display based on the siege (18 April to 28 July 1689), known as Léigear Dhoire in Gaelic. So with nice weather, pleasant company, some tea and a chance to chat with Colin Peck (who has a very wry and droll sense of humour, which i found great fun) and his guests. Prehen House, is a Grade A listed Georgian building c. 1740 (it is well worth a visit) situated on the high ground overlooking the river Foyle on the waterside (east shore), from it you can understand why they chose here to build. Here's the Prehen House link: http://www.prehenhouse.com/ While there, I also got to see the present archaeological dig of the Prehen fort taking place at the back of the house. This is thought to be a bawn which has at least one flanker tower (gun loop extant and curved wall) c. 1600-50. The tower seems to have been converted into s...

Well i decided to head to Monea Castle in County Fermanagh, to see Claiomh today. They are doing a show today as part of the 4-5 week dig presently going on. So obviously due my own interest and work it was too good an opportunity to miss out on. Here's a link to the project. http://ulsterscotsarchaeologicalproject.blogspot.co.uk/ It was a lovely trip up there, had the 2 ejits with me as always (Molly and Aenghus, dogs BTW)) weather moderate (perfect for photos, the dogs and walking around) and the roads clear. Its a fair jaunt from home to Monea as one has to circumnavigate the Erne, so Ballybofey-Donegal town- Ballyshannon- Belleek-Ballygonelly-Monea (monay or is it moneeah?). When I arrived Claoimh had a traditional blacksmith in the field in front of the castle and nice weapons table and leather worker at the base of the castle walls, with an ever eager crowd wanting to know more! With the backdrop of the castle, it was a pretty evocative scene, archaeologists working in ...