Press Release: Hunt Museum Launches Contemporary Art Programme with Sinéad Ní Mhaonaigh’s Bailiúchán

Bailiúchán: Exploring Space, Structure, and Identity

Bailiúchán assembles a selection of paintings from distinct bodies of work created over the past five years. The exhibition delves into themes of cartography and deep mapping, where landscapes are etched and reshaped over time. Ní Mhaonaigh’s richly textured visual language unfolds across three overlapping strands: structure, landscape, and pure abstraction, reflecting her ongoing exploration of chronology, seriality, and the materiality of paint.

A fluent Irish speaker, Ní Mhaonaigh often titles here exhibitions with singular Irish words, each carrying layers of meaning tied to identity, environment, and lived experience. Previous exhibitions include Struchtúr, Cnuasach, Imlíne, Eatramh, Imeall, and Ardán—translating to Structure, Cluster, Contour, Interval, Margin, and Platform—underscoring her deep-rooted connection to the Irish landscape while evoking boundless, imagined spaces.

Teresa Crowley, CEO and Director of the Hunt Museum, said:
“The launch of the our contemporary art programme marks an exciting new chapter for the Hunt Museum, and we are thrilled to open with Sinéad Ní Mhaonaigh’s compelling exhibition, Bailiúchán. Her work not only showcases the strength of contemporary Irish painting but also invites audiences to engage with visual art in a meaningful way. This programme reflects our commitment to celebrating Ireland’s vibrant artistic talent.

About the Artist

About the Artist

Based in County Wicklow, Sinéad Ní Mhaonaigh has been a leading figure in contemporary Irish painting for over two decades. She holds an MA in Fine Art from Limerick School of Art and Design(2023) and a BA in Fine Art from Dublin Institute of Technology (2001). Ní Mhaonaigh’s work has been exhibited widely at major international art fairs and is held in significant public and private collections.

In addition to her artistic practice, Ní Mhaonaigh is an active voice in Irish-language broadcasting across radio and television. She is represented by Kevin Kavanagh Gallery (Dublin) and 532 Gallery Thomas Jaeckel (New York). In recognition of her contributions to the arts, she was elected an Academician of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 2023 and a member of Aosdána in 2024.

Exhibition Details

• Venue: The Hunt Museum, Limerick
• Dates: 6 March – 3 April 2025
• Admission: Free admission, no charge.

About the Hunt Museum

The Hunt Museum exhibits one of Ireland’s greatest private collections of Art and Antiquities, dating from the Neolithic Period to the 20th century. Collected by passionate antiquarians Gertrude and John Hunt, this diverse collection of over 2,500 objects. The museum serves as a cultural hub, featuring a wide range of historical objects, jewellery, decorative arts and works by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso and Jack. B Yeats. The museum serves as a cultural hub, holding the collection in trust for the people of Limerick and offering visitors a rich exploration of art and history.