The “Sketcher”

It was not long before Paul Henry and his wife Grace settled into Island life, although it took a little time for them to learn the customs peculiar to the area. In the early days he had become known as the “Sketcher” and local people began to avoid him. Not knowing what he had done to upset people he asked advice of the local nurse.

“Even then I did not realise the reason for this, and it was left to my good friend Nurse Comerford to explain to me that my making drawings of the people was bitter resented. Then I saw where I stood. I had come up against one of the oldest superstitions world, he belief that something of the sitter entered into the drawing.”

Postcard photograph of Keel Village Postmarked 1910. From Valentine series.

Postcard photograph of Keel Village Postmarked 1910. From Valentine series.

This proved a problem for Henry as his livelihood was dependent of providing a London publication with sketches of anything that would be of interest to them. Luckily for him Emily Weddall made it her business to befriend him Emily  took him and his wife Grace under her wing and introduced them around.

Sources
Keel village in 1910 this is one the sights that inspired Paul Henry Reproduced with kind permission of Mayo Public Library, Castlebar.
An Irish Portrait, Paul Henry’s Autobiography, 1951. P 53

The Henry’s Settle in Keel

Paul Henry decided that Keel was the perfect village to take up residence and persuaded Mr ad Mrs Barrett, the local shopkeepers and postmasters to put him up as there was no other boarding houses in the village. After a lot of persuasion they gave in and provided him with lodgings.

Postcard photograph of Post Office road, Keel.

Postcard photograph of Post Office road, Keel.

“The currents of life had carried me to this remote spot, and there seemed no current strong enough to carry me away…I made another of my quick decisions, which I never regretted and taking my return ticket to London out of my pocket tore it into small pieces and scattered the fragments into the sea which foamed round the rocks of Gubalennaun”.

Sources
An Irish Portrait,Paul Henry’s Autobiography, 1951. P 48
The site in Keel where the post office was located that Paul Henry first made contact with the people of Achill
Photo: Published by Judges Ltd. , Hastings, England. No. 13104. No date. Reproduced with the kind permission of Mayo Libraries.

About Paul Henry

DSCF1641“Belfast-born artist Paul Henry (1876-1958) lived and worked on Achill Island for a decade, from 1910-1919, and continued to produce Achill landscapes in later life. His works, particularly the landscapes of Achill Island and Connemara, came to typify a vision of Ireland that was prevalent in the early years of the new Irish Free State.”Read More on http://www.achill247.com/artists/paulhenry.html

An Artist arrives on Achill

When Paul Henry and his wife Grace, arrived on Achill in 1912, they had only intended to stay for a brief holiday, but ended up making the Island their home for the best part of a decade.

Henry had first heard of Achill’s wild and natural beauty from friends, the Lynds who honeymooned, there earlier that year.

“When I had met them they were full of it, and they had talked of Achill Island more than any other place they had seen. Their enthusiasm thrilled me and I decided to see this wonderful place for myself.”

Henry was enchanted by the island, and had found in it a muse for his work.

Minaun Cliffs, Achill

Minaun Cliffs, Achill

“The currents of life had carried me to this remote spot, and there seemed no current strong enough to carry me away…I made another of my quick decisions, which I never regretted and taking my return ticket to London out of my pocket tore it into small pieces and scattered the fragments into the sea which foamed round the rocks of Gubalennaun.”

Sources
An Irish Portrait,Paul Henry’s Autobiography, 1951. P 48