You can like us on Facebook at
facebook.com/corkdfas
and follow us on Twitter at
twitter.com/corkdfas
Further information on the events listed below can often be found on this website at the appropriate page (Talks, Speakers, Sponsor, Partner) or on our Facebook and/or Twitter accounts.
February 2023
Saturday February 18th 2023 @ 11am: A very unique Tour of Collins Barracks, Cork.
Guided by Military Historian Gerry White, we will visit the Chapel with its distinctive Evie Hone window, the Military Museum, and have the opportunity to see the Sean Keating paintings in the Officers Mess, where we will also enjoy some refreshments and a Q+A with Gerry White. This event is free to members and €5 for guests. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some rarely seen works of Art in this unique setting and we are most grateful to the Defence Forces at Collins Barracks for the invitation to visit.
Garrison Church Collins Barracks, Cork. Sean Keating (1889- 1977)
Evie Hone Stained Glass.
For security purposes, we are required to provide our guests names in advance.
Therefore, we will need to know by Tuesday 14th February if you wish to attend.
Please email your request to attend to:
catherine-callan@hotmail.com or karengallaghers@aol.com
January 2023
Monday, 30th January: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish Art Online Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Monday, 9th January: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Affordable ‘Off the Wall’ Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
December 2022
December 10, 11.30 Nano Nagle place
Matthew Whyte, History of Art, UCC
‘Donatello, il Rinascimento: Considering the Breadth and Impact of the Landmark Exhibition in Florence’s Palazzo Strozzi (19 March-31 July 2022)’
Doors open at 10.45, when you can join us for tea, coffee, festive mince pies and chat before the talk
Please note: students can attend for free on presentation of a current student card
December 5
Monday, 5th December: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Affordable ‘Off the Wall’ Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
November 2022
November 29
Tuesday, 29th November: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish Online Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Sponsor/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
November 26
St. Anne’s Church Recording Date:
Saturday November 26th: Final Church Recording Session
“Since 2016 volunteers from the Society’s membership have been working to record in proper fashion the contents of the structure of St Anne’s Shandon, so as to arrive at a completely detailed record of this historic church. The project is now entering its completion and we would welcome participation from any of our members for our final recording sessions in St Anne’s. No previous experience is required.” David Ryan.
November 23
Historic Irish Houses – Guided Tours to Riverstown House, Glanmire, Co.Cork &
Glenville House & Gardens, Glenville, Co. Cork
Riverstown House Dining Room. High-relief figurative stucco on both ceiling
and walls by Paolo & Filipo Lafranchini.
Glenville House. Existing buildings commenced in 18th Century
November 12
Paula Murphy, Professor Emeritus, UCD School of Art History and Cultural Policy
‘The Pedestal – occupied and empty – The O’Connell Plinth outside, City Hall in Dublin’
November 7th
Monday, 7th November: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Affordable ‘Off the Wall’ Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
November 1st
Tuesday, 26th April: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish & International Online Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Sponsor/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
October 2022

October 8th
Adrian le Harivel, National Gallery of Ireland: ‘Return of the Marquis, conserving and exploring a luxury portrait’
September 2022
Tuesday, 27th September: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Affordable ‘Off the Wall’ Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
FREE LECTURE September 14th, Cork Central Library
Barrack Square, Victoria (Collins) Barracks, C19th.
Mr Gerry White, Military Historian: ‘The Architecture, Art & History of Collins Barracks, Cork’
Monday, 12th September: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Important Irish Art Online Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Sponsor/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
August 2022
Tuesday, 26th April: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish Art OnlineAuction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Sponsor/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
June 2022
Monday, 20th June: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Important Irish Art Online Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Sunday, 19th June: CorkDFAS at the Crawford Art Gallery for a special viewing of the Port of Cork collection and the Zurich Portrait exhibition at noon. €5 (members go free). Email catherine-callan@hotmail.com or karengallaghers.aol.com to book your place.
May 2022
Monday, 23rd May: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Affordable ‘Off the Wall’ Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Saturday, 21 May Live Event!
Tom Spalding: Guided Tour of Christ the King Church, Turners Cross at 11.30am
We are pleased to open this event to non-members so we would encourage you to invite a friend. (Members will attend for free and a 5 euro fee for non-members.)
Please be advised that if the Church is unexpectedly required on the day, then we will be compelled to postpone our tour to a future date but we will contact you by email to advise of this change.
We look forward to seeing you on May 21st.
Saturday, 14th May CorkDFAS TALK by Laurence Counihan
THOMAS RUFF AND THE PHOTOGRAPHIC REAL

The truth claim of photography can be understood as the generally accepted position that what is depicted in the photographic image is an accurate representation of reality. During the 20th-century many of the most dominant theories of photography aligned themselves with this position, wherein the photograph was uniquely privileged for its ability to represent the real in a mimetic, or indexical, manner. Indeed the functioning of innumerable artistic, documentary, governmental, judicial, scientific, social, and personal fields rely, to varying degrees, on the general acceptance of this claim. However, in our contemporary digitally saturated moment this long held position has never felt more tenuous, as we are acutely aware of the mutability of the photographic image, and how the real which it ostensibly depicts can be quite easily modified, edited, staged, and recontextualised.
This lecture will consider the relationship which the medium has with the real, employing the work of contemporary artist Thomas Ruff as a vehicle for the discussion. Originally trained under the tutelage of Bernd and Hilla Becher at the Düsseldorf Art Academy, Ruff’s work is characterised by a generalised skepticism towards traditional ideas of photographic representation. By focusing principally on the digital aspect of Ruff’s practice, we will analyse how the artist operates to undermine the as-is-given causal connection between photographic imagery and reality, whilst simultaneously proposing an alternative conception of what exactly can be understood to constitute the photographic real.
Each talk at Nano Nagle Place begins at 11:30 a.m. Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. outside the Conference Hall.
Tuesday, 3rd May: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Affordable ‘Off the Wall’ Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
April 2022
Tuesday, 26th April: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish & International Online Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Saturday, 9th April 2022: CorkDFAS TALK by Griffin Murray
KINGS, NORWEGIANS, SNAKES AND THE CHURCH: VIKING ART IN MEDIEVAL MUNSTER

The history and archaeology of the Vikings in Ireland, and in Dublin especially, has received considerable attention in recent decades. Both the positive and negative impacts that the Scandinavians had on this country during the Early Medieval Period have been well rehearsed. However, the creative influence that the Vikings had on art in Ireland is less well known and, certainly, has been less celebrated. This lecture, which is based on new research by Dr Murray, looks at the influence that Scandinavian art had in Ireland outside of Dublin. It looks specifically at Munster, which saw the adoption of Scandinavian art in the decoration of both religious and secular objects in the later 11th and early 12th centuries. This talk reveals the close contacts that existed between Munster and Norway, discusses the role of Munster kings in the promotion of the Scandinavian ‘Urnes style’, and looks in detail at the snakes and fantastic creatures that make up this vigorous international art style.
Each talk at Nano Nagle Place begins at 11:30 a.m. Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. outside the Conference Hall.
March 2022
Monday, 14th March: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Affordable ‘Off the Wall’ Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Saturday, 12th March 2022: CorkDFAS TALK by Danielle O’Donovan
THE BUTLER AFFINITY AND LATE MEDIEVAL TOMB SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE IN ORMOND

The late medieval tomb sculpture of Kilkenny and Tipperary represents a ‘petrification’ of the bonds of family and affinity at the turn of the sixteenth century. This was a time of significant social and political change, and we can read in the tomb sculpture and architecture of the period a desire to ‘carve out’ a place in history for Kilkenny’s leading families. This Talk will bring together art, architectural, social, and political history to bring this wonderful sculpture and architecture to life.
Each Talk at Nano Nagle Place begins at 11:30 a.m. Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. outside the Conference Hall.
February 2022
Saturday, 12th February: CorkDFAS TALK by Jessica O’Donnell
FRANCIS BACON AND THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF JOHN DEAKIN

JANUARY 2022
Monday, 31st January: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Affordable ‘Off the Wall’ Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Monday, 24th January: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Important Irish Art Online Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Saturday 22 January: CorkDFAS Virtual Tour of The Mauritshuis presented by Jane Choy
This event is supported by a generous grant from the Cork City Heritage Fund.
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Monday, 10th January: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Affordable ‘Off the Wall’ Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
DECEMBER 2021
Saturday, 11th December: CorkDFAS TALK by Fiona Kearney,
“FROM BREXIT TO COVID: ART AS A SPACE OF MAKING AND SHARING KNOWLEDGE AT THE GLUCKSMAN”, in partnership with Nano Nagle Place at Nano Nagle Place at 11:30 a.m.
NOVEMBER 2021
Tuesday, 30th October: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Important Irish Art Online Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
OCTOBER 2021
Tuesday, 26th October: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish & International Online Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Saturday, 9th October: CorkDFAS TALK by Jane Choy, “Rubens and Breughel: A Working Friendship” in partnership with Nano Nagle Place at Nano Nagle Place at 11:30 a.m.
SEPTEMBER 2021
CorkDFAS 5th Free Public Talk, “FRANK MURPHY: CORK’S MODERN ARCHITECT”, by Conor English, Architect and lecturer, in partnership with The Central Library, Grand Parade, Cork at 19:00, as an introduction to CorkDFAS at The Central Library, Grand Parade, Cork at 19:00.
Monday, 13th June: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish Art Online Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
AUGUST 2021
Thursday, 19th August:
SIRIUS is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.Topic: ‘The Italian job: Anthony Salvin, John Benson and the Royal Cork Yacht Club’ a talk by Dr. Tom SpaldingSaturday, 14th August: National Heritage Open Day CorkDFAS is hosting a Zoom talk in partnership with Nano Nagle Place, exploring life in an Irish Country House in Nano Nagle’s time and will be given by Dr Patricia McCarthy, author of “Life in the Country House in Georgian Ireland”.
Tuesday, 3rd August: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish Art Online Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
JULY 2021
Monday, 5th July: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Affordable ‘Off the Wall’ Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Thursday, 1st July: Cork County Council appoints inaugural Historian in Residence
Cork County Council have begun the inaugural Historian in Residence programme with the appointment of Tony Harpur, CorkDFAS Treasurer. The new residency, funded by Creative Ireland, will enable history specialists to creatively connect with communities in Cork County through co-created research, discussions, events, activities and virtual gatherings.
The Historian in Residence, in consultation with Library, Arts and Heritage services, will create a research and engagement programme that will account for various aspects of social life, history and heritage in County Cork. The programme will be delivered through online and in-person activities.
JUNE 2021
Monday, 28th June: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish Art Online Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
MAY 2021
Saturday, 29th May: Virtual Tour of Nano Nagle Place at 11:30. Members only
Wednesday, 26 May: Glucksman Gallery 1-2 p.m., Doireann Ní Ghrioghair , Artist participating in the new exhibition, Being and Belonging in Contemporary Ireland. Online talk. Place needs to be booked.
Monday, 24th May: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish Art Online Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Saturday, 22nd May CorkDFAS ZOOM Talk by Bláithín Hurley, “An Indulgence to the Natives?: William Bedell’s Translation of the Old Testament into Irish” in partnership with Nano Nagle Place at 11:30
Saturday, 8th May CorkDFAS ZOOM Talk by Dr Ann Wilson, lecturer in Visual Culture in the Media Communications department, Crawford College of Art and Design, Munster Technological University, Cork, in partnership with Nano Nagle Place at 11:30
APRIL 2021
Monday, 26th April: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish Art Online Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Monday, 19th April: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish & International Online Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Saturday, 10th April: CorkDFAS ZOOM Talk by Bláithín Hurley, Lecturer in History of Art at University College Cork; in partnership with Nano Nagle Place at 11:30.
Richard Arthur Millikin and the Cork Society for Promoting the Fine Arts (1815)
MARCH 2021
Monday, 15th March: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Affordable ‘Off the Wall’ Art Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 110:55 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
Saturday, 13th March: CorkDFAS ZOOM Talk by Matthew Whyte, teacher and researcher in the History of Art Department, UCC; in partnership with Nano Nagle Place at 11:30.
Artemisia Gentileschi: Exploring Gender and Expression in Baroque Rome.
Monday, 8th March: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish Art Online Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
JANUARY 2021
Monday, 25th January: Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish Art Online Auction. Bidding between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. For location and viewing details see Menu, Associate/Corporate Members/Morgan O’Driscoll. View Online Catalogue
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Dr Nicola Gordon-Bowe graced the inauguration of the Cork Decorative & Fine Arts Society at Triskel Christchurch on 17th October 2013 with a brilliantly delivered lecture, “The Arts and Crafts Society of Ireland and the decorative arts during the early 20th century Celtic Revival“.
We were deeply honoured by her presence and contribution, and deeply saddened at her untimely passing.
This Society will always remember her with deep respect, and great affection.
Anthony Wade, Life President
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