Michael Waldron
@michaelwaldron.bsky.social
1K followers 470 following 320 posts
PhD | Curator @crawfordartgallery.bsky.social | Deputy Chair, Sample-Studios | Not the MCU guy | Art, literature, collections, diversity… oh and cats. #TransLivesMatter 🏳️‍⚧️ He/him 🏳️‍🌈🇪🇺🇮🇪
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
Pinching myself to be a very small part of The Routledge Companion to Irish Art, a remarkable new volume that will enrich the field of Irish art history for years to come. Deepest thanks to the brilliant, patient, and supportive editors, Fionna Barber and Fintan Cullen. Maith sibh!
Only one candidate has the linguistic and legal acumen to support their fulfilment of the Presidency: Catherine Connolly.

The other pledged to “squeeze in” some Irish lessons 11 years ago when Minister for the Gaeltacht (2014-17) but didn’t: Heather Humphreys.

www.thejournal.ie/readme/gaeil...
Opinion: If the State is serious about the Irish language, it's reasonable to expect the President to speak it
A sincere commitment to the Irish language is essential for the President, write Professor Laura Cahillane and Dr Seán Ó Conaill.
www.thejournal.ie
One of three paintings I’d consider using for the cover of Elizabeth Bowen’s To the North given half a chance!
'A Window in St John's Wood' (c.1932) by Harold Knight

(Glasgow Museums Resource Centre)
Reposted by Michael Waldron
‘Antonio (died circa 1782), Venetian sailor, robbed at Kinsale’

Etching, National Portrait Gallery, London

www.npg.org.uk/collections/...
Farewell Drew Struzan, designer of movie posters – from The Goonies and Back to the Future to Indiana Jones and Blade Runner – that signified such anticipation and excitement in my childhood… and now.

www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...
Reposted by Michael Waldron
Crawford Art Gallery is delighted to join Creative Bandon for this year’s Bandon Banshee Festival with artist Amanda Coogan!

🗓️ 1 Nov, 2pm: Artist Talk @ Bandon Library (Free, no booking)
🗓️ 2 Nov, 10am–5pm: Free Masterclass @ Bandon Town Hall (Free, email to book: [email protected])

(1/2)
A still from Amanda Coogan’s work The Wren, showing a mysterious figure standing half-hidden amongst trees and flowering brush. The figure is wearing a mask of tights over their head, with holes cut for their eyes, and an elaborate garment with hanging ribbons of many different styles of fabrics.
Reposted by Michael Waldron
#TodayInQueerHistory
October 14 (1994)
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert rides forth, making her theatrical debut in the UK #OTD.
The beloved film is based on the adventures of 3 real life queens, Lady Bump, Strykermyer and Cindy Pastel.
The film won an Oscar for best costume design.
Three drag queens in the Australian outback
Reposted by Michael Waldron
// Catherine Connolly Was There for Artists When It Mattered – Heather Humphreys Was Not // bit.ly/476RdnF

Heather Humphreys is a former Minister for Arts who made a serious funding misjudgement during her tenure; Catherine Connolly’s support for artists offers a contrast, writes Toner Quinn.
Catherine Connolly Was There for Artists When It Mattered – Heather Humphreys Was Not
Heather Humphreys is a former Minister for Arts who made a serious funding misjudgement during her tenure; Catherine Connolly’s support for artists offers a contrast, writes Toner Quinn.
bit.ly
Reposted by Michael Waldron
The second screening of Artists’ Film International 2025 starts tonight at 18:30 at @arccinema.bsky.social, with 6 short films by international artists, including Cork’s own Elinor O'Donovan.
This screening will showcase films from:
India, Italy, USA, Ireland, England & Argentina
#CrawfordArtGallery
A figure with vibrant, cosmic painting on his face and a bright red hair, stands just in front of the camera, looking off to the right with a look of concentration or contemplation; behind the figure is a long set of stairs in a large, temple or fortress-looking building that is a bit worn down and aged looking. The still is from ‘The Fortress’ (2024) by Sin Wai Kin. Three women are on individual, circle raised platforms, spread out in a triangle formation, in a partially-dry river bed that runs through tall sand dunes. The still is from Melisa Zulberti’s ‘Sobre si mismo (About itself)’ (2023). A still taken from Elinor O’Donovan’s ‘Wild Geese 2: Wilder Geese’ (2023), showing a rocky landscape over small hills, leading to a small village on the edge of a vast river, fjord, or lake, with tall, snowy mountains rising out of the banks on the opposite side of the water; a caption at the bottom reads ‘over and over, the world announces our place.’
Reposted by Michael Waldron
Cornelis van Poelenburgh The Arch of Septimus Severus, Rome, 1623 A slightly unusual angle on this monument. (The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles)
Harry Clarke’s ink illustration for Ligeia (“I would call aloud upon her name”) has been @crawfordartgallery.bsky.social since 1924. The collection also features illustrations for The Pit and the Pendulum, The Mystery of Marie Rogêt, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Colloquy of Monos and Una.
#OnThisDay in 1849, Edgar Allan Poe passed away under mysterious circumstances. Of all the artists who gave life to Poe's macabre tales over the years, perhaps none captured them quite so brilliantly as the Irish artist Harry Clarke: publicdomainreview.org/collection/h... #OTD #EdgarAllanPoe
Reposted by Michael Waldron
This new film, produced by @molimuseum.bsky.social features passages read from Oscar Wilde's De Profundis by a host of LGBTQ+ writers, artists and activists.

Presented as part of Oscariana: A Wilde Dublin Festival.

📆 Thu 16th
⏰ 18.30
🎟 https://ifi.ie/film/ifi-moli-oscariana-de-profundis/
Reposted by Michael Waldron
Delightful doodles of some pipe smoking Georgians found by Maddock Fellow Danielle Magnusson on the works of Ben Jonson, printed in 1616 #Readers #Epigrams
Bottom corner of a 17th century book showing drawings Title page of 'Epigrammes' by Ben Jonson, showing doodles at the bottom of the page
Reposted by Michael Waldron
'The Café Royal', Regent Street (1915–16) by Adrian Allinson

(Private collection)
Reposted by Michael Waldron
Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of Manchán Magan president.ie/en/media-lib...
Reposted by Michael Waldron
Manchán Magan 1970 - 2025 💔

Craoltóir, scríbhneoir agus Gael. Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann.

Thar na blianta, chruthaigh sé & chuir sé i láthair an t-uafás cláracha do TnaG & TG4. Tá oidhreacht shaibhir fágtha aige dúinn a thabharfaidh inspioráid don chéad ghlúin eile 🕯️
🔗 www.tg4.ie
Reposted by Michael Waldron
Is briseadh mór croí dom an scéal a chloisteáil faoi bhás Mhanchán Magan ar maidin. Thug sé beocht agus brí nua don teanga trína chuid oibre ag léiriú gur lionsa eile í an Ghaeilge leis an domhan a fheiceáil agus a thuiscint.
Manchán Magan
Reposted by Michael Waldron
Today is #WorldBalletDay, so we’re taking a moment to celebrate this work by Marshall Hutson – a portrait of the celebrated Irish ballet dancer, teacher, and choreographer Joan Denise Moriarty (c.1912-1992). She founded the Cork Ballet Company, Irish Theatre Ballet, and... (1/3)
A pastel on paper painting, showing a woman in an elaborate, headdress and costume, with bright, vivid colours, and fabric cascading from her headpiece onto and across her chest.
Thinking of my late colleague, Margaret Kenneally, and her family today as she takes her final rest.

It’s fitting that after decades of service in the gallery, her funeral was watched over by Séamus Murphy and Harry Clarke Studios artworks. I’ll miss her warm, kind presence.

rip.ie/death-notice...
Reposted by Michael Waldron
Happy #InternationalLaceDay!
Did you know we have 430 lace patterns in our collection? For centuries, lacemaking gave both rural and urban women some economic independence and was an important aspect of society. Which of these historic laces is your favourite? Let us know!

#CrawfordArtGallery
A group of five historic lace objects with intricate motifs; the one on top is a diamond shape with detailed borders, a pattern of small flowers, and then a large flower in the center; the one below is a delicate, small butterfly with dots on its wings and even little antennae on its head; next is a small circle with scalloped edging and a star in the centre; below that is a lace collar with a pattern of three-leafed plants, and then star-shapped flowers below that, with large scalloping on the borders of the collar; last is a square piece with geometric patterns – circles surrounded by square borders, repeating, and the middle of the piece is divided into four quadrants with geometric flowers in the center of each. All are from the 1600s. A rectangle of lace/crochet sample, that would have been used as a border; the pattern very earthy, with large leaves, trims, and woven, interconnecting vines; the border of the piece is irregular, shaped only by the leaves and flowers themselves, rather than having a strict or controlled boundary that the pattern then sits within. The piece dates from around 1900. A delicate lace cap from the 1700s, made by needlepoint and featuring patterns of vines, different types of flowers, and leaves. A rectangle of lace sample, dating from around 1640-1650, with intricate, elegant patterns in swooping motions that are reminiscent of fluer de lis. The work is bolder and with thicker lines than is often scene on lace, but still delicate; the sample was made via needlepoint and would have been part of the trim on the front of a lady’s dress.
10 Years On: Reflecting on Art & Marriage Equality

Comhghairdeas mór to all of the speakers and organisers (Kate Drinane, Seán Kissane) on a brilliant day of reflections and perspectives. Tuning in online was a privilege, but oh to have been in the room!

Le grá 🏳️‍🌈💜🏳️‍⚧️

@nationalgalleryirl.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Waldron
You know those photos from messy nights out that look like art?
Here's an art that looks like a messy night out! 😁👍🏛️🍑 #MuseumBums

The Drunken Faun, 1826, by John Hogan, from @crawfordartgallery.bsky.social 😁
A fallen Faun, pushing themself back up with one hand. Their panpipes and amphora have scattered in the drunken chaos
Reposted by Michael Waldron
‘Could the citizens’ assembly help the National Gallery navigate certain confrontations and gain a clearer sense of what the public expects of it?’ Conrad Landin asks whether museums can really give power to the people and what that might look like
Can museums really give power to the people?
The National Gallery is the latest UK arts institution to announce a citizens’ assembly. Conrad Landin wonders what’s really involved
buff.ly
Reposted by Michael Waldron
🌊⚓ On #WorldMaritimeDay 2025, we're reflecting on the sea's influence on culture and creativity. Ocean scenes are often striking, showcasing an artist’s skills with reflections and light refraction. Which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments!

#CrawfordArtGallery
An oil on canvas painting showing a bright blue sky with thin bands of clouds, and a calm harbour scene with rolling hills in the background and rocky shores in the foreground. A small boat, holding a group of 10 passengers of all ages, is landing on the rocky shore. Two men are already off the boat, one of which is reaching back to help a woman out of the boat. The group looks dressed for a fun day out, and a dog stands at the bow of the boat, looking off towards the water. In calm water behind them, several ships can be seen and two groups of fishermen haul in nets with their catches. An oil on canvas painting in soft colours, showing five sailboats of various sizes, one with a small tenderboat dingy trailing behind it by rope, all at anchor on calm water with only a small waves dotted across the water. The reflections of the boats ripple gently on the surface of the water. In the foreground is a small bit of white sand, with stones, rocks, and grass overlooking the water’s edge. An oil on canvas painting depicting a hazy day at the shore; the sky is mostly full of clouds, with bits of blue breaking through, and the grey edge of the sky almost blends in with the horizon of the sea. Sunlight breaks though part of the clouds to shine brightly on the ocean below, and to the right of the painting a rocky seashore is depicted, dotted with bits of seaweed. A group of five figures is walking along the rocky beach, with the women in hats, and one figure is off on their own closer to the water. To the right of the group white cliffs rise sharply from the stony beach. A dramatic watercolour depicting the wreck of the S.S. Ibis at Ballycroneen Bay off the East Cork coast; the sea is tumultuous, full of large waves and sea spray, with rocky shores and cliffs in the background. The Ibis has been turned by the waves and is being hit fully on the side of the ship by a large wave, and the boat is in the process of being knocked over while sailors cling to the rigging. A lifeboat is moving towards the Ibis in hopes of rescuing the sailors before it is overturned. In the background, other ships push through the water. The sky is moody, with dark, dramatic clouds around the periphery, and in the middle the sun has managed to break through the clouds to lighten them and shine on the Ibis, highlighting its peril. In the foreground, the waves crash against rocks that are littered with debris and other flotsam, suggesting the Ibis is not the first ship to fall, or that cargo from the ship has already been washed overboard and dashed against the rocks.