Mountain and lake. Lush vegetation. St. Mary's Cathedral shows it is a people place. Capped by a hugely powerful sky that could promise any weather. That ‘View of Killarney from Aghadoe’ (no. 14) says it all.

‘The Gap of Dunloe’ (no. 3) shows the rugged harshness of Killarney. The strong mid-day sun blinds - hiding rugged rock outcrops. As a result the land is black and in complete contrast the shimmering, infinitely varying waters of the lake are steely silver.

‘Deenagh Lodge & St. Mary’s Cathedral’ (no. 5) are unchanged since they were built in the middle of the 19th century - except the spire on the cathedral which was not added until 1911. The scene is almost swallowed up in tree and shrub. It could happen so quickly.

There is a strength and vibrancy about ‘The Three Sisters‚ Ballyferriter’ (no. 10). The white spume shows water retreating from being battered against volcanically formed headlands. The vivid steely-blue sea. The powerful sky. Benign Clogher beach and it's horseshoe-shaped bay belie treacherous currents. It is a fitting ‘next parish to America’.

‘Latin Quarter‚ Killarney’ (no. 17) gives something of the atmosphere of Killarney's lanes that were such an attractive feature for writers like Richard Hayward and artists Theo Gracey (‘The Kingdom of Kerry’) and Raymond Piper (‘Munster & the City of Cork’). Spogler’s bakery and café is the final touch.

The rich deep blues and browns of ‘Evening‚ Connemara Bogland’ (no. 12) suggest a luxuriance of royalty. The wisp of smoke indicates that tea is being made at the end of the day. The blood‚ sweat and tears to eke out a living here is not obvious.

‘Bluebell Woodland Knockreer’ (no. 6) shows an annual miracle of nature that is unparalleled. In late April and May the ground is covered with acres and acres of the most vividly blue flowers. Any impression that the children are picking the flowers is of course entirely false.

‘Derrynane Beach’ (no. 13) and the rough mountain terrain that surround it was the land of Daniel O’Connell. This was where The Liberator came to be revived from the stresses and strains of the court and later from his amazing political career that changed the course of Irish history.

‘Glebe Lane Killarney c. 1900’ (no. 11) shows a world of coopers and of large numbers of children. A time of thatched roofs and cobblestone lanes. A place that is vibrantly alive. The painting is based on a photograph by Lawrence.

– Frank Lewis