Artist Davy Holohan preparing for summer exhibition in Kilkenny

Well-known local artist Davy Holohan (Daithí Ó hUallacháin) is putting the final touches together ahead of a new solo art exhibition planned for August.

In many ways, Davy’s art is an extension of the man himself - reflective, often vulnerable, but always real.

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When you stand in front of Daithí, you know you’re standing in front of a man with stories to tell. He’s a walking tapestry of tales. As real as it gets.

Born into a Catholic and Republican working class family in Kilkenny City in the 1950s, Davy grew up with an eye for creativity.

In his early teenage years he was taken on as an apprentice goldsmith by Rudolf Heltzel. After a year, he packed his bags and headed to the Aran Islands to learn Irish.

Davy switched schools from the CBS to Kilkenny Vocational School when he arrived back in Kilkenny and immediately took to subjects such as technical drawing and metalwork.

“It turned out to be a great decision,” he recalls. “I was able to put together a really diverse portfolio of art from the subjects I did in school and the drawing I did at home.”

His portfolio was so impressive that it bagged him a scholarship and he went on to study Fine Art in the National College of Art and Design (NCAD).

As part of his degree, Davy went on an exchange to Minneapolis, and dug his heels into bohemian youth culture.

A mental health crisis later totally changed Davy’s life and work, with ensuing admissions, voluntary and involuntary to psychiatric hospitals.

These experiences in institutions would shape a great core of Davy’s work throughout life.

Thankfully, his stints getting treatment did not stop him from exhibiting his work when he was back on the outside.

The birth of his daughter Shauna in 1994 further helped to ground him and gave him a renewed sense of purpose.

Davy is now seeking to exhibit all the eras of his work as part of a grand retrospective on himself, whilst showcasing some of his new work too.

Davy will be exhibiting at St Canice’s Neighbourhood Hall, Butts Green, from August 10 - 20. The launch will be on August 10 at 7.30pm. All are welcome!