Kilkenny artist primed for upcoming Alternative Kilkenny Arts exhibition

“I see beauty in all forms.”

The artistic eye of city-based artist Daithí Holohan is sharper than ever, forged by decades of lived experience.

One of Kilkenny’s most enigmatic creatives, Daithí is delighted to have been selected to exhibit his work as part of the Alternative Kilkenny Arts Festival later this summer.

A one-night exhibition is planned for August 7 at St Canice’s Neighbourhood Hall, and all are warmly invited to attend.

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The exhibition will chart his personal and artistic journey, featuring an array of original pieces alongside new work.

“It will showcase a broad spectrum of my work,” Daithí told Kilkenny Live.

A familiar presence on Kilkenny’s streets, Daithí is hard to miss in his trademark flat cap, often accompanied by his beloved dog, Bród.

A working-class city kid, he came not from privilege, but from scarcity. Yet from a young age, Daithí knew he had an eye for creativity.

As a teenager, he became an apprentice goldsmith under Rudolf Heltzel. After a year, he left to spend time on the Aran Islands, learning Irish.

When he returned to Kilkenny, he transferred from the CBS to Kilkenny Vocational School, where he quickly took to subjects like technical drawing and metalwork.

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

His impressive portfolio earned him a scholarship to study Fine Art at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD).

As part of his degree, Daithí spent time on exchange in Minneapolis, immersing himself in bohemian youth culture.
He has overcome many challenges throughout his life.

Prolonged stints in mental health institutions, during a time when such struggles were heavily stigmatised, would have broken many. But Daithí endured.

In fact, some of Daithí’s most striking art was created in times of suffering.

These moments brought with them intense perceptual clarity that have grounded him in reality throughout his storied career in art.

Mark your calendars: St Canice’s Neighbourhood Hall, August 7, 2025 - 7pm.

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