Liam O’Neill

Liam O’Neill is among Ireland’s foremost contemporary artists. Born on Corcha Dhuibhne, West Kerry, Ireland, in 1954, he left aged 17 to pursue a teaching career, but returned there in 2002 to pursue his passion for painting. During his time in Dublin he developed his own personal style painting street scenes and Smithfield horse market with its many characters. His paintings wonderfully depict the west coast, it’s harbours, musicians, horse fairs, fishermen and famous figures he meets every day there.
With both palette knife and brush he paints in oils to gain true understanding of the scene or person before him. Liam is a self-taught painter. Inspiration for his work stems from his beloved Dingle, its people and the daily happenings and events therein.
When Liam paints scenes of Kerry his own relationship with the landscape appears time and time again in the rhythmic brush strokes and play on colours. His home provides him with endless
inspiration and reasoning to paint his surrounds. O’Neill describes his response to his home when he
says ‘‘I paint that which makes this area unique, the special views: Brandon, the Blaskets, and The
Three Sisters. They are the backbone of the place, from which it takes its structure. They are
powerful symbols. And then there are the fields, the walls, the people and the animals”.

Painting for over 30 years he has developed his own unique style that stems from his use of the bold, strong colours applied in swathes to the canvas with his palette knife. He has shown at the R.H.A., Oireachtas and the National portrait exhibition. His work is also held in many public and private collections in Ireland and internationally.

Private Collections and Commissions

The Lord Mayor of Dublin
Ballydoyle Stables
Coolmore Stud
Kerry Group Plc.
Denis Brosnan, Chairman Horse Racing Ireland
Croom House Stud
Jean Kennedy Smyth, US Ambassador
Robert De Niro
Charles J. Haughey
The Central Bank of Ireland
E.S.B. Head Office

Selected Exhibits:

Guest artist with Draíocht Art Gallery, Adare Co. Limerick since 2020

Art Currently Available at Draíocht