The Government Buildings, New Road Killarney, will host Paul Egan’s ‘Kerry Icons’ exhibition from June 26 to September 23.

Paul Egan is a 22-year-old visual artist and designer.
A self-taught artist, he did not pursue the traditional college route, instead adopting his own methods of creating artworks. Paul is best known for his graffiti realism artworks, which he creates by using aerosol spray paint on an array of recycled materials.
Paul is highly motivated to create works that resonate emotionally with viewers, while also focusing on the importance of the individual.
This collection, on display in Killarney, consists of 50 art works in a form of graffiti, realism print.
The work consists of eight stencils of varying intricacies. These were sprayed onto repurposed vinyl records, recovered from various charity organisations throughout Tralee.
Paul has created a near photorealistic portrait of each individual person, his take on some of Kerry’s own ‘record breakers’!
Paul said: “The collection is made up of beloved storytellers such as Peig Sayers, John B. Keane, and Christie Hennessy; sporting icons such as Kieran Donaghy, Mary Jo Curran, and Mick O'Connell; award-winning actors such as Jessie Buckley, Tim Murphy, and Michael Fassbender; and historic changemakers such as Sister Consilio, Daniel O'Connell, and Thomas Ashe, to name but a few of those that make up the culture, history, and makeup of the Kerry that we know and love today.”
Through this collection Paul aims to honour those who have ‘cemented their name in history while also shining a light on some forgotten heroes who have left an irrefutable mark on the world we live in today.
Each personality has been chosen to highlight all aspects of our culture while also showing the current youth how many influential grass roots icons have developed and flourished from their own hometowns.
On a previous viewing of the collection, one viewer enthused that, ‘It is not only a collection of artworks but more a symbol, an embodiment of the Kerry spirit that those outside of Kerry desperately crave!’
“The Department is delighted to host this exhibition’, said Michael Moore, “It is an impressive body of art that shines focus on legacies, stories, and the cultural significance of so many Kerry people that have influenced lives and culture nationally and internationally.”
The exhibition opens on June 27 at 6pm, at the Department Building, New Road, Killarney and is open to everyone to attend.
The exhibition in Killarney is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and Kerry County Council, and is open to the public Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. All are welcome.