Caricatures Ireland by Allan Cavanagh

Countess Markievicz shooting Kildare Street and University Club Window

February 25, 2022January 31, 2022 by Allan

Kildare Street and University Club Countess Markievicz shooting Easter Rising

In 2020 I was commissioned by Kildare Street and University Club to illustrate an event in Stephen’s Green during the 1916 Easter Rising. Countess Constance Markievicz shot out one of the Club’s windows and the bullet embedded in one of the books on the bookshelf. The illustration would be a backdrop to the display of … Read more

Sofya Kovalevskaya, Sophie Germain, Emmy Noether Portraits

March 25, 2021 by Allan

As I said previously I’ve had some really interesting commissions in 2021, including this one of 3 pivotal female mathematicians. It was commissioned for use in presentations on mathematics and features the mathematical titans of Sofya Kovalevskaya, Sophie Germain, and Emmy Noether. My client explained they’re not given enough prominence in the field of mathematics, and that Emmy Noether in particular “did Einstein’s homework for him”! It was one of the first pieces I completed digitally since investing in that bit of tech, it was interesting unlocking the painterly potential of it (albeit in black and white!)

Traditional Saint Patrick’s Day Badges

March 15, 2021 by Allan

Another piece I did for the Galway City Museum for this year’s online St. Patrick’s Day in Galway. These are traditional Saint Patrick’s Day crosses that Irish children used to make themselves in the run up to Saint Patrick’s Day. These illustrations are based on a couple of badges that are in the collection of the National Museum of Ireland. Over on the Galway City Museum’s website there are instructions on how to make your own traditional St. Patrick’s Day crosses!
These illustrations also appeared in Galway City Council’s special pull-out St. Patrick’s Day supplement in the current issue of the Galway Advertiser. You can also find Galway City Museum’s colouring in page of Saint Patrick banishing the snake and the Galway Cartoon Festival’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade colouring in/activity page, both drawn by me. No parades this year so get the kids to make their own!