The Vanquished Writing History Paul Mac Cormaic
Friday 6 March - Saturday 11 April 2026
The Vanquished Writing History is the title of a body of work comprising 13 large-scale portraits. They are
portraits of campaigners, or their advocates, who find themselves marginalised, ostracised, vilified or
disbelieved, and who have told their own story, making a positive contribution to Irish society, usually
through activism or advocacy or through the courts.
The exhibition is touring Ireland, starting in the RHA in February 2025, then March 2026 in the Linenhall in
Castlebar and then The Marketplace Arts Centre in Armagh in January 2027.
'I began painting the series in response to the well-known expression that ‘history is written by the
victorious’. I want to counter this by depicting people who are working against the established views and
writing their own history. Those who normally have portraits painted are usually part of the élite,
politicians, CEOs and archbishops. Simply painting a portrait of an ordinary person is an act of defiance.
The first person to agree to be portrayed was Catherine Corless, the historian who uncovered the tragedy
at the Tuam mother and baby home. That portrait has been purchased by the National Gallery of Ireland
for its permanent collection. Others such as Vicky Phelan, (d. 14-11-22) the women’s health activist who
uncovered the cervical smear scandal, joined the list. My portrait of the refugee rights activist Lucky
Khambule won best portrait in the 2023 RHA. Also included is Annie Murphy, former lover of Bishop
Eamon Casey, Martin Collins, Traveller activist and the three Kavanagh sisters, survivors of child sexual
abuse.
There are also those working on the legacy of The Troubles. I include Paddy Armstrong of the Guilford
Four, wrongly incarcerated for 15 years. Relatives of victims of the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings are
represented by Margaret Urwin, who although not related to any, is the main driver behind Justice for the
Forgotten. Those who turned to violence to achieve their goals are excluded from the series. This
ambitious project began in May 2021 and the final painting is the now posthumous portrait of Sister Stan
(19/June/1939 -3/Nov/2025) was completed in 2026.'
About the Artist
Born in Dublin in 1961, Paul Mac Cormaic grew up in Finglas, a working-class suburb on the north western edge of the city, and he continues to live in the capital. He read History of Art at UCD and then went on to Dún Laoghaire IADT to study Fine Art, graduating in 2006. Since then, he has worked as a professional artist and teacher of art.
Most of his work is social comment, often imbued with a wry sense of humour. Paul notes trends, advertisements, the environment, and human behaviour. He has a wide range of interests for subject matter, food supply, body image awareness, health and wellbeing. He considers his work to be an anthropological Baroque for the twenty first century. Paul’s work takes the form of realist painting, collage and printmaking. In recent years, he has used his skills to render photorealistic portraits of activists whom he admires. This has culminated in his 10th solo exhibition called The Vanquished Writing History that was shown
in the RHA Dublin in 2025 and tours to Castlebar in 2026 and Armagh in 2027.
