Sean Kelly, President of the GAA, will open Paul Downey's exhibition ‘Power & Glory’, at the Frank Lewis Gallery Killarney on Tuesday, September 7th. The exhibition runs until October 2nd.

Over the years Downey has gained a considerable reputation for his ability to freeze power and speed in his paintings of hurling, horse racing, football, rugby and of the landscape.

‘Two Cool Cats’ captures something of the heat and skill that Kilkenny and Cork will show in the All-Ireland Hurling Final on September 12. At the time of writing Downey was working on a Kerry/Mayo celebration for the 2004 All Ireland Football Final.

Normally Downey does not identify players but in ‘Two Cool Cats’ we have Henry Shefflin and D.J. Carey, “I have left the identity of the Cork players to people’s imagination”.

Hurling aficionados might experience a double take at one painting. Grabbing the ball high in the air is Waterford goalkeeper Ned Power, underneath Christy Ring is one of his players in the schemozzle.

Hells Kitchen - the alternative view
“This is based on a famous photograph by Louis MacMonagle of the Cork/Waterford 1962 Munster semi-final which was called ‘Hell’s Kitchen’, I put my imagination to work and tried to visualise what the scene was like from the other side.” Downey turned the picture around. Hence the title ‘Hell’s Kitchen – an alternative view’.

This is one of three paintings featuring Downey’s native Waterford. Others include this year’s Munster Hurling Championship with Tipperary (‘Danger Zone’) and a painting with John Mullane featuring prominently against Cork in the Munster Final.

His adopted Kerry is also included in ‘Flushing the Jacks’ and ‘Holding Out’ - the semi final battle with Westmeath that might have been. Downey’s hurling and football paintings hang in Croke Park and have been used in All-Ireland programmes.

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