My father came from a beautiful area of southern Ireland called Lauraugh. This tiny town in Ireland is located between the winding roads of the Healy Pass and the Atlantic Ocean on the Beara Peninsula. The Cahal Mountains surround the old boot maker's cottage made of stone where my father grew up with his eight brothers and sisters. Most of the men in the family were cobblers and this trade would eventually be my father's ticket to Australia. He and his brother Sean tossed a coin as to where each would sail off to create a better life. Ireland at the time and particularly this part of the country was in deep recession, a far cry from the tourist gateway it has become today where travelers flock to from all over the world to get away from it all. The town is surrounded by old forests and high mountain peaks.

The valley where the old cottage has stood for more than a hundred years is said to be haunted, which does nothing to discourage visiting hikers and campers. My father was brought up in a traditional Irish way learning a trade which he followed when he arrived in Australia in the 1950s.   Ironically, my current home, Byron Bay reminds of me of Lauraugh, it has a similar timeless quality and a magnificent variety of landscape with an unspoilt coastline framed by mountainous hinterland. I have fallen in love with this town and its wonderful multicultural community and it’s wealth of creativity attracting artists of all disciplines including musicians, writers, poets and actors. The painting 'The Bookmakers Cottage' was painted from memories of my visits to where these men learnt their trade as cobblers. The small room to the right of the house is where they learnt their trade from their father. More Art