Submerged: Cill Stuifín - Art Exhibition by Marie Connole

Clare Arts Office in conjunction with Cultúrlann Sweeney Library Gallery is delighted to present “Submerged: Cill Stuifín”, a striking new body of work by Marie Connole.

Inspired by the legend of Cill Stuifín—a mythical village said to sink beneath the Atlantic waves and reappear every seven years—this series blends folklore, memory, and ecology in a deeply resonant visual meditation.

In a departure from her earlier, research-driven watercolours, Connole embraces the boldness of acrylics to explore what lies beneath the visible world. Her large-scale canvases evoke the shifting moods of the Atlantic coast, populated by seaweed, submerged ruins, lost keys, and mythic forms. The series further develops archetypal motifs through drawings and watercolours, grounding the work in familiar local landmarks from Loop Head to the Cliffs of Moher.

At its heart, Submerged: Cill Stuifín is a reflection on ecological and emotional resilience. Through the lens of myth, Connole addresses contemporary themes—coastal erosion, cultural heritage, and our changing relationship with the natural world. Drawing from Ireland’s rich storytelling tradition, she invites viewers to reflect on what endures beneath the surface.

This exhibition reimagines folklore as both warning and compass—a call to remember, reconnect, and endure.