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Irish Sculptor, JAMES McKENNA (1933 - 2000)
Couple at Ballyrahan Cross, 1798
bronze, 1969
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Arising out of this, he was awarded a Macaulay Scholarship to Italy. During the 1960's he continued to exhibit with the Independent Artists. Besides exhibiting annually at the GM Hopkins Summer School since its inception in 1987. James's sculpture was included in Exhibitions in Kilmainham Jail. His Warriors of Banba created a sensation exhibited in Dublin Castle Upper Yard in September 1999.
McKenna's "Famine Family" was first exhibited at Hopkins XI (July 1998) and stunned our visitors. It is eight feet high, made of 4000 years old black oak and has now been installed in the grounds of Athy Hospital - itself a refuge for famine victims of the 1840s.
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Coic CondliFir, Easter 1916, bronze, 1966 |
James McKenna, Dramatist
In the late '60s and '70s, James McKenna campaigned vigourously, with his colleagues for a democratisation of the Arts Council. Some of his work appeared in Project Arts Centre shows. With his Rising Ground Dram
The 5 Lamps,
bronze, 54 x 64, 1966 |
The SCATTERIN'
'the world's first rock musical'
McKenna's featured stylised acting, dancing and the use of masks. In 1959, he wrote his first play 'The Scatterin,' which was the hit of the Dublin Theatre Festival in 1960. The Scatterin later transferred to London. It was hailed as a classic of its kind and has been performed regularly ever since. This is how John Ryan assessed this play in 1975 (Remembering how we Stood - 'a musical play whihwas to be a theatrical landmark, and, aruably, the world's first rock musical.'
When McKenna presented his The Wreck of the Deutschland' a the Summer School (1998). The production, as so often with James, could only be described as epic.
The outdoor stage itself, built in the School Garden from dozens of old railway sleepers was majestic enough for a grand opera: his fine script; the faltering actors; James at the helm of the ship, turning the wheel. Then, dissatisfied, calling on all the actors to do it again: something at stake. One of the planks crushed the top of his thumb; he swore and sucked and just went on . . .
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A female form, detail from the Hopkins Monument,1990 |
A very large complex of arches with figures in Limestone, for the N.I.H.E. College of Technology, Limerick (1978); Fergus and the Brazen Cars, or Ghost Riders in the Sky" (1989) Hazelwood Forest sculpture park, Sligo; A sculpture of St. Martin de Porres in the Dominican Church, Claddagh, Galway city; A figure,i>St. Brigid, which he was asked to complete, Kildare Town; The Hopkins Monument Monasterevin, Co. Kildare and Oisin Caught in a Time Warp, a giant horse and rider exhibited to mark Ireland's first Presidency of the E. U.
In September '99, KcKenna exhibited his awesome The Warriors of Banbaat Dublin Castle (see here).,
Described as one of the major Irish artists of this century, his work was recently exhibited in Artists Century at The Royal Hibernian Academy and Ormeau Baths Gallery and also exhibited at Hopkins 2000.
James McKenna, 1999 |
What they said about McKenna, Dramatist
One of Europe's finest stone sculptors
- The Sunday Tribune
One of the half dozen best sculptors in the world
- Michael Kane, Sculptor.
The finest stone sculptor in Ireland
- Brian Fallon, The Irish Times;
There is no more gifted, vital or important artist in Ireland today.
- Desmond Egan, Poet.
More Press comment on James McKenna here |
Self-portrait, 1999 (National Portrait Gallery of Ireland) |
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
Read the GM Hopkins Society Farewell to James
James McKenna's artististic achievement evaluated
The Gerard Manley Hopkins web site
Search the Gerard Manley Hopkins Archive
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