Paul Healy
The late Mick McCormack’s evocative, eye-catching and lovingly created photography is being celebrated. An exhibition of up to 300 of Mick’s photographs is being staged all this week in the beautiful Ballaghaderreen branch library.
For some time prior to his unexpected and greatly lamented passing, Mick had been working with Patsy McGarry on putting together an exhibition of his favourite photographs. The plan was to stage the exhibition with Mick’s input (and presence). Sadly, that was not to me.
However, three years on from Mick’s death, the Ballaghaderreen Festival Committee, working closely with the McCormack family, have now brought the original concept to fruition.
The ‘MixPix’ exhibition was officially opened on Tuesday of this week and is running every day up to and including this Saturday, August 8th. The exhibition is being staged as part of the annual Ballaghaderreen Arts Exhibition, running up to and including Sunday, August 9th (see www.BallaghaderreenArtsFestival.com for more).
As a photographer, Mick was prolific. The photos in the exhibition are a mere snapshot of life in County Roscommon over the past 30 or so years. They are a fascinating social record, ranging from wonderful profiles of Ballaghaderreen characters to coverage of news events, sporting occasions and indeed everyday life captured ‘in the moment’.
Mick had a great eye for a photo. From the humorous to the often deeply moving, he brilliantly captured his people and his county for posterity.
As a man and a character – he was a raconteur par excellence – Mick was a one-off. Uproariously funny, he was also deeply generous, thoughtful, and fiercely loyal.
They say a photograph is worth a thousand words. With that in mind, one could say that Mick’s voice can almost be heard through this exhibition. This is life in our community as seen through his eyes and his lens. These photographs remind us of how he loved life, people, and place.
Mick wasn’t with us in the conventional sense on Tuesday, but I’m sure he was with us in spirit. His work lives on, as does his memory. If you get a chance to call into Ballaghaderreen Library to view this celebration of his work, I think it will brighten your day.
Photos from the opening of the MixPix photography exhibition in Ballaghaderreen Library last Tuesday.
Around 300 photos taken by the late Mick McCormack feature. The exhibition continues each day until close of business this Saturday. Photos: Eithne Gallagher
