04/11/2026
An exhibition by Gary Dempsey Gary Dempsey exploring Irish folklore, seasonal traditions and the boundary between this world and the otherworld.
Opening Thursday 5 November 2026, from 6pm, at the People’s Museum of Limerick. The opening
evening will feature storytelling by Balor Otherworld .
As the nights draw in and Ireland enters the dark half of the year, artist Gary Dempsey explores the
folklore, traditions and community practices surrounding Samhain in a new exhibition at the People’s Museum of Limerick.
Drawing on his background in printmaking, Dempsey creates striking images through strong contrasts
of light and darkness, deep shadows, a restrained palette and minimal detail.
The work evokes Samhain as a thin time, when the boundary between our world and the otherworld is thought to become less distinct. Figures hover between the familiar and the supernatural, leaving room for ambiguity and mystery rather than illustrating specific myths or depicting a catalogue of otherworldly beings.
Alongside these shadowy scenes, the exhibition explores the contemporary experience of Halloween
in Ireland. Trick-or-treating, communal bonfires and the preparations surrounding them connect
present-day celebrations with older seasonal traditions.
In Dempsey’s home town of Shannon,
children collect wood and discarded pallets in shopping trolleys, while old armchairs appear in fields awaiting the bonfire. These familiar sights reveal how traditions continue to evolve through
community participation.
While Samhain has ancient roots, Halloween has helped keep its imagery and traditions alive in the
public imagination, carrying elements of the celebration far beyond Ireland. The exhibition explores this connection between past and present, at a time of renewed interest in Irish folklore, mythology and cultural heritage.
The exhibition opens at 6pm on Thursday 5 November, with storytelling by Balor Otherworld on the opening night, and continues for two weeks.
This event is free for the public to attend.
