AN exhibition and sale of art by the late Hélène Brunicardi, who was a creative and popular art teacher at Killarney Community College for many years, has raised funds, in her memory, for the Kerry Hospice Foundation.
Hélène, who retired from the school in 2003 after a long and distinguished career, passed away in 2018 and her brother, Darragh and his wife Phil, donated many of her art materials to be used by students in Killarney Community College.
They also generously donated a number of paintings to the school’s art department and teacher, Michelle Mahony, opted to utilise the paintings donated to raise money for the charity. The exhibition and sale at the school was attended by teachers, former teachers and students and the total raised to date is €1,630.
Some of Hélène’s work has also gone on permanent display in the reception area of the school, in the staffroom – which was formerly Helene’s art room – and in various rooms around the college. A number of her paintings will also be displayed in church meeting rooms by the Killarney parish.
On this Tuesday, Hélène’s brother Darragh, sister-in-law Phil, Fr Niall Howard, representing the parish, presented a cheque to representatives from the Kerry branch of the Hospice Foundation, Pat Doolan and Angela Curran.
Art teacher Michelle Mahony has thanked all those who made donations and purchased some of Hélène’s artwork and she said she is delighted that the donation was made to such a worthy cause.
Hélène, who passed away last February, taught at Killarney Community College and, prior to that, the former vocational school, in a career in the classroom spanning 35 years.
Born in Dublin, her family moved to Haulbowline, Co Cork where her father and several members of her family were involved in the Navy. They later moved to Fermoy and, after attending the Crawford School of Art, Hélène she came to live and work in Killarney which became her home for almost all of her adult life.
She joined the teaching staff in the old vocational school on New Street in 1969, operating from a very basic art room looking out on to New Street but in 1986 she took great delight from the excellent art department that was part of the new Killarney Community College on New Road.
A wonderfully creative artist, she loved Killarney and adored the national park and woodlands, taking great inspiration from the lakes and mountains, flora and fauna that are such an integral part of the town.
She was particularly noted for her very distinctive blend of landscape paintings, scenery, trees and flowers, most of which were inspired by the natural beauty of Killarney.
From her home in Woodlawn Park, Hélène had a great view of Torc mountain and it afforded her great inspiration. She had a particular fondness for painting the bluebells and wild garlic found in the local woodlands and she never grew tired of working with the magnificent shades of Autumn. Following her retirement in 2004, she also loved to spend time in Clonea in Dungarvan.
Hélène was a very enthusiastic member of Toastmasters, serving as President of the local club, and she seldom missed a meeting or an event.
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