The F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio in Northern Ireland has opened "100 Years of British and Irish Art: A Fermanagh Collection," a landmark exhibition showcasing the private art collection of the Earl and Countess of Belmore. Curated by William Laffan and Riann Coulter, the show spans five decades of collecting and features works by Irish painters such as Paul Henry, Norah McGuinness, and Basil Blackshaw, alongside British modernists like David Bomberg and Ceri Richards, as well as contemporary artists including Brian Ballard and Philip Flanagan. The exhibition runs until January 31, 2026, with free admission.
This exhibition matters because it offers the first public viewing of one of Northern Ireland's most distinguished private collections, rooted in the historic Castle Coole estate. By highlighting the Belmores' personal friendships with artists and their discerning eye for quality, the show underscores the role of private collectors in preserving and sharing regional artistic heritage. It also brings attention to the F.E. McWilliam Gallery as a cultural hub in Fermanagh, making significant art accessible to a wider audience.