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 including David Bomberg and Ceri Richards. The collection, rooted in the historic Castle Coole estate, was shaped by the Belmores' friendships with artists, particularly Enniskillen-born T.P. Flanagan. The exhibition runs until January 31, 2026, with free admission.
This exhibition matters because it offers a rare public glimpse into one of Northern Ireland's most distinguished private art collections, many pieces of which have never been shown before. By highlighting the role of passionate collectors and their personal connections to artists, the show underscores how private patronage can preserve and celebrate regional artistic heritage. It also brings attention to the F.E. McWilliam Gallery as a cultural hub in County Fermanagh, reinforcing the importance of local institutions in making significant art accessible to wider audiences.