Press Release

PAINTING EXHIBITION BY
‘A TRULY INSPIRING IRISHWOMAN’
TO BE HELD AT CENTRE OF MONACO’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS

The Princess Grace Irish Library (under the aegis of the Fondation Princesse Grace) in Monaco is to host an exhibition of watercolours by Irish painter Mary Collins, starting on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th and continuing for one month. It is the latest in a series of events and exhibitions organised by the Library to celebrate and promote exceptional accomplishments by Irish-linked artists in literature and the visual arts.

Mary Collins has been painting since 1990 and has had 11 exhibitions. Despite the considerable handicaps of cerebral palsy and chronic pain, Mary has become a painter of note, she is a poet, and has an MA from Trinity College Dublin. She took up painting “as a way of accessing parts of the world that aren’t so accessible to me or anyone in a wheel-chair”. She lives in Dun Laoghaire and established the online BlueWave Art Gallery. Her achievements to date will be an inspiration to other people with disabilities.

It was because of the paintings exhibited on the BlueWave website, allied to her growing reputation, that that the Princess Grace Irish Library awarded Mary this exhibition. It is her first exhibition outside Ireland.

“It is a wonderful and unexpected opportunity. Princess Grace holds a special place in my heart and I am overjoyed that my watercolours will be seen in such a prestigious setting”, Mary said.

Anne Anderson, Irish Ambassador to Monaco and France, describes Mary as ‘a truly inspiring Irishwoman who has never let her disability hinder her creativity and talent’, adding, ’ I am delighted that her work has been chosen to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2009’.

The Princess Grace Irish Library was opened in 1984 by His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince Rainier III of Monaco, as his tribute to the attachment Princess Grace felt for her Irish origins. It houses a collection of almost 10,000 volumes of Irish works of all periods, including many first and signed editions. It is a very active centre for all things Irish and plays a significant role expanding interest in Irish culture and Irish art.


About Mary:
Mary Collins was diagnosed with cerebral palsy before her first birthday and has been confined to a wheel chair for most of her life. Instead of letting her illness define her life, she adopted as her motto the advice of a friend: ’Turn your disability into an ability’.

After attending the Central Remedial Clinic School in Clontarf, Ballinteer Community School and the National Training College in Sandymount, she went to Trinity College Dublin where she has recently completed her M.Lit Research Masters degree on Irish Cultural Institutions and their impact on Contemporary Ireland.

A true altruist, Mary is involved in many community groups. She was part of the EU EQUAL project, Equality through Ework, sits on the Board of Southside Partnership, is Vice Chair of Accessible Community Transport Southside (ACTS), the Disability Interest Group (DIG) and represents the Community and Voluntary Forum in the Disability Consultative Group (formerly known as the Barcelona Team).

The Blue Wave Arts Gallery is at: http://www.bluewavearts.ie

For full details of the Princess Grace Irish Library and its work for Ireland, see http://www3.monaco.mc/pglib
Contact at library: Judith Gantley, Tel 00 377 9350 1225 / pglib@monaco.mc