Ormston House

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Ormston House is a meeting place for the arts in the heart of Limerick City. For further information: www.ormstonhouse.com

Our programme is co-designed with artists and citizens, resulting in community partnerships, multi-annual projects and cultural events that are responsive to the city and its context. We have developed a participatory model to connect curatorial practice with local knowledge and activism. Ormston House is part of the Irish Network Against Racism and the Public Participation Network. International

connectivity is also key to our work, and we are active members of three European networks: Artists’ Initiatives Meetings, River Cities Platform, and Trans Europe Halles. We are based at 9-10 Patrick Street, where we have a long-term lease from Limerick City & County Council. For further information, you can contact us at [email protected].

04/09/2026

Born in 1950 and raised in Dublin, the artist (then known as Michael Byrne) commenced his studies at NCAD in the late 1960s. Upon leaving NCAD, Byrne assumed the pseudonym Ashur, after a Babylonian sky god.

The visual novelty of Ashur’s paintings and their capacity to capture the eye and imagination were central to his success from the mid-1970s. Many of the acquisitions of Ashur’s work in the 1970s and 1980s were by corporations with large, newly built premises. Organisations such as Telecom Éireann and RTÉ purchased monumental artworks to adorn their headquarters.

When Ashur died in the spring of 2024, his work had not been included in any exhibitions for several decades. ‘Energy Made Visible’ represents the first time any of his artworks have been presented in unison since the 1990s. Included in this exhibition is a monumental shaped canvas entitled ‘Galactic Probe’ (1972) and his ‘Auto-Portrait with Prism’ (1982), originally commissioned for the National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland.

‘Energy Made Visible’ has received a review in The Irish Times written by Gemma Tipton. You can read the review via our Linktree.

Tomorrow is the last chance to see ‘Energy Made Visible’.

Images by Kate Bowe-O'Brien.

Image descriptions:
1. The image depicts a painting, in the centre a crystalline object breaks apart over a grid at the bottom of the painting. In the background a black disk radiates light, on top of a dark blue background.
2. A close up detail of a painting showing a blue-green grid structure, a crystalline object cuts through the grid.
3. A close up detail of a painting showing a multi-coloured crystalline object, a grid can be seen to the right.
4. The image depicts a painting of a blue-green triangular object that is dissected by cuts lengthways, with a circular hollow in its centre. The background is green with light radiating from the centre.
5. The image depicts an angular shaped painting. In the centre a red prism radiates light outwards, two blue prisms are on either side. In the background a galactic scene swirls into the centre. Lines of red, yellow and blue divide up the painting.

02/09/2026

It’s been just over two weeks since we celebrated Ormston House turning 15. Special thanks to Féile na Gréine for partnering with us, and helping us celebrate with an exceptional afternoon of experimental music and performance.

We would like to express our gratitude to the performers Dylan Kerr & Weston Olencki, Linda Buckley, and Neil Ó Lochlainn’s Tlú Lín.

We want to thank everyone who joined us for Féile na Gréine, Limerick's festival of emerging and experimental music. It was our fourth year partnering with the DIY festival. Our partnership is rooted in shared values of celebrating art and community, and provoking moments of joy in spaces and places across Limerick City.

Image credits:
1. Laya Meabhdh Kenny
2-7. Izabela Szczutkowska

Image description:
1. A black and white exterior shot of Ormston House, a crowd lines up in front of the building. A flag reads Féile na Gréine in the centre of the image.
2. A black and white image of Dylan Kerr & Weston Olencki performing in front of a crowd sitting on the ground. Various musical instruments sit on a table that is draped in a dark fabric.
3. A black and white image of Dylan Kerr walking in front of a large painting. They're hair is tied back and they are wearing a sleeveless dark top.
4. A black and white image of Linda Buckley performing in front of a crowd. There is a table with a laptop and microphone in front of Buckley and a large painting in the background.
5. A black and white image of Linda Buckley playing the flute into a microphone. A laptop is in the foreground and a large painting is in the background. She has long dark hair and is wearing a dark long sleeved top.
6. A black and white image of Neil Ó Lochlainn’s Tlú Lín performing in front of a crowd sitting on the floor. Six musicians are playing various instruments, and there is a large painting in the background.
7. A black and white image of three musicians performing on various instruments in front of a large painting.

31/08/2026

Reminder!

Join us this Saturday, 5 September from 4-5pm to mark the closing of ‘Energy Made Visible’ where Jürgen Simpson and Neil O’Connor will respond to this exhibition with a live performance. Admission is free and booking is not necessary.

The celestial and scientific qualities of Michael Ashur’s work resonate with developments in electronic music, particularly the Berlin School of the 1970s. Simpson and O’Connor will explore the timbral and rhythmic qualities of that era, using custom sequencing systems and modular synthesis.

‘Energy Made Visible’ is supported by the University of Limerick, Kildare County Council, and the Estate of Michael Ashur. Ormston House is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Limerick Arts Office.

Image courtesy of Jürgen Simpson and Neil O’Connor.

Image description:
A close up detail of a modular synthesis machine. Showing an array of various colourful buttons, dials and wires.

28/08/2026

Thaís Muniz is an interdisciplinary artist and designer interested in the Afro-diasporic connections, identity, belonging and migration. Muniz uses textiles, storytelling, interactive performances, audio-visuals, workshops and urban interventions to share narratives from an anti-colonial perspective.

For ‘Energy Made Visible’ Muníz’s has produced a series of geometric diagrams forged in iron. Referring to the Yoruba cosmology, and the spiritual systems that stem from it, these sculptures are essentially sacred tools used to communicate with deities.

While outer space has come to be regarded through the lens of science, it was traditionally viewed across all societies as the domain of the divine and referred to as ‘the heavens’. Muníz’s forms echo the hard-edged shapes seen in Michael Ashur’s paintings but also possess a ritualistic function.

The exhibition is open Wednesday to Saturday, 12-6pm, until 5 September, 2026.

‘Energy Made Visible’ is supported by the University of Limerick, Kildare County Council, and the Estate of Michael Ashur. Ormston House is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Limerick Arts Office.

Images by Kate Bowe-O'Brien.

Image descriptions:
1. Two iron sculptures featuring linear shapes sit on a white shelf against an off-white wall. Orixa tools from the collection of the artist made by Gilvan Barreto.
2. A circular iron sculpture, with arrows orientated in a clockwise direction hangs on an off-white wall. Several artworks can be seen in the background.
3. To the left of the image a geometric iron sculpture sits on a white shelf against an off-white wall. An ornate pillar is in the centre of the image, and a large painting is to the right of the image.
4. A close-up detail of a geometric iron sculpture against an off-white wall. The shadow of the sculpture can be seen on the wall.

26/08/2026

Join us on Saturday, 5 September for a special closing event for ‘Energy Made Visible’ from 4-5pm. Admission is free and no ticket is required.

The celestial and scientific qualities of Michael Ashur’s work resonate with developments in electronic music, particularly the Berlin School of the 1970s. Jürgen Simpson and Neil O’Connor will respond to this exhibition with a live performance that explores the timbral and rhythmic qualities of that era, using custom sequencing systems and modular synthesis.

‘Energy Made Visible’ is supported by the University of Limerick, Kildare County Council, and the Estate of Michael Ashur. Ormston House is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Limerick Arts Office.

Image by Neil O’Connor.

Image description:
A black and white image shows two hands operating a modular synthesis machine. It contains many buttons, dials, and wires.

22/08/2026

Two weeks remain to see 'Energy Made Visible' a group exhibition featuring works by Michael Ashur, Ann Maria Healy, Sean Lynch, Thaís Muniz, and Garrett Phelan. We would like to thank everyone who has come to see the exhibition so far.

The exhibition is open Wednesday to Saturday, 12-6pm, until 5 September, 2026.

‘Energy Made Visible’ is supported by the University of Limerick, Kildare County Council, and the Estate of Michael Ashur. Ormston House is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Limerick Arts Office.

Images by Kate Bowe-O'Brien.

Image description:
An installation view of ‘Energy Made Visible’ at Ormston House. Several multi-media artworks are displayed in an off-white room with a grey floor.

19/08/2026

‘Energy Made Visible’ is a group exhibition centred around the paintings of Michael Ashur (1950–2024). For this exhibition Sean Lynch has produced a pamphlet featuring reproductions of material from the Michael Ashur Artist File, found at the National Irish Visual Arts Library (NIVAL), National College of Art and Design, Dublin.

Exhibition invites, catalogue entries and newspaper clippings from the 1980s and early 90s offer glimpses into an Irish art world that has all but vanished. Lynch’s accompanying essay reflects upon how Ashur’s initial success was inextricably intertwined with a modernising Ireland.

An incomplete survey of titles of Ashur paintings is printed across the covers of this pamphlet. The title of Lynch’s pamphlet is an extract from this list: ANDROMEDA NEBULA / ASTEROID BREAKTHROUGH / ASTEROID TIME SEQUENCE / CONTACT / CRAB NEBULA JEWEL / CRAB NEBULA CRYSTAL / CRYSTAL ASTEROID BREAKTHROUGH IN SAGITTARIUS…

The exhibition is open Wednesday to Saturday, 12-6pm, until 5 September, 2026.

‘Energy Made Visible’ is supported by the University of Limerick, Kildare County Council, and the Estate of Michael Ashur. Ormston House is supported by the Arts Council and Limerick Arts Office.

Images by Kate Bowe-O'Brien.

Image descriptions:
1. A pamphlet has a variety of black and white newspaper clippings of the artist Michael Ashur and his paintings.
2. A black and white image of a painting is spread across two pages of a pamphlet, with the signature of Michael Ashur on the bottom right.

16/08/2026

Ormston House is 15!

On 16 August 2011, Ormston House launched its very first exhibition. Since then we have developed and delivered 125 exhibitions and projects, both on and off-site. We have produced over 520 multi-disciplinary events and collaborated with over 500 artists and practitioners.

We thank all staff and volunteers past and present and all of the artists and contributors that have worked with us. Sincere gratitude also goes to all of our partners and funders, and to everyone who has shown support and engaged with our programme over the past 15 years.

To celebrate this special day we are delighted to partner once again with DIY festival Féile na Gréine (). Join us today from 12-3pm for an afternoon of experimental music and performance.

Here is a selection of highlights from the last 15 years of exhibition programming.

Image credits:
1,2,4,5-10. Jed Niezgoda
3. Eamon O'Mahony
6. Deirdre Power

Image descriptions:
1. Exterior view of Ormston House, ‘Blue Dykes’ by Breda Lynch, ‘Feminist Supermarket’, 2020.
2. Installation view of ‘Against The Current’, Ormston House, 2016. A large sculpture of a fish is displayed on a plinth.
3. Installation view of ‘Thick, turgid and lacking in soothing oils’, Ormston House, 2013. A woman and dog look at a colourful multi-media sculpture.
4. Installation view of ‘COMPRESSION’, Ormston House, 2015. A painting is hung on an off-white wall and a black sculpture sits on a plinth.
5. Installation view of ‘The Museum of Mythological Water Beasts’, Ormston House, 2018. Several artworks sit in a blue room.
6. Installation view of ‘Vestiges’, Ormston House, 2016. Several white busts are displayed in a dark room.
7. Installation view of ‘Figures’ by Richard Malone, Ormston House, 2022. Several colourful sculptures sit in a grey room.
8. Installation view of ‘River Residencies’, Ormston House, 2023. A large screen is showing a split-screen video.
9. Installation view of ‘Strange Weather’ by Laura Fitzgerald, Ormston House, 2024. A wire sculpture spells out ‘I AM MAD’.
10. Installation view of ‘Bíodh Orm Anocht’, Ormston House, 2025. Several multi-media sculptures sit in a grey room.

13/08/2026

Ann Maria Healy works with video, sculptural and textual form. Her practice is concerned with reoccurrence, the power of history and narratives embedded within the human psyche.

With their luminous hues, subtly blended effects, and angular compositions, Michael Ashur’s paintings are the natural counterpart to Healy’s animation entitled ‘Gabhlán Gaoithe-Dara Sraith (Swift - Second Series)’. Ashur once described his works as ‘complex dramas, the plots of which vary from cosmic to molecular’ and the same can be said of Healy’s work.

The landscape in Healy’s animation evokes the boundless vistas of Ashur’s paintings but is, in fact, the artist's representation of the mechanics of the human brain. Healy’s depiction of neural pathways energised by thoughts (i.e., electrical and chemical signals) is essentially a demonstration of the ancient aphorism ‘as within, so without; as above, so below’.

The exhibition is open Wednesday to Saturday, 12-6pm, until 5 September, 2026.

‘Energy Made Visible’ is supported by the University of Limerick, Kildare County Council, and the Estate of Michael Ashur. Ormston House is supported by the Arts Council and Limerick Arts Office.

Images by Kate Bowe-O'Brien.

Image descriptions:
1. A large T.V. screen sits on a grey floor, with black speakers on either side. A large window is in the background, to the right. On the T.V. screen an animated grey bird can be seen flying over a blue water like substance.
2. An installation view of 'Energy Made Visible' in Ormston House. To the left is a large painting hung on an off-white wall. To the right is a large T.V. screen positioned in front of a large window.

09/08/2026

‘Energy Made Visible’ is a group exhibition centred around the paintings of Michael Ashur (1950–2024). For this exhibition Garrett Phelan has ‘translated’ a 1988 painting by Ashur into sound. Using image sonification technology, Ashur’s painting entitled ‘Fragment of Orion’ has been converted into a soundscape that was then pressed into a transparent red vinyl record.

This twelve-inch record (entitled ‘Custom Sonification of Fragments of Orion’) is displayed alongside a selection of drawings made by Phelan in 1975, when he was 11 years old. These drawings depict speculative spacecraft and are reminiscent of sci-fi films and comics of that period.

On Tuesday 28 July, Phelan discussed ‘Energy Made Visible’ on Arena, on RTE Radio 1. The programme featured a live broadcast of an excerpt of Phelan’s new record. You can listen back to this broadcast via our Linktree.

The exhibition is open Wednesday to Saturday, 12-6pm, until 5 September, 2026.

'Energy Made Visible' is supported by the University of Limerick, Kildare County Council, and the Estate of Michael Ashur. Ormston House is supported by the Arts Council and Limerick Arts Office.

Images by Kate Bowe-O'Brien.

Image descriptions:
1. A series of multi-media artworks presented in Ormston House. A grey vitrine sits in the foreground of the image. Two artworks hang on an off-white wall in the background.
2. Several artworks are laid out in a vitrine. A red vinyl and seven drawings on lined paper sit on a grey background.

Address

9-10 Patrick Street
Limerick
V94V089

Website

https://linktr.ee/ormstonhouse

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