There is a word in Irish that cannot be directly translated – Dúchas

It speaks to a deep-rooting, almost instinctive feeling of belonging and connection to our heritage, origin and land that we come from. This collection emerged from an unexpected return to Ireland, shaped by instability elsewhere. In contrast to that disruption, time spent in Ireland offered a sense of stillness and clarity. It became a period of slowing down and reorientation; an opportunity to pay closer attention to the land, the people and the cultural that became felt and appreciated from a new perspective.

Each painting is informed by Irish-language poetry, where the relationship to our roots is expressed with a raw, emotional storytelling. The Gaelic poems are embedded and fragmented within layers of paint. They emerge slowly, and operate as presence – something that is felt emotionally, before it is understood.

While rooted in a distinctly Irish context, Dúchas extends beyond geography. It reflects a universal condition: the enduring pull towards something deeper – a feeling of belonging that persists, regardless of time or distance.