'His generosity knew no bounds': Tributes to artist Harrington who ‘captured spirit of Cork’

Tributes have been paid to Cork artist William Harrington, who passed away on Monday at the age of 85, and who was said to have had “the bones of the city at his fingertips”.

A native of Shandon St, Mr Harrington was a scholarship student at the Crawford Municipal School of Art, going on to study at the National College of Art in Dublin. He taught art briefly, before becoming a professional artist.

A popular figure in Cork’s artistic and literary circles, he was a contemporary of sculptor Seamus Murphy, writers Frank O’Connor and Seán Ó Ríordáin, and composer Seán Ó Riada.

Balladeer Jimmy Crowley recalled that Mr Harrington and Katty Barry had been close friends, “well, close on slagging terms anyway”.

Mary McCarthy, director of the Crawford Art Gallery, said Mr Harrington had been a particularly fine artist whose work is represented in the gallery.

“He was a very thoughtful, very perceptive man; he was very intuitive and spiritual; he was quiet and a great observer. You can see that in his drawings — they really are quite spectacular.

“He captured the physical landscape of Cork and the people who lived here; his scenes captured the spirit of people and the spirit of the place very well,” Ms McCarthy added.

Poet Theo Dorgan said Mr Harrington had been to drawing what Mr Murphy had been to stonework. “He was a character and a gifted artist. I don’t think anybody caught Cork in drawing or painting better than Willie did. He had a feeling for the lanes and the streets and the little unexpected turns and corners, and he had the cleanest line of any draftsman ever,” Mr Dorgan added.

“He had the bones of the city at his fingertips, and his great gift in drawing was he knew what to leave out.”

Michelle Carew, arts officer with Cork City Council, said Mr Harrington had left “a lasting legacy in his distinctive drawings that evocatively captured the places and people of Cork city”.

She said: “We are proud to hold a number of these works in the city art collection.

“We offer our deep condolences to his family and wide circle of friends.” She added that Mr Harrington’s illustrations featured in Mr Murphy’s memoir Stone Mad, which has been chosen as Cork City Libraries’ One City One Book this year.

Mr Crowley recalled posing for Mr Harrington for a pen-and-ink sketch for the cover of his 1977 album The Boys of Fair Hill.

“I called up and I said, ‘He’ll never do it,’ because — and I don’t want to say this too loud — Willie could be a bit under the weather sometimes. This morning, the album was due to be released and there was a bit of pressure on but Willie did a beautiful job,” Mr Crowley added.

“Willie was a very kind man, with a great sense of old-fashioned faith, belief, and a man of great talent.

“He captured the skeletal cosmos of the daily tapestry of our lives every day in Cork, with the shawlies and the streets. He captured that in his line drawings, which were amazing and incisive.”

Caitriona Twomey, volunteer co-ordinator with Cork Penny Dinners, said she had known Mr Harrington all her life.

“His generosity knew no bounds, very kind. He had time for everybody. He was mischievous, supremely talented, and he was extremely wise,” she added.

Mr Harrington was predeceased by his late partner Toni.

He will lie in repose at O’Connor Bros Funeral Home, North Gate Bridge, from 5pm to 6pm today.

Requiem Mass will be at 10pm tomorrow in the North Cathedral, with his funeral afterwards to St Joseph’s Cemetery.