Sligo Town's Model Arts in the old school where Bishops objected to Children's integrated education.

This impressive building in Sligo Town, built in limestone blocks with ornamentation in sandstone, was the Model School when it was opened in 1863. It was designed by architect James H Owen in Italian Romanesque style.

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As we go up to the Gallery space you can see, in the construction of the stairway, the extent of the renovation of this building which took place in the late 1990s. At that point it also became the permanent home for what is known as the Niland Collection, a fascinating collection of Irish art, assembled from donations and as a result of the tireless efforts of the county Librarian Nora Niland. Isn’t it amazing how one individual can make such a difference.

This isn’t a gallery on an international scale, we’re not in Paris, London or even Dublin here. This is a regional centre for the art, but that’s not to downplay the importance of some of the artworks held here – it least in terms of the history of Irish art. But, obviously another important role for the gallery is the exhibition of contemporary works, and at the time of filming the temporary exhibition was focused on the work of English artist Emma Talbot. This film can’t, or doesn’t attempt to do justice to Talbot’s work, but hopefully will give you a good feel for what the Model is all about and what you can expect to find here.

As we enter the permanent collection you'll find works by important 20th Century Irish artists, such as Jack B Yeats (the brother of WB Yeats), Estella Solomons, Louis Le Brocquy (my personal favourite), Mary Swanzy as well as those of more contemporary artists.

This building started life as one of the Model schools of the 19th Century, which were designed to provide an integrated education, where protestant and Catholic pupils could be taught together, having separate religious instruction, however the Catholic Bishops insisted that catholic families boycott the schools, and so they became educational establishments mostly for protestant pupils. What a missed opportunity that was.


The model has subsidised studio spaces and supports 10 artists in Residence each year.

So that’s the Model Arts and Niland Gallery in Sligo Town, I hope you enjoyed the brief tour and maybe you’ll visit it sometime.