A COLLABORATION of stunning illustrations to celebrate the history of well-known Irish surnames is on display at Dublin Airport.
This unique exhibition, at the South Gates boarding area, is called ‘All in a Name’. It showcases seven real-life people and describes some of the history associated with their popular surnames dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries.
The myths and legends linked to the O’Donnell’s of Donegal, the Byrne’s of Dublin, the O’Carroll’s in Tipperary, the Kelly’s in Galway, the McCarthy’s in Kerry, Burke’s of Mayo and Murphy’s in Wexford are presented on these beautiful canvases.
Dublin Airport managing director Vincent Harrison said the airport provides the first welcome and last goodbye to the island of Ireland for tens of millions of people every year.
“It is estimated that up to 80 million people around the world have Irish surnames,” he said.
“However, the myths and legends associated with them are not known.
“This exhibition provides passengers with a unique opportunity to experience another dimension to our rich history and create a lasting impression of Ireland for departing passengers.”
‘All in a Name’ is one of seven installations throughout both terminals which form part of Dublin Airport’s Sense of Place Visual Environment Project. The project present passengers with a sense of Ireland’s culture and history throughout the airport.
The exhibition concept and art direction was collaborated by Brighter than the Sun, Image Now and Dublin Airport.
Participants were photographed by Trevor Hart while historians Fiona Fitzsimons and Paul McCotter-Eneclann compiled the surname history narrative. Other installations in the ‘Sense of Place’ series include Vibrant Irish Light, an eye-catching spectrum of rainbow colours located on the passenger journey between Terminals 1 and 2; the ‘Irish Wildlife’ exhibit in the bus