Description

Achill Remembers Marie Howet (1897–1984): Acclaimed Belgian Impressionist Painter is a beautifully illustrated tribute to the celebrated Belgian artist Marie Howet and her enduring bond with Achill Island, County Mayo. Written by local historian Mary J. Murphy, this full-colour monograph traces Howet’s artistic journey from Belgium to Ireland, documenting how a visit to Achill in 1929 sparked a lifelong love affair with the island that continued for more than five decades.

Drawing on original research conducted in both Ireland and Belgium, Murphy explores Howet’s life, artistic achievements, and close friendships with the people of Achill, particularly the Burke family of Dooagh. The book features previously unpublished photographs, rare archival material, and stunning reproductions of paintings inspired by Achill’s dramatic landscapes, coastal scenery, and island life. It also recounts Murphy’s own research journey, including visits to Belgium where she uncovered new information about the artist, her family, and works that had never before been associated with Achill.

Alongside celebrating Howet’s international artistic reputation—including her success as the first female winner of Belgium’s prestigious Prix de Rome—the book highlights the profound influence Achill had on her work and the lasting legacy she left on the island’s cultural heritage. Both an engaging biography and a valuable work of local history, this beautifully produced volume will appeal to art lovers, historians, collectors, and anyone interested in Achill Island, Irish heritage, or the life of one of Europe’s most accomplished twentieth-century painters.