On the Town: The Dancing Lady Hares, a sculpture by Sophie Ryder, was one of Ciarán MacGonigal's favourite pieces at the Solomon Gallery's summer show, which opened in Dublin this week.
"Bíonn siad ag rince go moch ar maidin," said the arts consultant, delighting in the knowledge that hares do indeed dance early in the morning.
The image seemed to take MacGonigal back to the "am iontach" (wonderful time) he had as a child learning Irish in Ring, Co Waterford, in the 1950s. He plans to travel there today with his brother, Muiris, and his nephew, Fiach Mac Conghail, to attend a centenary celebration of the Irish college, Coláiste na Rinne. President Mary McAleese is also due to attend.
Artist Charlie Whisker, who was heading off to the final U2 concert in Croke Park, said his painting in the show, which features a pair of small red shoes, had taken him back to a time when he was pushing his daughter, India, on a swing.
The show of paintings and sculpture includes work by 28 gallery and invited artists. James Hanley RHA, who was just back from Clonakilty, Co Cork, where he was painting with fellow artists as part of a residency funded by the Landmark Trust, has four drawings of Galley Head in the show.
Other memories came flooding back for Kieran Crowley, of Dyno-Rod, when he saw Victor Richardson's painting, The Blackwater Near Lismore. He used to spend his holidays in the area, and said the painting "brings a beautiful, lucent quality to it".
Esme Lewis, from Donnybrook, Dublin, and Maureen O'Rafferty, from Dalkey, Co Dublin, both loved a painting by upcoming Cork artist Rachel Burke.
The Solomon Summer Show is at the Solomon Gallery, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin, until July 13. www.solomongallery.com