Nici Le Gear Echoes in Stone exhibition to be unveiled at St Mary’s Cathedral

Members of the public are invited to a special unveiling reception of Nici Le Gear’s ‘Echoes in Stone’ exhibition at St Mary’s Cathedral.

Nici Le Gear to unveil ‘Echoes in Stone’ exhibition as part of Saint Mary’s Cathedral’s inaugural Artist in Residence programme on December 1

Members of the public are invited to a special unveiling reception of Nici Le Gear‘s ‘Echoes in Stone’ exhibition at St Mary’s Cathedral.

The Limerick artist will unveil three original oil paintings created during Saint Mary’s Cathedral‘s inaugural Artist in Residence programme, with the special ceremony giving the public a unique opportunity to see the new works at a complimentary wine and cheese reception.

Guests will be among the first to see how artist Nici Le Gear has reimagined the Cathedral’s 850+ years of history through contemporary eyes, exploring how this ancient building holds memory and community life.

advertisement
advertisement

advertisement
advertisement

advertisement
advertisement

advertisement
advertisement

The evening provides a chance to hear directly from the artist about her creative process while experiencing a significant moment in Limerick’s cultural calendar—a celebration of heritage, contemporary art, and community connection in one of Ireland’s most historic settings.

The Echoes in Stone, unveiling reception takes place at 6 pm on Monday, December 1 at Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, those interestedi n attended are asked to RSVP by November 28 by email to [email protected].

Organiser and artist, Nici Le Gear, researched the Cathedral’s architectural evolution, community stories, and the memories of parishioners and visitors who have experienced this sacred space over decades.

Through conversations with Cathedral staff, community members, and her own immersive observations of the building’s changing light, weekly rhythms, and the way people move through and interact with the space, Le Gear discovered that the Cathedral functions as a living archive—holding not just historical events, but the accumulated presence of countless individuals who have sought solace, celebration, and connection within its walls.

She believes that places like Saint Mary’s Cathedral don’t just witness history; they absorb and hold human experience in ways that can be felt but not always articulated, and that contemporary art has a unique power to make these invisible layers of memory visible and accessible to new generations.

Le Gear said, “When I began this residency, my challenge was how to paint a building that means so many different things to so many people. I didn’t want to create just architectural studies – I wanted to capture what it feels like to stand in a space that has held 850 years of human experience.

“I’ve watched light move across 850-year-old stones, listened to stories from people who were married here, baptised here, who found comfort here in their darkest moments. These paintings aren’t just about architecture or history—they’re about how a building can hold the echoes of everyday life, every celebration, every quiet moment of reflection that has happened within these walls.

“I wanted to create work that honours both the ancient foundations and the living, breathing community that continues to give this place meaning. Art has this remarkable ability to bridge time, to help us feel the weight of centuries while also recognising ourselves in the present moment. That’s what ‘Echoes in Stone’ is really about—showing that we’re all part of this ongoing story, adding our own layer to something much larger than ourselves.”  

Echoes in Stone: Unveiling Reception, is to help people see and feel their own connection to place, history, and community—to recognise that we are all part of the ongoing story of the spaces we inhabit, and that art can make visible the invisible threads that bind us to each other and to the places that hold our collective memory. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP to [email protected] by Nov 28th