29/05/2026
๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฒ, ๐๐๐ (๐๐๐๐ โ ๐๐๐๐)
๐ ๐๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ต ๐๐ค๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ข (1880)
Oil on Canvas
76 x 56cm
Presented by Mr J.P. Connolly, in memory of his brother, J.B. Donnelly, former Town Clerk of the Corporation of Drogheda,
Drogheda Municipal Art Collection, Highlanes Gallery
John Cassidy was born at Littlewood, Slane, Co Meath, Ireland, on 1 January 1860. Prior to leaving Ireland, he worked as an apprentice bar tender at the former White Horse Hotel, West Street, Drogheda. It was during this time, early in his career, that he painted the โStreet Sceneโ. Subsequently, John Cassidy studied in Dublin and Milan before settling in Manchester where he spent the rest of his life. Many of his sculptures are still to be seen in Manchester including in the John Rylands Library.
The โStreet Scene; is set at the junction of Duke Street and West Street and we can see different social classes juxtaposed: the elegantly dressed woman on the right (identified locally as the โLady in Blueโ โ a Miss Plunkett) provides a foil to the woman wearing a plain bonnet, apron and shawl. This latter woman was โKate the Navvyโ, a well-known character in Drogheda whose life ended tragically following a collision with a quarry cart. Her nickname came from the fact that it was believed that her husband was employed as a navvy on the construction of the Boyne Viaduct (1855). Following his death at work on the Boyne Viaduct Kate took his place: hence Kate the Navvy.
The man in the foreground, engrossed in reading a notice, was known locally as โDonegan the Poetโ and was a hedge-school master. The man on the extreme right-hand side of the street is reputed to be Patrick Watters, a postman. The young boy playing the squeezebox and hoping for money from the rich lady is identified in old accounts as โDelaneyโ. Finally, the carriage sweeping down West Street towards the Tholsel is driven by John Whearty, a hotel coach-driver at the White Horse Hotel. The view thus presents a pleasing microcosm that is both social and historical record.
๐๐ฆ๐ช๐ญ๐ชรบ๐ณ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฉ: ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ฐ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐บ, is curated by Highlanes Galleryโs Community Curatorial Panel โ Robin Barnes, Bairbre English, John English, Eithne Hamill, Martin Kieran, Kay McQuaile, Oisรญn ร Maolรกin, Mรกire Uรญ Mhaolรกin, and continues until Sunday 2nd August.
๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ - ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐๐:๐๐๐๐ฆ - ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ & ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ'๐ฌ, ๐๐๐๐ฆ - ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ
The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaรญon Visit Louth Visit Drogheda LoveDrogheda Ireland's Ancient East Discover Boyne Valley Drogheda Leader Drogheda Independent Creative Ireland Louth Louth County Council
