Background
Margaret Crilley was born in Newry, County Down on 1 August 1884, one of six children of Patrick Crilley.
Margaret Crilley was born in Newry, County Down on 1 August 1884, one of six children of Patrick Crilley.
There she studied under William Orpen, who regarded he as one of his most promising students.
Her date of birth is often given as 29 July 1888, though local records do not support this. In 1914, Margaret married her fellow student Harry Clarke, much to the surprise of their family and acquaintances. The couple moved into a flat at 33 North Frederick Street.
They had three children, Michael, David and Annual
Harry"s brother, Walter married Margaret"s sister Mary in 1915. Clarke died in Dublin 31 October 1961, and is buried in the Redford cemetery, Greystones, Company
Wicklow. She is commemorated with a blue plaque at her birthplace in Newry.
Having initially trained at Newry technical school with her sister Mary intending to become a teacher, in 1905 Margaret won a scholarship to attend the Dublin Metropolitan School of Artist She completed her studies in 1911 attaining an Art Teacher"s Certificate, and began working as Orpen"s assistant. A critic noted in 1939 that Clarke produced "remarkable drawings in which individuality is caught in a few swift economical lines." Over her lifetime Clarke won many awards including the Tailteann gold, silver and bronze medals in 1924, and another Tailteann bronze in both 1928 and 1932.
Upon the founding of the Irish Exhibition of Living Art in 1943, Clarke was appointed a member of the executive committee.
