An engaging and provocative new exhibition with architect Valerie Mulvin on the tradition and future of the Irish Town.

The Reason of Towns is a new, engaging and ambitious exhibition of the work of one of Ireland’s most renowned architects, Valerie Mulvin. Curated, commissioned and produced by the Irish Architecture Foundation and hosted in partnership with local arts and cultural organisations and venues, this exhibition is intended to become a public occasion for the telling and retelling of true stories, lost traditions and possible futures for Irish towns and the people who live in them.

Organised around a series of immersive display ‘characters’ intended to engage and communicate to audiences in a variety of ways, the writings and buildings of Mulvin and her practice McCullough Mulvin Architects are exhibited through models, drawings, texts, and a series of slides, notes, personal memorabilia, building fragments and more. Together these reflect just a fraction of three decades of work on the subject of towns, recently gathered and published in Mulvin’s book, ‘Approximate Formality’, which was a starting point for this exhibition.

In addition, exhibition also presents three newly commissioned films: ‘The Shape is the Thing’ is a spatial-portrait of Clones, Youghal, Dungarvan and Templemore, describing their ‘ordinary-spectacular’ forms; ‘Of Pride and Place’ documents ten optimistic stories of action and change by architects working in towns across Ireland; while, finally, the exhibition will also present a new interview with Valerie Mulvin by broadcaster Vincent Woods, reflecting on her work and the subject of the exhibition.

Initially travelling from Birr to Belmullet, Trim and then to us in Thurles in 2025, ‘The Reason of Towns’ will be supported in each town with a one-day public engagement programme. Called the ‘Talks of the Town’, these events will include walking tours, a community-led workshop and a panel discussion. In this way the exhibition becomes an opportunity for local issues to be aired and discussed in a national context, fostering civic pride and promoting local action.

The Reason of Towns is funded by the Arts Council / an Chomairle Ealaíon and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The touring is additionally funded by the Arts Council / an Chomhairle Ealaíon.

The Talks of the Town programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Government of Ireland.