Carved in 1942, Leenane Connemara Trout is one of Power’s most distinctive works — a naturalistic animal study in marble that sits apart from the commemorative and religious commissions that dominated his output. The subject, a Connemara trout, is rendered with close attention to the creature’s physical form, scales, and texture, carved from Irish stone.
The work reflects Power’s deep connection to the west of Ireland and his belief that Irish subject matter and Irish materials belonged together. Leenane, at the head of Killary Harbour in Co. Galway, sits at the heart of Connemara — a landscape Power knew well, not least through his association with Connacht writers, patrons, and subjects throughout his career.
The sculpture is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.