Cé hé Josef Ryzec?

Josef Ryzec - Czech artist with Irish roots

This month we feature a Czech artist, Josef Ryzec, whose love for Ireland and things Celtic have been a main driving force in his life. The Wild Geese Historical Society of Czechia published his painstaking researches into his Irish roots earlier this year, revealing that his famous ancestor had played a pivotal part in European history. Indeed the Society argues, admittedly with tongue in cheek(!), that his daring deed in 1634 was the original catalyst which eventually gave rise to the European Union, of which Ireland is the current president.

Josef, I understand that your Irish ancestor came to the Czech lands long before the original Wild Geese themselves, is that so?

Actually yes, he was one of many among the flight of the Earls, who had to leave the Emerald Shore after the Battle of Kinsale, 1601 when Tudor England extended its rapacious grip on the devastated country.. The Irish brought their battle skills to serve in various parts of Europe which was then in the throes of the Reformation. My forebear's name was Walter Devereux, one of the Norman-Irish who became known as being 'more Irish than the Irish themselves'. This was actually an insult slung at them by the English crown who deeply resented them integrating with the Irish and staying loyal to the native Catholic religion. Walter was one of the younger sons of the family, so as his brother inherited the family castle at Balmagyr in Wexford there was little for young Walter to do but to seek his future in the wider European context.

The story of my research into my family legend which related that the Ryzec family 'was descended from an Irish soldier' was published recently by the Wild Geese Historical Society of Czechia and copies are still available through either CIBCA or the Wild Geese. The title is 'Searching for my Norman-Irish Ancestor' and I am told that it is almost Sherlock Holmes-like with its painstaking attention to clues and detail! Let me know what you think!

I had the honour of having it launched by the current Irish Ambassador His Excellency Alan Gibbons and must pay tribute also to former Ambassador Alison Kelly who helped me start on my journey, my friend Sean O'Sullivan of the Wild Geese who organised a DNA test and published the book, and to Louise Kelleher who did such a good job of editing the English translation.

So the family legend passed down over something like 400 years is what awoke your love for Ireland?

Yes, it must have been in my blood! Coincidentally the art of genetic testing carried out under the Communist regime in the 60s determined that both of my daughters, by different wives, had decidedly Celtic genes, which of course followed that I must be the one with the Celtic gene. As we know Bohemia was one of the original birthplaces of the Celts and it is reckoned that 30% of the Czech population still share it. So the combination of the family legend and the genetic testing encouraged me to take a deep interest in Ireland and the Celts. I am an artist and I decided to organise annual or bi-annual celebrations of the arts under the patronage of the Celtic god of the arts, Lugh. And so 'Lughnasadh', one of the ancient Celtic festivals began to be celebrated in Bohemia! Actually the very first one was held in Dublin under the patronage of the then Minister for Culture, Síle DeValera, and subsequent ones have been held in Vienna, Prague and many Czech towns with Celtic connections. Hundreds of artists, both Czech and international, have participated, some of them of international renown.

And you yourself have also organised separate exhibitions of your own art? How would you describe your style, which I have seen and is rather unique?

I try to be humorous but always with some implicit message. I was greatly impressed with Picasso's protest at the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939 with his paintings 'Cat Catches a Bird' and 'Cat Eats a Bird' and reciprocated with a tribute to him of six paintings which I painted directly in the Small Hall of the National Gallery in Prague and which remained exhibited there for many years. I painted a further five paintings in the 'Czech Grotesque Series' three of which were subsequently purchased by the Gallery for its own collection.

And, as it happens. I have another exhibition of humourous comic-style illustrations entitled 'Cowboys on the Small Side' opening this month in the beautiful Vrtbovská záhrada, Karmelitská 25 from 5 to 30 August. It is open each day from 10.00 to 17.00 and of course all CIBCA members and friends are more than welcome.

Josef, you seem to be indefatigable! I understand that you also won a United Nations artistic competition some time ago?

Yes, that was an international competition to design a series of six postage stamps for the 8th World Congress of Criminologists (Crime Prevention) in 1990. That was after the fall of communism here when international boundaries were opened up to us.

Goodness Josef, you have had a busy and interesting life and it has been a great pleasure talking to you. I'm sure that you would have lots more to reveal to us if we had the time and we may get back to you in the future. I had the privilege of meeting your family and your wife Ivana at the launch of your memoirs in the Embassy earlier this year and know how proud they all are of you. Indeed, we are all proud of you and wish you many more years of exploration and discovery.

Seán O'Sullivan - July 2026