Gladys Leach

With The Glucksman – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

Gladys Leach 1917 - 2014
The back story.
Best known for her Black & White Pen & Ink Drawings depicting some of Ireland's most beautiful buildings, many of which have since been demolished to make way for modern replacements. Gladys began her career whilst working as an usherette at the age of 15 in the newly opened Savoy Cinema Cork & was soon tasked with making glass slides when they discovered her Artistic talents. Projected onto the big screen during intervals, the slides advertised local business' & much to the delight of the Cork people, lyrics to popular songs. Organist Fred Bridgeman lead the way while the audience enjoyed the opportunity to sing along. The ultimate interactive experience.
Subsequently Gladys opened a studio on Cork's Patrick St. designing logos, advertisements, book illustrations & a range of her own Christmas Cards. Commissioned to Design a new label for Cork Distilleries, her suggestion to use a square bottle was accepted & a new Brand was launched. The iconic Red & White Label "Cork Dry Gin" crafted in beautiful calligraphy stood out among its competitors on the top shelf, easily recognisable across the globe.
Solo exhibitions, book commissions on Cork, Kerry & Dublin, a term as President of The Soroptimist Club & all during this time rearing a family of 7. Sailing was a big part of her life & evident in her oils & watercolours. She loved to attend art classes with her painting friends which she continued to do into her early 90's, a remarkable woman.
Lorna Hyde

Today we remember our beautiful mother Gladys Leach on the 10th Anniversary of the day she entered into rest.
Truly a wonderful soul, kind hearted & remarkably talented.
Developing her Art from a young age & likely ahead of her time, she forged a career designing Identities & Advertisements for local Business' the equivalent to Branding & Graphic Design in today's terms.
Following her marriage she aligned several solo exhibitions, Black & White pen & ink commissions for books on Cork, Kerry & Dublin during which time rearing 7 children alongside our father John Hyde, but not without life altering challenges.
1981 brought the loss of our brother Peter Hyde followed by another blow, the tragic death of our sister Deirdre O'Reilly in 1989 with whom Mum shared her love for art & were at that time planning a joint exhibition.
Despite these tragedies Mum found solace through her creative connection & deep faith continuing with her art into her final years till she died 18th October 2014 at the age of 97
We are eternally grateful to have been part of her story❣️
Lorna Hyde