"From Dickie to Richard – Richard Harris: Role of a Lifetime" launches at Limerick’s Hunt Museum

Limerick welcomes home one of its most iconic sons as The Hunt Museum opens "From Dickie to Richard – Richard Harris: Role of a Lifetime," a landmark exhibition celebrating the actor’s remarkable career and unbreakable ties to his hometown.

The exhibition, running from 4 July to 16 November 2025, delves deep into Richard Harris’s legacy—from early sporting triumphs in Kilkee and Limerick, through breakthrough roles on London stages and Hollywood screens.

Visitors will encounter rare photographs, handwritten poems, annotated scripts, theatrical costumes, and film props—including the iconic "Camelot" crown and a cherished Munster rugby jersey.

Overseen by University College Cork, which now cares for the Harris Archive donated by the family in 2022, this is the first public display of material gathered by Harris himself throughout his prolific career.

The exhibition covers his Cannes and Oscar‑nominated performance in "This Sporting Life," Golden Globe success in "Camelot," later roles in "The Field" and "Gladiator," and his beloved portrayal of Professor Dumbledore in "Harry Potter."

“Richard was a prolific writer and kept everything: Poems. Short stories. Scripts,” noted Harris’s sons—Damien, Jared, and Jamie—speaking collectively.

“This exhibition gives people a sense of the depth and humor behind the public image … It means a lot to us to see it begin here, in Limerick.”

Speaking at the Mayoral reception to launch the exhibition. Jared, Harris' son, who is also an acclaimed actor, said, "Damian, Jamie and I are delighted with this honour. Wherever he was in the world, Dad carried both Ireland and Limerick with him," the Irish Independent reported.

“He flew the flag proudly for his city and country. Woe betide anyone who dared challenge him about either. He watched with great pride the generations of Irish artists in all fields who followed, and he had hand-couriered video recordings of every Irish International and Munster match to his home in the Bahamas.

“At which point our hopes of watching anything else disappeared for the next five days.”

Mayor John Moran echoed this sentiment at the Hunt Museum’s Mayoral Reception, commending Harris’s authentic storytelling and commitment to his roots: “Richard Harris showed the world that someone from Limerick could rise from local roots to global stages without ever compromising his authenticity,” he said, presenting a Mayoral scroll to the family.

Teresa Crowley, CEO at the Hunt Museum, told the Irish Post, “It not only honours his extraordinary career but celebrates his Limerick, Munster, and Irish roots," explaining how the exhibit offers a “unique opportunity to explore his artistic and sporting world in the city where his journey began."

Hunt Museum admission is €12.50 for adults, with children under 16 admitted free.