Artist Philippa Bayliss lost her life after she was struck by a car on Monday evening in the village of Myshall in Co Carlow where she lived.
Ms Bayliss, who was mother to three sons and aged in her 80s, was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner has been notified and her body has been removed to University Hospital Waterford where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.
Garda Forensic Collision Investigators are conducting a technical examination of the scene.
Ms Bayliss’ paintings have been displayed in art galleries across the world, including at home in Ireland and in galleries in England and America. Her paintings are also displayed in private art collections worldwide.
The late Philippa Bayliss. Photo credit: Philippa Bayliss’ website
Born in Kilkenny in 1940, Ms Bayliss was well travelled and had lived in Ireland, England, Sri Lanka, America, Vienna, France, Mexico and Sicily.
From 1961 to 1965, Ms Bayliss received her formal training as a painter at The Byam Shaw School of Painting in London.
Her talents were visible from a young age as she was awarded the Byam Shaw open scholarship, competing against approximately 200 other candidates for the prestigious accolade.
In 1967, Ms Bayliss returned to Ireland and became the first curator at Castletown House in Co Kildare.
In 1972, she moved to Ardclough in Co Kildare and returned to painting. Fast forward to 1976 and Ms Bayliss held her first solo exhibition at the Neptune Gallery in Dublin.
Ms Bayliss’ star was on the rise as more and more galleries started displaying her work. She held solo exhibitions at the Image Gallery, Kennedy Gallery and the Origin Gallery in Dublin, as well as at the Blenheim Gallery in Notting Hill Gate in London and the Gallery of Interior Design in New York.
The Irish woman’s paintings was also part of group exhibitions held at the Royal Academy London, the Oireachtas and Grafton Gallery to a name a few. While her artwork is also part of public collections owned by the likes of Butler Gallery in Kilkenny, Bank of Ireland, AIB, the Mater Hospital and St Vincent’s Hospital.
Ms Bayliss mostly took inspiration for her paintings from domestic gardens.
The late Philippa Bayliss
In recent years, Ms Bayliss had been living in Myshall in Co Carlow where she spent a lot of her time working in her garden.
“Philippa was an exceptionally talented lady and artist,” said local Carlow county councillor Charlie Murphy who also lives in Myshall. “She moved into Myshall village about 16 or 17 years ago.
“She was well-regarded among the local community as she did some voluntary work as an artist teaching art classes and she would donate her paintings to auctions free of charge to raise money for various things. Philippa was also involved in the Christmas lights around the village.
The late Philippa Bayliss
News in 90 Seconds – 9th December 2025
“She spent a lot of her life in London and she was well-connected there and knew the Rolling Stones in the 60s.
“She was truly an exceptional lady and artist and the village of Myshall was incredibly lucky to have her.
“The people of Myshall will miss her sadly.”
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.
Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 5pm and 5.30pm on Monday, 8th December 2025, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Carlow Garda Station on (059) 9136620, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Investigations are ongoing.