Looking for an alternative to the sickly sweet schmalz of Valentine’s Day?

Skip out of the office for an hour at lunchtime today, February 14th and you’ll find just the thing on Emmet Place.

The Crawford Art Gallery is offering visitors the opportunity to throw sentiment to the wind and explore the darker side of love with a free Valentine’s tour.

But don’t expect to be treated to tales of love and lust, this treat (with a twist) takes in the new Heroes & Villains exhibition in the Gibson Galleries and The Long Room; selected works from the collection that invite us to question traditional archetypes of good and bad.

Dr Michael Waldron leads the ‘For Better or Worse‘ Valentine’s Day Tour on Wednesday, February 14th at 1pm – entry is free and there’s no booking required.

You could always bring the cynic in your life and make it a date.

Image © Crawford Art Gallery, Cork. Daniel Maclise (1806-1870) François I and Diane de Poitiers (detail)