John Comerford was born in Kilkenny. Having gained some knowledge of art from copying the pictures in the collection of the Marquis of Ormonde at Kilkenny Castle, he went early in life to Dublin, and entered as a student in the art schools of the Dublin Society.
In 1790, Comerford was recommended for a certificate from the school commending his “extraordinary merit in drawing from the flat”. He was awarded a medal for his figure-drawing in 1791.
