No one sings Happy Birthday but Roy Johnston doesn't mind. It's more important for the curator to focus on the collection of print work by Roderic O'Conor, which went on view this week at the National Gallery. The man from Pommeroy in Co Tyrone has been researching O'Conor since 1980. As for his birthday, well only a handful of people, such as his mother, Margaret Doran in Lisburn, and his son, Neal Johnston in Belfast, know that he's now old enough to "get free travel". His wife, Laura Henderson, smiles indulgently.
The artist, Patrick Pye, is here to view the work of the Irish post-impressionistic painter. Also the art historian, Rosemary Mulcahy, and her husband, Seβn Mulcahy, are here. Others at the opening include former art critic Desmond Mac Avock and his wife, AdΦle; Sheila and Norman Long, and Raymond Keaveney, the gallery's director.