Out of the picture: Taoiseach's office art

TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny sketched out the State's gloomy prospects during his televised address on Sunday night – but viewers were unable to see the full picture. A tight camera angle resulted in the audience seeing only the lower edge of a gilt frame on the wall behind him. Despite speculation that he had chosen to sit beneath a portrait of Michael Collins, the obscured image was, in fact, I n the West of Ireland,a landscape painting by Paul Henry.

The painting is from the National Gallery of Ireland and is one of 10 pieces of art owned by various national collections and lent to decorate Mr Kenny’s office in Government Buildings. The oil-on-canvas, which dates from the 1920s, hangs behind the Taoiseach’s desk, while a portrait of Collins, by Sarah Cecilia Harrison, hangs above the fireplace. One of Ireland’s most popular artists, Henry (1877-1958) was born in Belfast but lived for years on Achill Island. He is best known for his west of Ireland landscapes.

Meanwhile, Mr Kenny has donated the tie he wore when delivering his “State of the Nation” address to a charity art auction to be held by the Dyspraxia Association of Ireland in Dublin on December 15th.