Sir, - Gerald Davis (September 5th) deplores the paucity of works by important figures in modern Irish art in our public galleries. Two of those whom he names in this context, Gerard Dillon and Nano Reid, are represented in the Drogheda Municipal Art Collection. Fast Day, by Gerard Dillon was presented in 1953 by Mr Victor Waddington, who considered it to be one of the most significant paintings to have come out of Ireland. Nano Reid is represented by a watercolour presented by the artist, and two oils presented respectively by the Thomas Haverty Trust and the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland.
Other Irish painters in this collection include Evie Hone, Mainie Jellett, W. J. Leech, Bea Orpen, Mary Swanzy, and so on. An illustrated catalogue was produced when the whole collection, some 70 items, was re-hung in the new Public Library in Drogheda in 1994. I hope that Mr Davis will visit it some day and let us know what he thinks of it. - Yours, etc.,
Slane, Co Meath.