THE DEATH has occurred of William Finlay the former governor of Bank of Ireland and chairman of the National Gallery.
He served as chairman of the gallery for 17 years between 1979 and 1996 when it began planning what became the Millennium Wing. Mr Finlay, a former senior counsel, was from a well-known Dublin legal family. His brother Mr Justice Tom Finlay became Chief Justice.
During his time as chairman, the gallery's most famous painting, Caravaggio's The Taking of Christ, was authenticated in the residence of the Jesuits in Leeson Street, Dublin. By coincidence, it turned out that Mr Finlay's uncle Fr Tom Finlay was given the painting during the 1930s.
Mr Finlay was instrumental in establishing the Friends of the National Gallery of Ireland in 1990, and served as chairman of the Executive Board of the Friends from 1990 until 1996.
His contribution to the gallery was such that the annual William D Finlay Lecture was set up in his honour in 1996.
National Gallery director Raymond Keaveney described Mr Finlay as an “exceptional man” who gave a huge amount of time and energies to public and civic causes. “He was immensely supportive and a tireless advocate for the institution. He will be greatly missed by all who hold the gallery dear,” he said. Mr Finlay also took over as chairman of the Alfred Beit Foundation (Russborough) in June 1994 and served in that position until 2008.
Mr Finlay is survived by his wife Verette, his children Ian, Elizabeth, Annie, Peter, Janet and Sarah, his 12 grandchildren, his one great-grandchild and his brother Tom. His removal will be this morning from his home to The Church of the Assumption, Booterstown Ave, Co Dublin for funeral Mass at 11am.
