A HOME is being sought for a large 8ft by 5ft oil painting which commemorates the visit to Ireland by Pope John Paul in 1979.
In 1981 the painting caused a minor sensation and blocked traffic on Dublin’s Grafton Street when put on display at a branch of Allied Irish Bank.
People asked back then whether its intent was satirical. Painter Doreen Brown would not say. Today those who see it in her studio at Cuffegrane, Co Kilkenny, are more inclined to ask whether she knew then what so many know now and, if so, how?
Speaking to The Irish TimesMs Brown (80) recalled painting the picture in 1980 after a priest suggested she do so. She chose the style she did as Pope John Paul "didn't look like he would sit for long in a red chair".
From Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, she attended the National College of Art and Design in Dublin.
The painting was brought to the attention of The Irish Timesby Rev Martin Hilliard, rector at Kells, Co Kilkenny, who saw it for the first time when visiting Ms Brown and her husband Don. "It deserves a place in some public building," he said.
The painting features (from left to right), then bishop of Galway Éamon Casey, then Fine Gael leader Dr Garret FitzGerald, then president Dr Patrick Hillery and his wife Maeve.
In front of the Hillerys is then Catholic primate Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich. Beside Mrs Hillery is then private secretary to the pope, Fr John Magee, and Pope John Paul. Then taoiseach Jack Lynch is reaching down to George Colley, then minister for the public service, who Lynch hoped would succeed him.
The figure touching Pope John Paul is Charles Haughey, then minister for social welfare. On the extreme right is then archbishop of Dublin Dermot Ryan, criticised in the Murphy report. The children are not identified.
