Madam, - I write on behalf of the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland to express our great concern that the outstanding picture A View of Cork by the important and rare artist John Butts (died 1765) is soon to be offered for sale. It may well be purchased by someone from abroad and be taken out of the country or disappear into a private collection. The picture has long been on public view in the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, on long-term loan.
This is a lamentable situation made more so by the fact that this year Cork is European Capital of Culture.
We call on John O'Donoghue, the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht to intervene in the matter and ensure that this important 18th-century Irish heritage picture is secured for the nation. - Yours, etc.,
Dr JOHN MAIBEN GILMARTIN, President, Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, Arranmore, Pembroke Road, Dublin 4.