Sean Keating RHA (1889-1971) Study for ‘’Portrait of Father ...

Hammer

€600

Sean Keating RHA (1889-1971)
Study for ‘’Portrait of Father Michael O’Flanagan’’ (1936)
Charcoal, 44 x 36.5cm (17¼ x 14¼’’)
Signed

This is a study for the ‘Portrait of Father Michael O’ Flanagan’ which was exhibited at the RHA in 1936 and is in the collection of The National Museum of Ireland.

Father Michael O’Flanagan (1876 – 1942) was born at Cloontower near Castlerea in Co. Roscommon. He was quite an interesting character; he gave the oration at the lying in state of O’Donovan Rossa. He managed Count Plunkett’s successful campaign in the Roscommon by-election and was vice-President of Sinn Fein from 1917 and was suspended from official religious duties many times because of his political activities in the 1920’s. He did not resume his clerical responsibilities until 1938 but in the meantime, he served as President of Sinn Fein between 1933 – 35. During the Spanish Civil War Father O’ Flanaghan defended the Spanish Republic which was not in line with Irish Catholic Church policy but was in sympathy that of Keating and his wife May. He toured America in support of the Spanish Republic in 1937.

Our thanks to Dr Éimear O’Connor for her help and research which were invaluable in cataloguing this lot.