Dance show creator, Michael Flatley, has presented Taoiseach Enda Kenny with an abstract painting of the victims of the famine entitled ‘The Walking Dead.' The painting is 8ft by 4ft in size and was framed in London using wood from trees grown on Flatley’s Castlehyde estate near Fermoy, Co. Cork.
The handover ceremony took place during a private meeting in the Government Buildings and was attended by Flatley’s wife Niamh, their son, Michael St James and Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan. The painting will hang in the Department of the Taoiseach for the remainder of The Gathering and 2013 and, afterwards, will become part of the State’s art collection.
Michael Flatley has been expressing his artistic talents in a different way since 2011 when he sold his first painting for €5,600. To create this painting, he applied paint to the soles of his shoes and tap-danced the Al-Capone solo from his show ‘Celtic Tiger’ and expressed a wish to do other paintings in this way.
The Irish Times reports that the Taoiseach was “delighted” to accept Mr. Flatley’s painting “on behalf of the State and in recognition of the year of the Gathering in Ireland” believing the painting to be “very striking indeed” with a subject matter that is “something Irish people all over the world hold close to their hearts”. The Taoiseach also wished Flatley “every success in his new chosen path”.
5 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Tooreenagrena | Mar 04, 2013, 08:31 AM EST
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT STEVENSTAR IS AN ANTI IRISH HEADCASE WHO USING VARIOUS USER NAMES ON IRISH SITES TO SPILL HIS ANTI IRISH VIEWS. HE REGULARLY PRETENDS TO BE IRISH TO THIS END. HIS REGULAR USE OF 'YE' IS A PATHETIC ATTEMPT TO PROVE HE IS IRISH. HE IS SERIOUSLY MENTALLY DISTURBED.
Searlit | Mar 03, 2013, 05:29 PM EST
We Irish-Americans will move on when the true story of 1840's Ireland is told. If anyone else can dance like Michael Flatley, I would be at least be willing to look at their artwork before criticizing it. Even at that, who are any of us to judge? Abstract art is supposed to be interpreted by the viewer, merely being an artistic impression painted by the artist. Some people should grow-up! Beautiful Ireland and her music are 'the stuff that dreams are made of.'
alicepbyrne | Mar 03, 2013, 04:47 PM EST
Bunkerisland - you said exactly what I was thinking - lol!!! I'm going to "paint" an abstract picture just like it, sell for a million and laugh all the way to the bank for all the idiots who thought it was an amazing piece or art. STEVENSTAR: Perfect! Ireland is a treasure and probably one of the only countries in the world with so much talent and beauty. I miss home very much. Will be there again soon. Loved your "...take Michael Flatley and his band of merry tap dancers with ye!!" I'm still cracking up. There's another thing - Irish humour. You won't find it anywhere else. And the slang - say no more! Thanks for the laugh :)
STEVENSTAR | Mar 03, 2013, 03:24 PM EST
WHY OH WHY OH WHY ... ARE AMERICANS SOOO OBSESSED WITH THE FAMINE?....IM IRISH I LIVE IN IRELAND AND MY GOD IRELAND HAS SO MUCH GOING FOR IT ... WITH ITS BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, LIVELY CULTURE,...UNSPOILT COASTLINES.. GREAT FOODS AND A FANTASTIC RICH TAPESTRY OF TALENTED MUSICIANS AND POETS.. AND WHY OH WHY OH WHY ....DO ALL I HEAR FROM AMERICANS WHO CLAIM TO BE IRISH.... IS THE FAMINE AND NORTHERN IRELAND .. FOR GODS SAKE WILL YE MOVE ON AND TAKE MICHAEL FLATLEY AND HIS BAND OF MERRY TAP DANCERS WITH YE !!!!!!
bunkerisland | Mar 03, 2013, 02:09 PM EST
At least share more of the painting! What is visible gives the impression a bucket of blue & white paint was poured down the canvas.