A portrait of Dublin's first female Lord Mayor has been unveiled in Dublin City Council's chamber.
Kathleen Clarke was unveiled yesterday evening on the 50th anniversary of her death. Artist Gareth Reid’s painting is the first portrait commissioned by Dublin City Council in over 100 years.
A founding member of Cumann na mBan, Kathleen Clarke made history when she was elected as the first woman Lord Mayor of Dublin on June 27, 1939. She was the daughter of a prominent Fenian family, and her husband Tom Clarke was the first signatory of the 1916 Proclamation.
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Having served as a TD and a senator, she became a Dublin City councillor in 1930. Elected as Lord Mayor on the casting vote of the legendary Alfie Byrne, Mrs Clarke refused to be invested with the Lord Mayor’s Great Chain, or wear the red robes of office.
The commission for the portrait was awarded to Belfast-born Gareth Reid following a limited competition. Gareth Reid's work is held in major galleries in Ireland and the UK, including the National Gallery of Ireland, for whom he painted the broadcaster and author Graham Norton.
The portrait was unveiled in the prestigious Council chamber of Dublin City Hall, where it hangs alongside those of previous Lord Mayors, all men, including Daniel O'Connell.
Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy said at the unveiling: "I want to congratulate Gareth on his great work, which will from now on have pride of place here in our historic Council Chamber. He has through this portrait truly given the first female Lord Mayor of Dublin the recognition and honour she deserves.
"Gareth’s painting will, I hope, remind us, as we meet here on the first Monday of each month, that we follow in a long line of women and men who have stood for election, who have been elected to serve Dublin and its people, and who are dedicated to building on the work of the many councillors who have served before us.”
The Lord Mayor said that the public would be able to see the portrait on days when City Hall was not being used for official business, the first such day being October 7.
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