Blueshirt blue funk art attack

An elderly man struck one of the panels with his crutch and told the manager he wanted the exhibit removed

FUN AND GAMES at the opening of Athlone’s new Luan Art Gallery this week with one ‘distinguished visitor’ unbalanced by his anger.

The opening exhibition on Thursday at the gallery on the banks of the River Shannon features, among other works, Fragmens sur les Institutions Républicianes IV (1993-1997), by Shane Cullen, which consists of large tablet-like panels onto which the artist has transcribed meticulously in paint the contents of numerous ‘comms’ – the written communications smuggled in and out of the H-Blocks by IRA prisoners during the 1981 Hunger Strike.

As people examined the piece in the new gallery, an elderly man entered and showed a special interest in Shane Cullen’s work. He became noticeably agitated and struck one of the panels with his crutch. He demanded to see the manager and wanted the exhibit removed.

His blood pressure went up even higher when local Sinn Féin Councillor Paul Hogan waved at him. He then stormed out.

The irate senior citizen was none other than Paddy Cooney, Fine Gael Justice Minister from 1973 to1977, boss of the notorious Garda ‘Heavy Gang’ thugs and rabid anti-republican.

Poor Paddy’s angst at this exhibit on his Athlone doorstep was compounded by the fact that the formal opening was performed by Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan – a fellow Fine Gaeler!