Two resignations in as many days and more to come, according to reliable information. It is believed these further resignations could come from either the executive and the council itself, or both. The Arts Council is in crisis again.

The resignations of Brian Farrell as chairman on Thursday, and of one of its longest-serving members, Paul McGuinness, yesterday, are said by some to be the result of frustration at the inability of the council to function as it should.

Prior to Mr McGuinness' announced departure, The Irish Times was told there would be further resignations following that of Dr Farrell, and that the reasons given would be "pressure of work", as with Dr Farrell.

Within an hour it emerged that Mr McGuinness had tendered his resignation to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, and for the reason predicted. The Irish Times was also told there would be further resignations, possibly next week.

There was no response from Ms de Valera yesterday to Mr McGuinness' resignation. A spoke-man for the Minister simply said the resignation had been tendered and accepted.

Last night's fax announcing Dr Tom Mitchell's appointment to the Arts Council made no reference at all to Mr McGuinness, nor did it offer any reason for the vacancy which had made Dr Mitchell's appointment necessary.

Reaction from council members to the resignations ranged from "stunned" at both, to "no surprise at all" (at Dr Farrell's resignation) to "surprise" at Mr McGuinness'. One council member said that while Mr McGuinness "was really very good" after he was first appointed to the Arts Council in 1989, his attendance at recent meetings had fallen off. Those not surprised at Dr Farrell's resignation said they had expected it since "the troubles", as one council member described the events of last October and November.

Then, when staff threatened industrial action and council members complained they were being used "as a rubber stamp" by the executive, it was felt Dr Farrell could have handled things differently.

Members of the council also felt a letter he wrote to The Irish Times last October about the problems at the council had not helped. There seems to be general agreement that Dr Farrell did not realise what was involved when he agreed to become chairman in 1998.

"It's a rough, tough, rotten job," said a council member. "No matter what you do you'll make enemies." This member also criticised Dr Farrell as chairman and suggested that had he adopted a more assertive approach, some of the problems might have been avoided.

Dr Farrell, who could not be contacted for comment yesterday, is only the second chairman to resign his position since the Arts Council was founded in 1951. Prof Geoffrey Hand resigned in 1975 to take up an academic post abroad.

Meanwhile, the appointments of Patrick Murphy and Tom Mitchell to the council have been welcomed. Mr Murphy has extensive Arts Council experience, having served as a member from 1982 to 1988, and he has the time. He retired (at 61) last month. Dr Mitchell, though not well known for his interest in the arts, will be seen as an addition to the council, not least because of the major developments he has overseen at Trinity College Dublin.