Dáil Ceann Comhairle Dr Rory O'Hanlon yesterday accepted a portrait of former taoiseach Seán Lemass (1899-1971) by Sean O'Sullivan RHA, on behalf of the Oireachtas.
The presentation was made by Maureen Haughey, widow of Charles Haughey and a daughter of Seán Lemass, on behalf of the Haughey and Lemass families.
Minister of State for Education and Science Seán Haughey said the O'Sullivan portrait would temporarily replace the 1968 Lemass portrait by Maurice MacGonigal RHA which currently hangs on the landing outside the Dáil chamber. A final decision on the two portraits would be made by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
He said the O'Sullivan portrait was painted in 1946. When his grandparents, Seán and Kathleen Lemass, moved from Dublin's Palmerston Road to a smaller house in Churchtown, there was no room for the portrait which was brought to his parents' home at Abbeville for safe keeping. It was his parents' wish that it be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas, he added.
Accepting the portrait, Dr O'Hanlon said: "The members of the House appreciate very much the generosity of the Haughey family in presenting to the Dáil such a fine historical and valuable portrait by one of Ireland's greatest artists, Sean O'Sullivan."
