Labour's art

Tuesday is May Day - although the bank holiday isn't until the following Monday

Tuesday is May Day - although the bank holiday isn't until the following Monday. The Labour Party, however, is celebrating this Monday with a reception in the members' restaurant in Leinster House. Leader Ruairi Quinn is the host, and the highlight of the evening will be the viewing of three mural-type paintings by Wexford-based artist, Brian Dennington, which will hang in the Labour parliamentary rooms in the basement of Leinster House 2000. The three 6 foot square paintings will now join the photos of party leaders and the European and national flags which decorate the room. The photos depict events in Labour history (such as Mary Robinson's election as President) and leaders of socialist Europe - but not, of course, the many lefties who were revered for so long but are now purged. Other parties don't have anything as dramatic on their walls. FF, which has kept its old party rooms on the fifth floor, has photos of its leaders, the parliamentary party in 1959 and 1998, and of various ardfheiseanna. It also has three historic front pages from the Irish Press (of election victories in 1932, 1933 and 1977) and, of course, the tricolour and the FF flag.