THE EXPECTED row within Aosdána, arising from the controversial documentary about poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh, was defused yesterday when the annual general assembly agreed to a motion endorsing the Arts Council’s child welfare protection policy.
A heated meeting of Aosdána, which represents the State’s most distinguished artists, had been expected following the rejection in April by the Toscaireacht, a delegate committee of 10 members, of a motion by committee member Mannix Flynn, which proposed: “In light of concerns expressed by members of the public regarding Aosdána’s position on the alleged exploitation of vulnerable young people by a member of Aosdána, this assembly endorses the guidelines and principles set down in the Arts Council booklet, Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children and Young People in the Arts Sector, and calls on individual artists to publicly endorse its principles.”
Mr Flynn was asked to withdraw the motion, but refused. When it was subsequently rejected, he resigned from the Toscaireacht, determined to pursue the motion at the general assembly, a course for which he required the written support of five fellow members. These included the writers, Philip Casey, Hugh Maxton and Mary O’Donnell, composer Eibhlis Farrell and artist Eilis O’Connell.
It is understood that a full-scale row was averted when the poet and broadcaster Theo Dorgan proposed a compromise, that the organisation should simply endorse the Arts Council’s child protection policy without reference to any named individual or allegations. The new motion – unanimously agreed – stated: “This assembly endorses the guidelines and principles set down in the Arts Council booklet, Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children and Young People in the Arts Sector.”
This was followed by a brief discussion regarding Mr Flynn’s resignation, after which he agreed to be reinstated in the Toscaireacht.
Mr Flynn told reporters that he was “very happy with the outcome. I am delighted that this information is going out to the public and they should be very reassured by this [Arts Council] document. It is to the forefront of best practice in Europe and I am extremely proud of it and the Arts Council should be very, very proud of it . . . I’m very proud to be a member of Aosdána today.”
The opposition to his original motion arose, he believed, because “people misinterpreted my intention”. He denied that his purpose was the public censure of Mr Ó Searcaigh or, as was suggested, to “give him a slap”.
“I think Cathal Ó Searcaigh has received an enormous amount of slaps. I’m not in the business of slapping anybody. I would offer him my friendship and my understanding . . . My door is open.”
Commenting on the public remarks of certain Aosdána members about the Ó Searcaigh allegations, he felt that “the role between friendship and loyalty got blurred . . . That is a normal reaction – lots of fear and confusion – and it’s automatic that you want to move in to protect someone who may seem like part of your family. Take a look at the long, dark journey of the Church . . . But the arts sector is growing and the important thing now is that it is ring-fenced by these documents.”
