Sir, - On behalf of St Michael's Parish Active Retirement Art Group I wish to put on record our consternation at the threatened removal of Mr Declan McGonagle from the post of Director and Chief Executive of the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
Our group has enjoyed a fruitful 10-year involvement with the museum, due directly to the very positive and pro-active policy of Mr McGonagle as director. The effect of this policy is for our group many faceted and of incalculable value, so much so that we feel part of the fabric of the museum. Due to the policy of Mr McGonagle and his wonderful staff we have felt valued as older people. We have been led happily into a forum where we have felt opened up to experience art in so many ways. We would be very upset if the open people-centred policy of the museum should be ended or even diminished. The question arises: what is a museum for? If it is not for people in the broadest sense, we feel it goes down a wrong road.
It is our strong view that Mr McGonagle's leadership has been vital and pro-active in IMMA's healthy people-centred policy, and we are fearful of the effect of his possible exit as director and chief executive. - Yours, etc.,
John Kenny, Suir Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8.