In his new book Taoisigh and the Arts Kevin Rafter explores how art and artists have been treated by our political leaders, from WT Cosgrave to Micheál Martin, and how those men have been portrayed by artists in turn.

The book is a history of the relationships between well-known artists and the taoisigh of their day, such as that between Brendan Behan and Seán Lemass.

Kevin Rafter is a professor of political communications at DCU and currently serves as chair of the Arts Council.