Tribute to Mairead

WEXFORD County Council CEO Tom Enright has paid a posthumous tribute to the late Mairead Furlong for her work in promoting art.

Art historian and collector Mairead, pictured below, who sadly died a year ago, founded the Friends of the County Wexford Art Collection who support and develop the prestigious collection of art at County Council headquarters in Carricklawn.

Mr Enright was speaking a the recent launch of an exhibition of paintings by the leading contemporary artist John Shinnors.

‘I would like to acknowledge the immense contribution that Mairead Furlong made in establishing the Friends of the County Wexford Art Collection and for developing and growing the art collection here in the Council,’ he said.

‘Mairead was a wonderful person who had great knowledge and appreciation of art and we all remember her very fondly today.’

Mairead delivered lectures on fine art and conducted tours of the collection which is one of the largest held by a local authority in the country, taking interested members of the public around the county hall to show them the highlights of the permanent exhibition.

The Friends of the County Wexford Art Collection is a voluntary group passionate about the need to support the collection by acquiring works of significance through gift bequests and donations. Some of Mairead’s own donations are on display in Carricklawn.