First meeting of the Republican Council – A Commission for Sligo  County Council

As part of the Decade of Centenaries Initiative, Sligo County Council commissioned Stroude to paint the first meeting of the Republican Council, held on 22nd June 1920, where John J. Clancy was elected Chairman.  This followed the historic landmark in Sligo politics when the first election under proportional representation took place on May 29th, 1920.

First Meeting of the Republican Council, Sligo, 22nd June 1920

Oil on canvas, 90cm x 160cm, 2023
Photograph Dickon Whitehead

The portrait depicts Top row (from left to right) – Seamus Devins, J. J. Mullarkey, Jim Hunt, T. O’Donnell, Bernard Conlon, M. Gray, P.J. Rooney, D. Leonard, Laurence McHugh, James Gilligan. Middle Row – Alderman John Lynch, J. J. Murrican, Alex McCabe, Chairman J. J. Clancy, Sean McMorrow, John Hennigan, D. M. Hanly. Front Row – Dan Kilcullen, Seamus McGowan, Harry Cavanagh, Jack Brennan, Frank O’Beirne, Michael J. Marren, and Micheal Finn.  The vacant chair represents Frank Carty, then in Sligo Gaol.

A portrait of Frank Carty was painted separately and hangs alongside the Republican Council portrait in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Sligo.

The commissioning of the portraits was supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative.