‘POWER, Politics and Public Image’ is an exhibition of photographs by Eamonn Farrell opening today, Thursday 22 at Hunt Museum. Journalist and documentary maker Charlie Bird officiates at this Rutland Street launch, 6pm that is open to all.
The gallery of portraits and parliament is introduced as exploring “the public image of Charles Haughey – the most controversial politician since the foundation of the State – and his nemesis, Desmond O’Malley.
“With his Napoleonic manner, driving ambition and extravagant private life, Haughey was a dominant and divisive figure in the Irish political landscape, especially within his own party.”
A press photographer, Farrell has captured “images that offer real insights into Haughey’s elevated perception of himself. In gesture and body language, we can observe the poses he struck and the deference and adoration paid to him by his political cronies and the party faithful”.
Oppositely, we are told that “O’Malley rarely courted the media but in one of the exhibition’s most striking images, Farrell captures him just as he was, smoking, smouldering, steadfast”.
There are other players to that arena portrayed, Brian Lenihan, Padraig Flynn, Mary O’Rourke, PJ Mara and of course, Bertie Ahern as well as the press gallery of names such as Geraldine Kennedy, Derek Speirs, Brian Farrell.
At Hunt Museum until November 20.
