Liam Neeson and Michael Conlan feature in 'portrait of Ireland' exhibition
Photographs of Liam Neeson and Michael Conlan featured in the Portrait of a Century exhibition in Dublin Photographs of Liam Neeson and Michael Conlan featured in the Portrait of a Century exhibition in Dublin
ByBrendan Hughes
A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition has been launched showcasing Ireland through portraits of 100 people born in each year over the past century.
Portrait of a Century aims to tell the story of Ireland over the past 100 years through the faces of its people.
Launched in Dublin yesterday by president Michael D Higgins, the pictures range from actors Liam Neeson and Stephen Rea to Rostrevor-born economist TK Whitaker to Belfast boxer Michael Conlan.
Others featured include wartime code-breaker Leslie Greer, actress Ruth Negga, former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh and drag queen Panti Bliss.
Each person photographed represents their birth year, with the series spanning the 100 years from 1916 to 2015.
Among the younger participants is Charlie O'Connell, grandson of former president Mary McAleese and Kerry GAA football icon Mick O'Connell.
The images of those connected to Ireland were taken between 2015 and last year by New York-based Irish photographer Kim Haughton.
Stephen Rea Stephen Rea
Her portraits chart sporting legends, presidents, public servants and young people of the future in a bid to represent Ireland through those who have helped shape it.
The series begins with the late TK Whitaker, born in 1916 in the year of the Easter Rising, and includes the likes of Irish-language poet Máire Mhac an tSaoi, whose 1922 birth coincided with the creation of a new state.
Panti Bliss is a drag queen and the alter ego of Rory O’Neill. A bar owner and gay rights campaigner, he rose to International prominence following an impassioned plea for equality for and acceptance of the LGBT community during a speech at the Abbe Panti Bliss is a drag queen and the alter ego of Rory O’Neill. A bar owner and gay rights campaigner, he rose to International prominence following an impassioned plea for equality for and acceptance of the LGBT community during a speech at the Abbey Theatre. This followed a national incident which became known as Pantigate. HIV positive since 1995, his life story and his campaign for marriage equality was chronicled in the feature documentary The Queen of Ireland.
The exhibition is being held at the National Museum of Ireland's Decorative Arts and History branch until December 31.
An accompanying book, Portrait of a Century, has been published by The Lilliput Press and is available for purchase in the museum shop.
Photographer Kim Haughton with some of those featured in the portraits – (from left) Defence Forces captain Ciara Ni Ruairc, former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh, Charlie O'Connell, grandson of former president Mary McAleese, ballet dancer Gearoid Photographer Kim Haughton with some of those featured in the portraits – (from left) Defence Forces captain Ciara Ni Ruairc, former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh, Charlie O'Connell, grandson of former president Mary McAleese, ballet dancer Gearoid Solan, sculptor Rowan Gillespie, and producer Sheamus Smith Leslie Greer was a linguist and lecturer. Born in London, she grew up in Dublin and studied modern languages including German at Trinity College and became a lecturer at Queens University Belfast. Following the outbreak of WWII, she moved to England where Leslie Greer was a linguist and lecturer. Born in London, she grew up in Dublin and studied modern languages including German at Trinity College and became a lecturer at Queens University Belfast. Following the outbreak of WWII, she moved to England where she worked as a translator at Bletchley Park, the British government’s code and cypher school. In recognition of her contribution, she was honoured with the Bletchley Park commemorative badge in 2015. Barry Cassin was an Irish theatre actor and director. In the late 1940’s he co-founded the 37 Theatre Club in Dublin. He later joined the Orion Theatre Company where he directed over fifty plays. He has portrayed a huge range of characters, from the Barry Cassin was an Irish theatre actor and director. In the late 1940’s he co-founded the 37 Theatre Club in Dublin. He later joined the Orion Theatre Company where he directed over fifty plays. He has portrayed a huge range of characters, from the bishop in The Field to Colonel Pickering in Pygmalion. His career spanning six decades was remembered with fondness and wit in his 2012 memoir I Never had a Proper Job: A Life in the Theatre. Colm Tóibín is an author and critic. Born in Wexford, he trained as a seminarian before turning to writing. He worked as a journalist in Dublin where he became editor of Magill Magazine. He has written eight novels and two short story collec Colm Tóibín is an author and critic. Born in Wexford, he trained as a seminarian before turning to writing. He worked as a journalist in Dublin where he became editor of Magill Magazine. He has written eight novels and two short story collections. He has been nominated for the Booker prize three times and is a two-time winner of the Costa book award. Ruth Negga was born in Ethiopia to Irish-Ethiopian parents. She grew up in Limerick and studied Drama at the Samuel Beckett Centre in Trinity College. She moved to London and appeared regularly in theatre, films and TV productions. She won her an IFTA (Ir Ruth Negga was born in Ethiopia to Irish-Ethiopian parents. She grew up in Limerick and studied Drama at the Samuel Beckett Centre in Trinity College. She moved to London and appeared regularly in theatre, films and TV productions. She won her an IFTA (Irish Film and Television) award in 2012 for her portrayal of Shirley Bassey in Shirley and in 2017, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Loving.
