BELFAST-born actor Stephen Rea is to be presented with a limited edition print of 1916 Rising leader James Connolly created by iconic Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick.
Rea is to be honoured in Dublin tonight for his role as a patron of Reclaim the Vision of 1916, a group set up to provide an alternative programme to the Irish government’s plans for next year’s centenary commemorations.
Renowned artist Robert Ballagh will present the actor with a print of Fitzpatrick’s image of Connolly at 11am in Dublin’s Buswells Hotel, which is close to Leinster House.
Fitzpatrick, who is best known for his iconic 1989 two-tone portrait of Che Guevara, has designed and produced a limited edition of 250 numbered prints of socialist leader Connolly exclusively for the Reclaim the Vision of 1916 initiative.
Individually numbered, all prints are signed by the artist himself.
Ballagh said the independent non-party political citizen’s initiative was set up earlier this year to ensure that the centenary of the Easter Rising would be “commemorated appropriately and in a relevant manner”.
The artist has been highly critical of the government’s decision to commemorate both those who battled for Irish freedom in 1916 and the British soldiers who died during the rebellion.
Reclaim the Vision of 1916 describes itself as “a civil society group of artists, academics, trade unionists, community activists, journalists and other interested citizens who believe Ireland can be reinvigorated by the ideals of the signatories of the Proclamation”.
The campaign has received the support of a number of high profile figures including actors Stephen Rea, Fionnuala Flanagan and Enniskillen-born Adrian Dunbar as well as singer Sinéad O’Connor.
