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HISTORY & LITERATURE 13 MARCH 2016
434
Maurice MacGonigal, portrait of Sean Lemass 1928.
A three-quarter face portrait of Lemass in his late 20s. Charcoal on paper, signed and dated lower
right.
Provenance: By descent from the collection of Frank Dowling.
Whyte’s, 5 April 2008, lot 352.
Often referred to as ‘the architect of modern Ireland’, Seán Lemass (1899-1971), was a Fianna Fáil
TD and Taoiseach from 1959 to ’66. His republican career began in 1915, when he joined the Irish
Volunteers. He and his brother Noel both fought during the 1916 Rising at the G.P.O. under de
Valera’s command. When the fighting ended he was released without charge as he was then still
under age. During the War of Independence he was interned at Ballykinlar Camp in December 1920.
He was released twelve months later after the signing of Anglo-Irish Treaty. Lemass was among the
Anti-Treaty faction who, in 1922, seized the Four Courts, serving as adjutant and second in com-
mand to Rory O’Connor. After two days of shelling O’Connor’s men surrendered. Lemass escaped
along with Ernie O’Malley and others, but was captured shortly thereafter and imprisoned. In June
1923, after the end of the civil war, his brother Noel Lemass was abducted by a group believed to be
connected to the Irish Army or the Police CID unit, and his body discovered in the Dublin moun-
tains in October that year. Seán Lemass was released from prison on compassionate grounds. On 18
November 1924 Lemass was elected for the first time as a Sinn Féin TD. However, he resigned from
the party in March 1936 in protest at Sinn Féin’s policy of refusing to acknowledge the existence of
the Irish Free State and the Dáil Éireann. Lemass convinced de Valera to establish a break-away par-
ty: this was the foundation of Fianna Fáil. When the party was elected to power in 1932, Lemass was
appointed Minister for Industry and Commerce. During his time in this post he established a num-
ber of semi-state companies including the Turf Development Board and Aer Lingus. In 1959 Lemass
succeeded de Valera as leader of Fianna Fáil. He remained the country’s leader until retirement in
1966. The present work comes from the collection of Frank Dowling, a Republican who was impris-
oned in Kilmainham along with both Maurice MacGonigal and Seán Lemass. After the Civil War he
became manager of the Metropole cinema, whilst his brother Seán continued with politics, serving
in the Dáil. Frank Dowling was later chairman of the committee responsible for the restoration of
Kilmainham Gaol.
11½ x 9in. (29.21 x 22.86cm)
Estimate €3000-€5000 £2340-£3900
Large Image & Place Bid Lot 434