Annual Report 2005 - The Office of Public Works

A number of special art purchases were also made during the year, in addition to the Per Cent
for Art Scheme. These included a magnificent portrait of Lady Loftus by the 17t century
European master painter Sir Peter Lely for Rathfarnham Castle, and a fine painting of the
Burning of Cork Courthouse, 1891 by Eugene McSwiney on behalf of the Court Services in
Cork. Also, a number of important works were acquired to replace four paintings on loan to
the Taoiseach's Department from Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, which were returned.
Jacquie Moore and Pat Murphy visited McKee Barracks during the autumn and gave advice
and assistance on plans for an exhibition to commemorate the 1916 Uprising in 2006. They
also attended a number of meetings of the Portraits and Paintings Sub-Committee of the
Committee on Procedure and Privilege in Leinster House under the chairmanship of the Ceann
Comhairle, Dr. Rory O'Hanlon, T.D. In co-operation with OPW Architectural Services Divisions,
Jenny Lonergan assisted Angela Rolfe, Assistant Principal Architect in bringing many
commissioned art projects to a successful conclusion countrywide including Backweston, the
Botanic Gardens, Nenagh Courthouse and elsewhere. The whole team was involved in the
arrangements to have twenty two replacement paintings after Raphael painted for the
University Church, St. Stephen's Green, to be installed in 2006.
The Art Management Office was augmented by the welcome appointment of conservator
Adrian Kennedy to the team during the year, and the newly appointed Principal Architect,
Patrick Cooney joined the Art Management Group in the spring.
A number of interesting art exhibitions were staged in the OPW Atrium during 2005 including
an impressive collection of oil paintings, drawings and watercolours by Patrick Swift (1927-
1983) and sculpture and pictures by Michael Thatcher, some of which were auctioned
afterwards with proceeds donated to UNICEF, the United Nations International Children's
Education Fund. There was also a poignant but attractive Retrospective Exhibition of paintings
in May by the late Tony Treacy (1968-2004) who was formerly on the staff of OPW. Many of
the paintings were sold afterwards by the artist's family and the entire proceeds were donated
to charity.
Public Relations Department
The Public Relations Department responds to media and public enquiries in relation to matters
within OPW's remit. It also monitors and responds to comment about OPW and its work in
the print and broadcast media, thereby, ensuring that OPW's position is fully and fairly
represented. The PR Department manage the media presentation of the Minister of State's
role at the Office of Public Works and provide briefing material, including speeches, to the
Minister as the need arises.
The PR Department produce a number of OPW publications such as the Annual Report and
the biannual “Obair” Magazine. These productions are an effective method of promoting, both
internally and externally, some of the works and tasks undertaken by the OPW.
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In 2005 the PR Department successfully dealt with over 1300 queries from media and the
public. A new Media Monitoring contract was successfully placed and relevant OPW press
clippings will be available to all OPW staff early in 2006. Significant progress was made in
2005 on upgrading the OPW Intranet, which is expected to go “live” in early 2006. Work on
the rebranding and redesign of all OPW websites commenced in 2005 with tenders expected
to issue for this project in the second quarter of 2006. The PR Department, in conjunction with
Policy Unit, carried out a Customer Survey in early 2005, the results of which can be found
elsewhere in this Report.
Durrow Demesne,
Tullamore