ESB hosts a function for Friends of the National Collections

On Wednesday 5th April ESB Archive & Heritage Section, Shared Services hosted the AGM of the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland. The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland was founded in 1924 by the artist Sarah Purser. The aim of the charity was to follow in the footsteps of the great private benefactors of Irish art; men such as Hugh Lane and William Dargan, by providing for the purchase of works of art for the public institutions of Ireland, where the state was not in a position to acquire. Since its foundation the organisation has been responsible for presenting works of art and decorative arts and historic artefacts to over 50 organisations in the State, and indeed in on the Island of Ireland; including the National Cultural Institutions, and latterly newly thriving county museums all over Ireland.

President Dr John Maiben Gilmartin welcomed members and guests. The Special Guests included the German Ambassador Mr Christian Pauls, the Austrian Ambassador Dr Horst-Dieter Rennan, the Polish Ambassador Mr Witold Sobkow, the Ambassador from the Czech Republic Mr Josef Havlas, Count Matusken and members of his family and members of the Purser family.

In her report to the AGM Secretary Mrs Jennifer Waldron Lynch stated that Yr 2005 was very successful with seven major art works being presented to Art Galleries & Museums in Ireland. A number of functions and visits were organised and the FNCI Organisation was now well placed to expand its activities and develop a more challenging programme for Yr 2006. Mrs Geraldine O'Connor, Treasurer presented the Annual Accounts which highlight the fact that the organisation receives much of its funding through bequests and legacies. The Executive of FNCI thanked Brendan Delany ESB Archive & Heritage Manager, Pauline Holland Manager Number Twenty Nine, Kieran Burns Curator Number Twenty Nine and Maria Bennett Arts Officer for hosting the occasion.

Following the AGM Count Otto Stolberg-Stolberg gave a very informative and enlightening lecture on the history of Dresden. The lecture focused primarily on the reconstruction of Dresden after the devastation World War II. In his lecture the Count highlighted the significance of both Art & Architectural icons as building blocks for reconciliation between nations and communities. The Count provided a wonderful insight into how Our Lady's Church Frauenhirche was restored. The new altar in the Church was presented by a village in Poland who had suffered hugely during the War while the gold cross came as a gift from the City of Coventry and was made by the son of a war time pilot who had been involved in the bombing of Dresden. The focus for the people of Dresden and indeed the rest of Europe was now to concentrate on building a way forward based on true fellowship and trust.

In his final remarks concluding the evening Dr John Maiben Gilmartin thanked ESB for hosting the event, his colleagues from the Executive of FNCI for all their hard work over the previous year and Count Otto Stolberg-Stolberg for delivering such an inspirational lecture. He stated
"It was a unique occasion which has been honoured by the attendance of four Ambassadors and the event itself had created an opportunity for FNCI members in Ireland North and South to come together with representatives from countries and communities in East and Western Europe to build bridges through their shared interest in the Arts and Heritage."