The American Roth family were drawn to Ireland by an admiration for W B Yeats and remained to create a home and art collection; Peter Murray recalls their journey
Over the past five decades, the contribution made by William and Joan Roth to the cultural life of two nations, Ireland and the United States, has been remarkable. Visitors to the San Francisco Museum of Fine Art will see the name Roth prominent amongst the benefactors, while in Ireland, the Crawford Art Gallery has also benefitted from donations by William and Joan, the most important being James Latham’s 18th-century Portrait of Dudley Cosby, and The Avon, Near Bristol by Francis Danby (Figs 4&6). Also in Cork, the Sirius Arts Centre, founded in 1988 with financial support from the Roths, has served as a cultural resource for the harbour area for over two decades. Gracious and hospitable, the Roths typify the best of American philanthropy, in no way seeking publicity or public thanks for their generosity (Fig 1)
