Hilary Pyle explores the formation of the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland and the role played by its founding member, Sarah Purser
This year the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland (FNCI) celebrates one hundred years of supporting public galleries and museums all over Ireland with gifts of important works or financial assistance for purchases. The society’s initial aim was outlined at its inaugural meeting, held at the Royal Irish Academy on St Valentine’s Day, 1924: ‘to secure works of art and objects of historic interest or importance for the national or public collections of Ireland by purchase, gift or bequest, and to further their interest in other analogous or incidental ways’. This objective was announced while Ireland was in the process of finding out what it was to be Ireland. The Civil War was officially over. The country was at last free and becoming stable and FNCI felt it was time for the public to understand its responsibility for the national cultural institutions. Conscious of the number of rare treasures that were leaving the country through sales and auctions as great houses were abandoned, FNCI intended to save what was possible. It hoped to be a positive influence on the new nation.
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