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148
Irene Broe (1923-1992)
Bust of Donagh O’Malley
Bronze on mahogany base, 39cm (15#”) high including base
Signed and dated 1968
Exhibited:
Contemporary Irish Artists Exhibition
Cork Sculp-
ture Park 1969
!e 1977 Oireachtas Art Exhibition Cat. No. 78.
Donagh Brendan O’Malley (1921 - 1968) was born in Lim-
erick. A popular sportsman in the &elds of rugby, soccer and
swimming he won many medals and caps for both Munster
and Connacht in his younger years. At the time of his death
he was President of the Football Association of Ireland. He
quali&ed as an engineer from UCG in 1943 and practiced in
Limerick before entering politics.
O’Malley was elected to represent Limerick East in the Dail
for Fianna Fail in 1954 when he topped the poll as he did
in the three subsequent elections he contested . He became
Mayor of Limerick in 1961 and later became Minister for
Health in 1965/6 before becoming Minister for Education in
1966. He is best remembered for free post-primary education
and free school transport. He also aroused great controversy
when he proposed the merger of TCD and UCD but died
suddenly in Limerick before he had a chance of implement-
ing this proposal.
Irene Broe completed this work just days before O’Malley
died and it was cast in an edition of 8. Of the 8 cast three are
in University collections in Ireland, !e University of Lim-
erick, Trinity College Dublin and NUI Galway all have an
example in their collections.
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