President Higgins invites families of men in iconic Limerick war painting to the Aras

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina have issued an invite to the families of men in an iconic Limerick War of Independence painting to Aras an Uachtarain. 

Men of the South was painted by one of Limerick and Ireland’s most valued artists Sean Keating between 1921 and 1922. 

The famous oil-on-canvas painting features six IRA fighters during the War of Independence as they await British military forces. 

The painting is known to have captured heroism and patriotism of the war instead of its grim reality. 

President and Sabina Higgins have invited family members of the men portrayed in the painting 'Men of the South' to visit Áras an Uachtaráin. https://t.co/xIOgV5OJQO pic.twitter.com/8UYgvLQm7o

— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) April 2, 2019

Sean Keating RHA, born and raised in Limerick, is regarded as Limerick’s most iconic painter in living memory. 

He received the Freedom of Limerick in 1948. 

In a statemnt this Tuesday, the Aras said: “President and Sabina Higgins have invited family members of the men portrayed in the painting 'Men of the South' to Áras an Uachtaráin. The painting by Séan Keating shows a group of IRA fighters during the War of Independence.”