Athy artist hopes to return Shackleton painting

AN Athy artist hoping to get his fictional portrayal of Ernest Shackleton on display in the revamped museum may be facing an uphill battle.

Tony P. O’Grady, who turned 64 on Saturday, actually had the painting on display in the previous iteration of the museum, but when it closed for the renovations two years ago the picture was returned to him by the trustees.

The painting depicts a despairing Shackleton on the ice with his crew behind him to the left, and the remains of his crushed ship to his right, while an albatross arrives from behind and pulls the explorer up by his shoulders as an allegory to lift his despair.

“In the painting I had the colour behind him as the Aurora Australis, not all grey skies. Shackleton saw the Aurora,” said Tony.

“It’s my fictional idea about big Shackleton I’ve done, and it’s up in my house at the moment.”

Tony has yet to make a formal re-approach to the Museum board, stating he doesn’t know anyone on the board.

Tony was originally from Dublin, before emigrating to London for 15 years, returning to live in Athy for the last 24 years.

“Who knew what Shackleton looked like in despair, when he was on the ice and the ship broken up,” said Tony.

“I have him walking off wondering what to do…with a young albatross landing on his shoulders and rise him up, help balance him again on the ice.

“That’s why I think he became more positive ... I’ve even a poem called The Albatross’,” said Tony.

However, it appears that Tony’s ambition may go unfulfilled for the moment.

“Tony kindly loaned us his painting for an exhibition, which was returned to him after the exhibition was finished,” said Sinead Cullen from Athy Museum and Cultural Centre.

“In the Shackleton Experience, there are no plans to hold art exhibitions at present”.