"The purpose of this painting is to save lives"

The Tullamore artist who painted a stunning portrait of CervicalCheck campaigner Vicky Phelan has said the purpose of the painting is “to save lives.”

Speaking after an emotional private viewing of the painting in the home town of Ms. Phelan in Mooncoin, county Kilkenny, on Sunday last, artist Vincent Devine expressed the hope that every showing of the landmark portrait “will end up saving lives by raising awareness of cancer, and cervical cancer, in particular.”

The gifted artist, who realised a lifelong ambition when he opened his own gallery and studio on Church Road in Tullamore last year, said if viewing the painting “causes people to re-evaluate their own health and maybe attend that medical appointment they have been putting off” he would be “a very happy man.”

The Tullamore artist travelled to Mooncoin on Sunday last for his first meeting with Vicky Phelan since her return from the US and the first unveiling of his portrait of her in her home county.

“It was a very emotional day and there were plenty of tears,” he said, given that it was “the very first time” he stood in front of the deeply personal work alongside the subject of the portrait itself!

“It was a bit of a surreal day for all of us,” he says, “and Vicky, who was accompanied by her parents John and Gaby, was in good form and was deeply grateful to have every aspect of the painting explained to her by myself.”

MC for the occasion was Kerry writer Billy Keane and also present at the emotional event were David and Alicia Brennan, who purchased the painting and are also long-time friends and neighbours of Vicky and the Kelly family in Mooncoin, and a small number of wellwishers from the local community.

The 300cm by 150cm triptych (three panel) painting of Vicky Phelan, which depicts her past, present and future, was auctioned by Sheppards’ Auction House in Laois on February 4, 2020 in a worldwide charity auction which realised the staggering figure of €58,000 for Heroes Aid, a charity which provides financial aid to frontline workers. The online charity auction took place at the height of the Covid pandemic when Irish hospitals were in danger of being overwhelmed due to the spiralling numbers of Covid patients requiring hospitalisation, and when frontline healthcare workers were stretched to the limit.

Speaking at the event in Mooncoin on Sunday last, Billy Keane said the painting of Vicky Phelan would “change lives and save lives” once it goes on tour to a wider audience.

Vincent Devine, who is a native of Clara, says the painting is currently on display in the Solas Cancer Support Centre in Waterford and it is envisaged that it will go on a nationwide tour later this year. “We may also be in a position to exhibit it internationally as well” he adds.

Speaking about her portrait last year, Vicky Phelan described the work as “a message of hope” and expressed her delight at having been involved in the groundbreaking project. She added that it would leave “an incredible legacy” for her family and for all Irish women.

Vincent Devine is a visual communications graduate who attended both Moate Business College and the former Athlone Institute of Technology (now TUS), and among his recent acclaimed works is a triptych portrait of Nobel Peace prizewinner and founding member of the SLDP, the late John Hume

The Hume portrait was viewed by Mr Hume’s close friend and fellow SDLP member, Austin Currie along with members of his family, including his daughter, Senator Emer Currie, at an emotional private viewing in Vincent Devine’s Art Gallery and Studio in Tullamore last year shortly before Mr Currie passed away in November.